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Rubus semiplenus Huan C. Wang, Ming Hong Li & T. T. Wang, in T.-T. Wang, Li, Kuang, Xia, Q.-P. Wang et H.-C. Wang, 2025. |
Abstract
The semi-double (semiplenus) floral trait is highly valued in the field of horticulture, yet it remains exceptionally rare in wild plants. Rubus semiplenus, a new species with naturally occurring semi-double flowers, is described and illustrated. This new species was discovered in the Nanyue Hengshan National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China. It is distinguished by its herbaceous to dwarf subshrub habit, simple suborbicular leaves (0.7–2.5 × 0.7–2.5 cm), and semi-double flowers with dicyclic petals (10–12). Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and rbcL + matK sequences consistently confirmed that R. semiplenus belongs to Sect. Rosaefolii as defined by Focke and is closed to R. hirsutus.
Key words: Endemism, Hengshan Mountains, morphology, phylogeny, Section Rosaefolii, taxonomy
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| Rubus semiplenus sp. nov. A habit B adaxial surface of leaf C abaxial surface of leaf D flower. |
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| Rubus semiplenus sp. nov. A habit B adaxial surface of leaf C abaxial surface of leaf D flower E calyx F infructescence G fruit. |
Rubus semiplenus Huan C. Wang, Ming Hong Li & T. T. Wang, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Rubus semiplenus is most closely related to Rubus hirsutus Thunb., but clearly distinguished morphologically from the latter by its habit herbs or dwarf subshrubs (vs. shrubs in R. hirsutus), stems villous hairs (vs. soft and glandular hairs), leaves simple (vs. imparipinnate, 3–5 foliolate), suborbicular (vs. ovate or broadly ovate), sepals ovate-orbicular (vs. ovate-lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate), petals dicyclic, semi-doubled flowers, with 10–12 (vs. petals 5).
Etymology. The specific epithet “semiplenus” is derived from the Greek words “semi” (meaning half) and “plenus” (meaning double), which refer to this new species with semi-double flowers.
Ting-Ting Wang, Ming-Hong Li, Dai-Yong Kuang, Jiang-Lin Xia, Qiu-Ping Wang and Huan-Chong Wang. 2025. Rubus semiplenus (Rosaceae), A New Species with naturally occurring semi-double flowers from Hunan, China. PhytoKeys. 257: 79-93. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.257.150519
