Tuesday, October 2, 2018

[Botany • 2018] Striga crispata (Orobanchaceae) • A New Hemiparasitic Species from Taiwan


 Striga crispata
 S.-Z. Yang, Z.-X. Chen, C.-F. Chen & P.-H. Chen 


in Yang, Chen, Chen & Chen, 2018. 
 大武獨腳金  |   DOI: 10.6165/tai.2018.63.287 

 ABSTRACT
 A new hemiparasitic species, Striga crispata sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Tawu Township, Taitung County, Southern Taiwan. It most closely resembles the Australian species, S. parviflora (R. Brown) Benth, but can be differentiated by longer corollas that are pink or pinkish purple in color, corolla-lobes with crispate margins, and ornamented seed surface that is only covered by the primary ridge. A morphological description, line drawings, photographs, and conservation status are provided to aid identification. 

KEY WORDS: Hemiparasite, Orobanchaceae, Striga, Striga parviflora, Taiwan.  


Fig. 2. Striga crispata (Z. -X. Chen s. n., PPI 78580).
A: Habit. B: Flower, with 1-bract and 2-bracteolates. C: Corolla lobes rhombus to ovate in shape (face view). D: Fruit black or brown in color at maturity stage; calyx persistent and longer than the fruit.

Striga crispata S.-Z. Yang, Z.-X. Chen, C.-F. Chen & P.-H. Chen, sp. nov.
 大武獨腳金 

Similar to S. parviflora in having leaf of 15–25 mm long; corolla shortly lobed, lips entire at the margin, violet, but differing from S. parviflora with leaves of 7– 15 mm long; corolla deeply lobed, lips crispate at the margin, pink or pinkish purple.
....

Ecology: Striga crispata sp. nov. is only known from the type locality in Taiwan, found on the edge of streams, at altitudes 20–30 m. The host plant is Heteropogon contortus (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult (Poaceae) (Fig. 2), and the other congeners Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze (Orobanchaceae) are found near this new taxon. The flowering and fruiting occurs from October to November, with it withering in winter.  


 Sheng-Zehn Yang, Zi-Xuan Chen, Chien-Fan Chen and Po-Hao Chen. 2018. Striga crispata sp. nov. (Orobanchaceae), A New Hemiparasitic Species from Taiwan. Taiwania. 63(4): 287-291, 2018 DOI: 10.6165/tai.2018.63.287