[Botany • 2017] Primulina albicalyx • A New Species (Gesneriaceae) from A Karst Area in Guangxi, China

Primulina albicalyx   B. Pan & Li H. Yang

 Yang & Pan, 2017.   DOI: 10.3372/wi.47.47312 

Abstract:

Primulina albicalyx, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, SW China, is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to P. leprosa by its yellow flowers, white calyx lobes and large bracts, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by some qualitative and quantitative characters in the leaf blade, peduncle and corolla. The conservation status of P. albicalyx can be considered as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

Keywords: China, Gesneriaceae, Guangxi, karst, limestone, new species, Primulina, Primulina albicalyx, Primulina leprosa, taxonomy

Fig. 2. Primulina albicalyx. A: habit; B: cyme; C: flowers in front view; D: flower in lateral view; E: opened corolla, showing stamens and staminodes; F: fruits; G: bract; H: pistil and calyx lobes.

- A, F: photographed at the type locality on 21 June 2015 by Bo Pan; B–E, G, H: photographed at Guilin Botanical Garden on 14 May 2016 by Bo Pan. 

Primulina albicalyx B. Pan & Li H. Yang, sp. nov. 

 Holotype: China, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Du’an County, Dongmiao Town, on moist rocky surface of limestone, 22 Jun 2015, B. Pan & X. H. Hu. P1028 (IBK!). 

Diagnosis — The new species is similar to Primulina leprosa, but mainly differs by its ovate to broadly ovate leaf blade with flat adaxial surface (vs elliptic to broadly elliptic with bullate adaxial surface in P. leprosa), nearly tubular corolla tube (vs funel-form in P. leprosa), different corolla colour pattern: tube yellowish, with several brownish yellow striations on the entrance and a brownish yellow swelling between the two upper lip lobes (vs tube white, with brown lines on upper lip and without brownish yellow swelling in P. leprosa).

Etymology — The specific epithet “albicalyx” refers to the white calyx lobes.

Distribution and ecology — At present, Primulina albicalyx is known only from the type locality in Du'an County, W Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, SW China (Fig. 3). Plants grow on moist and shady limestone rocks under northern tropical limestone seasonal rain forest.

Li-Hua Yang and Bo Pan. 2017. Primulina albicalyx (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from A Karst Area in Guangxi, China. Willdenowia. 47(3); 311–316.   DOI: 10.3372/wi.47.47312