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| Primulina marmorata F. Wen, W. C. Chou & Y. G. Wei, in Zhang, Chou, Wang, Yi-Gang Wei et Wen, 2025. |
Abstract
Primulina marmorata, a new species of Gesneriaceae from the limestone areas of Siding Town, Rong'an County, liuzhou City, Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated here. It morphologically resembles P. yungfuensis in leaf blades. Still, it can be easily distinguished from the latter by noting a combination of characteristics, especially in its obviously larger bracts. We found only one population, about 10 000 mature individuals, at the type locality. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (Ver. 3.1), the new species is tentatively designated as ‘Critically Endangered' (CR).
Keywords: Flora of Guangxi, Gesneriaceae, new taxon, Primulina marmorata, taxonomy
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| Primulina marmorata sp. nov. (A) Habit, (B) adaxial side of leaves, (C) abaxial side of leaves, (D) inflorescence, (E) calyx, (F) pistil with calyx, (G) adaxial side of bracts, (H) front view of a flower showing the internal structure, (I) top view of a flower, (J) abaxial side of bracts, (K) opened corolla, (L) lateral view of a flower. Photographs by Fang Wen. |
Primulina marmorata F. Wen, W. C. Chou & Y. G. Wei sp. nov.
A species resembling Primulina yungfuensis (Fig. 3A2–F2) in shape and texture of leaf blades, but easily distinguished by its bracts broadly lanceolate, with strigose pubescence and apex acute (versus narrowly ovate to elliptic, villous indumentum and obtuse apex), 39–60 × 26–33 mm (versus 7–12 × 5–7 mm); blade margin entire and apex obtuse to round (versus crenate to repand and apex acute to rounded); calyx lobes lanceolate, ca 7 × 3 mm (versus lanceolate-linear to narrowly triangular, 5.5–7 × 1.2–2.2 mm); corolla tube tubular (versus funnel-shaped to narrowly funnel-shaped). Detailed morphological comparisons with Primulina yungfuensis are provided in Table 1.
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| Primulina marmorata sp. nov., demonstrating its extremely high ornamental value (Photographs by Wei-Chuen Chou). (A)–(F) variations in leaf upper surface coloration and texture, (D)–(H) different corolla shapes, colors, patches, and spots. Photographs by Fang Wen. |
Shu-Shan Zhang, Wei-Chuen Chou, Qi-Jun Wang, Yi-Gang Wei, Fang Wen. 2025. Primulina marmorata (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from northern Guangxi, China. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.05016 [14 November 2025]
