Tuesday, July 21, 2020

[Botany • 2020] Paraboea dolomitica (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Guizhou, China


 Paraboea dolomitica Z.Y. Li, X.G. Xiang & Z.Y. Guo

in Guo, Wu, ... et Xiang, 2020.


Abstract
Here we describe Paraboea dolomitica Z.Y. Li, X.G. Xiang & Z.Y. Guo, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guizhou, China. Based on recent extensive observations, this new species is morphologically similar to Paraboea filipes (Hance) Burtt, in having obovate leaf blades, 1–4-flowered cymes and purplish corolla, but differs from that species by the combination of denticulate leathery leaves, sparsely brown haired peduncles, two woolly bracts, reniform anthers and two glabrous staminodes. Additionally, molecular data support this new species as a member of a clade that includes P. crassifolia, P. tetrabracteata, P. peltifolia, P. vetutina, P. dushanensis, P. dictyoneura, P xiangguiensis and P. guilinensis, but it is distinct from them in leaf position, inflorescence, penduncle, bract and capsule. The conservation status of this species is considered to be “Vulnerable” (VU) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Keywords: Gesneriaceae, limestone flora, new species, Paraboea

Figure 3.  Paraboea dolomitica.
A Flowering habit B opened corolla showing stamens, staminode and pistil C pistil with calyx and D capsule.
 Drawn by Zhaowen Wu based on holotype and isotypes.

Figure 2.  Paraboea dolomitica.
A Habitat B flowering habit C flower face view D opened corolla showing stamens, staminodes and pistil E bracts F pistil with calyx G adaxial leaf blade; and H abaxial leaf blade.


Paraboea dolomitica Z.Y. Li, X.G. Xiang & Z.Y. Guo, sp. nov.

Diagnosis :Paraboea dolomitica is morphologically similar to P. filipes. Both of them have obovate leaf blades, 1–4-flowered cymes and a purplish corolla, but P. dolomitica differs from P. filipes by its leathery leaves with denticulate margins (vs. papery leaves with subentire margins in P. filipes), peduncles sparsely covered with brown hairs (vs. sparsely sericeous-lanate when young and glabrate when mature), two woolly bracts (vs. two glabrous bracts), reniform anthers (vs. oblong anthers), two staminodes 0.3 cm long (vs. 1 staminodes 0.02 cm long), and flowering during April and May (vs. flowering during September and October) (Table 1).

Distribution: Paraboea dolomitica is known from Yuntai Mountain, Shibing County and Wuyang River, Zhenyuan County, Guizhou, China.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the habitat of this new species, the dolomite karst area.

Habitat and ecology: Paraboea dolomitica grows on rock faces of dolomite karst area, at an elevation of ca. 650–855 m. Accompanying plants in the habitat are sparse and include trees, such as Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc., Cotinus coggygria Scop., and herbs such as Selaginella moellendorfii Hieron., Paphiopedilum micranthum T. Tang et F. T. Wang, Viola diffusa Ging., Galium aparine Linn. var. echinospermum (Wallr.) Cuf. and Carex sp.


 Zhiyou Guo, Zhaowen Wu, Weibin Xu, Zhenyu Li and Xiaoguo Xiang. 2020. Paraboea dolomitica (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Guizhou, China. PhytoKeys. 153: 37-48. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.153.50933