[Botany • 2020] Daphniphyllum peltatum (Daphniphyllaceae) • A New Species from Limestone Areas in southwestern Guangxi, China

 Daphniphyllum peltatum Yan Liu & T. Meng

in Meng, Nong, Yuan & Liu, 2020. 

盾葉虎皮楠  ||  taiwania.ntu.edu.tw

ABSTRACT

 Daphniphyllum peltatum Yan Liu & T. Meng, a new species of Daphniphyllaceae from southwestern Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is mainly similar to D. calycinum Benth. in the shape of leaf blade, lunate anthers, elliptic drupes and the length of infructescence, but it can be easily distinguished by blue green branchlets, peltate leaves, obviously raised midvein and lateral veins on both surfaces. We also provide a key to all species of Daphniphyllum in China, and a table to distinguish the new species from D. calycinum. 

KEY WORDS: China, Daphniphyllaceae, Daphniphyllum peltatum, limestone flora, new taxa, southwestern Guangxi, taxonomy. 

Fig. 1. Daphniphyllum peltatum Yan Liu & T. Meng sp. nov. 
A. Fruit branch. B. Female inflorescence. C. Female flower. D. Longitudinal section of ovary. E. Cross section of ovary. F. Male inflorescence. G. Male flower. H. Dorsal view of stamen. I. Ventral view of stamen. Illustration by Wen-Hong Lin (IBK).

Fig. 2.  Daphniphyllum peltatum Yan Liu & T. Meng sp. nov. (A-I). A. Habitat. B. Branch and leaves. C. Female flower branch. D. Female inflorescence. E. Female flower. F. Young fruits. G. Male flower branch. H. Male inflorescence. I. Male flowers.
Daphniphyllum calycinum Benth. (J–L). J. Flowering branch. K. Infructescence. L. Male flowers.

Daphniphyllum peltatum Yan Liu & T. Meng, sp. nov. 

盾葉虎皮楠 

 Diagnosis: Daphniphyllum peltatum is mainly similar to D. calycinum Benth. in the shape of leaf blade, lunate anthers, elliptic drupes and the length of infructescence, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by branchlets blue green (vs. grayish brown); base of leaf blade rounded, peltate (vs. base broadly cuneate, not peltate); pedicels of female flower 1-1.3 cm long (vs. 5-7 mm long); ovary ca. 3 mm long (vs. 1.5-2 mm long); drupe ca. 7 mm in diam. (vs. 3-6 mm in diam.).

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the peltate leaf of this new species. Chinese name is proposed here as “盾葉虎皮楠”.

Tao Meng, Dong-Xin Nong, Quan Yuan and Yan Liu. 2020. Daphniphyllum peltatum, A New Species of Daphniphyllaceae from Limestone Areas in southwestern Guangxi, China. Taiwania. 65(2); 232-236.  taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract.php?type=abstract&id=1678