Thursday, July 19, 2018

[Botany • 2018] Tupistra siphonantha (Asparagaceae) • A New Species from Lao P.D.R. with A Simple Pistil


Tupistra siphonantha  N. Tanaka, Vislobokov & D. P. Hannon

in Tanaka, Hannon & Vislobokov, 2018. 

Summary
Tupistra siphonantha N. Tanaka, Vislobokov & D. P. Hannon, a new species from central Laos is described and illustrated. It is distinguishable from all other members of Tupistra mainly by the synchronously blooming flowers, clavate-tubular, cream-white or fulvous perianth with strongly incurved segments, latrorse anthers with thecae separated by a round (papillary) projection from the perianth, and very small, simple pistil bearing a single ovule in the locule. It is also unique in having ellipsoid, smooth, orange fruits that are similar to those of Rohdea. The taxonomic position and features of the flowers and fruits of this species are briefly discussed. A key to the species of Tupistra reported from Laos is also provided.

Key Words: Affinity, Aspidistreae, Convallarieae, Indochina, lithophyte, new species, Rohdea 

Fig. 1 Tupistra siphonantha (under cultivation).
A whole plant with two flowering scapes; B spike of fulvous flowers; C spike of beige flowers; D plant with hanging scape bearing whitish flowers; E spike of creamy white flowers (close up of spike from D); F basal part of plant in fruit; G fruiting scape with remnants of withered flowers; H four orange fruits; J three seeds (left) and one fruit cut to show inside (right).
Photos: D. P. Hannon. layout: N. Tanaka.

Tupistra siphonantha N. Tanaka, Vislobokov & D. P. Hannon sp. nov. 
Type: Laos, Khammouane Province, D. P. Hannon s.n. (holotype HNT!; isotype K!).

Recognition: Differs from all other members of Tupistra by the synchronously blooming flowers, clavate-tubular, cream-white or fulvous perianths with strongly incurved segments, latrorse anthers with thecae prominently separated by a round protrusion from the perianth, and very small, simple pistil bearing a single ovule in the locule.
....

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the tubular flowers.


Noriyuki Tanaka, Dylan P. Hannon and Nikolay A. Vislobokov. 2018. Tupistra siphonantha (Asparagaceae), A New Species from Lao P.D.R. with A Simple Pistil. Kew Bulletin. 73:32.  DOI: 10.1007/s12225-018-9754-5