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| Elatostema qinzhouense L.F. Fu, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei in Fu, Monro, Yang, ... et Wei, 2021. |
Abstract
Elatostema qinzhouense L.F. Fu, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei, a new species from Guangxi, China is described and illustrated. Morphologically, E. qinzhouense is most similar to E. hezhouense from which it differs by having smaller size of leaf laminae, fewer and smaller staminate peduncle bracts, longer pistillate peduncle bracts and a larger achene. This result is supported by the molecular evidence. The phylogenetic position of the new species within Elatostema is evaluated using three DNA regions, ITS, trnH-psbA and psbM-trnD, for 107 taxa of Elatostema s.l. (including E. qinzhouense). Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses each recovered the same strongly supported tree topologies, indicating that E. qinzhouense is a member of the core Elatostema clade and sister to E. hezhouense. Along with the phylogenetic studies, plastid genome and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of the new species are assembled and annotated. The plastid genome is 150,398 bp in length and comprises two inverted repeats (IRs) of 24,688 bp separated by a large single-copy of 83,919 bp and a small single-copy of 17,103 bp. A total of 113 functional genes are recovered, comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The rDNA is 5,804 bp in length and comprised the 18S ribosomal RNA partial sequence (1,809 bp), internal transcribed spacer 1 (213 bp), 5.8S ribosomal RNA (164 bp), internal transcribed spacer 2 (248 bp) and 26S ribosomal RNA partial sequence (3,370 bp). In addition, the chromosome number of E. qinzhouense is observed to be 2n = 26, suggesting that the species is diploid. Given a consistent relationship between ploidy level and reproductive system in Elatostema, the new species is also considered to be sexually reproducing. Our assessment of the extinction threat for E. qinzhouense is that it is Endangered (EN) according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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| Illustration of Elatostema qinzhouense L.F. Fu, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei. (A) Habit; (B) staminate and pistillate inflorescences at subsequent nodes of monoecious stem; (C) stipule and furfuraceous stem; (D) leaves; (E) staminate inflorescence viewed from below showing involucre bracts; (F) staminate flower; (G) pistillate inflorescence viewed from below showing involucre bracts; (H) achene. Illustration by Juliet Beentje. |
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| Plate of Elatostema qinzhouense L.F. Fu, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei. (A) Habitat; (B) habit; (C) leave base and stipule; (D) staminate inflorescence; (E) staminate flower; (F) pistillate inflorescence. Photos by Long-Fei Fu & Bo Pan. |
Elatostema qinzhouense L.F. Fu, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Most similar to Elatostema hezhouense from which it differs by the smaller size of leaf laminae (10–45 × 6–15 mm vs. 55–115 × 20–25 mm), fewer and smaller staminate peduncle bracts (1, 1 mm vs. 2, 3.5 mm), longer pistillate peduncle bract (0.900 mm vs. 0.375 mm) and a larger achene (0.86–0.94 × 0.27–0.30 mm vs. 0.6 × 0.25 mm) (see Table 4).
Distribution and habitat. Elatostema qinzhouense is known from a single locality in Lingshan County, Qinzhou City, Guangxi, China. E. qinzhouense is likely calcicolous and grows under evergreen broad-leaved forest on limestone hills. Flowering from December to March, fruiting from March to April.
Etymology. Elatostema qinzhouense is named after the type locality, Qinzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
Vernacular name. 钦州楼梯草 (Chinese name).
Longfei Fu, Alexandre K. Monro, Tiange Yang, Fang Wen, Bo Pan, Zibing Xin, Zhixiang Zhang and Yigang Wei. 2021. Elatostema qinzhouense (Urticaceae), A New Species from Limestone Karst in Guangxi, China. PeerJ. 9:e11148 . DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11148
