 |
| Utricularia lihengiae C. L. Long & Z. Cheng in Cheng, Fang, Wang & Long, 2021. |
Abstract
Utricularia lihengiae, a new species from the Dulongjiang region of northwest Yunnan, China, is here described and illustrated. The new species belongs to the section Oligocista and is similar to U. bifida L. and U. scandens Benj., from which it can be easily distinguished by the dark purple stripe on the corolla. The new species also differs in its shorter inflorescence and the shape of the calyx lobes.
Keywords: Bladderwort, insectivorous plant, taxonomy, Yunnan Province
 |
| Utricularia lihengiae C. L. Long & Z. Cheng A habitat B whole plant C traps and laminar leaves D leaf E calyx upper lobe F calyx lower lobe G bracts H–J frontal, dorsal and lateral view of the flower (A–J Photos by Z. Cheng.). |
Utricularia lihengiae C. L. Long & Z. Cheng, sp. nov.
“李恒挖耳草” (Li Heng Wa Er Cao)
Diagnosis: U. lihengiae is similar to U. bifida L. (1753: 18), but differs by the inflorescences 2–4 cm long (vs. mostly 10–20 cm long in U. bifida), calyx upper and lower with apex acuminate (vs. calyx upper lobe, apex obtuse, calyx lower lobe, apex rounded or very shortly bifid in U. bifida), 3–5 dark purple stripes on the upper corolla lip, 3 dark purple stripes on lower corolla lip (vs. absent in the upper and lower corolla lip in U. bifida); U. lihengiae is similar to U. scandens Benj. (1847: 309), but differs by the smaller inflorescence 2–4 cm long (vs. mostly 15–35 cm long in U. scandens), peduncle of U. lihengiae is erect (vs. peduncle usually twining in U. scandens), calyx lower lobe with apex acuminate (vs. calyx lower lobe with apex rounded or very shortly bifid in U. scandens), upper calyx lobe of U. lihengiae is shorter than upper corolla lip (vs. upper calyx lobe longer than upper corolla lip in U. scandens), 3–5 dark purple stripes on the upper corolla lip, 3 dark purple stripes on lower corolla lip (vs. absent in the upper and lower corolla lip in U. scandens).
Distribution and habitat: The only known locality of this taxon is in Dulongjiang Township, Gongshan Dulong and Nu Autonomous County, Northwest Yunnan, China. The site is located in an open area in a primeval forest dominated by Fagaceae, Magnoliaceae and Ericaceae. The observed population is very small, with fewer than 80 plants growing in the moss amongst damp grass on the roadside, accompanied by the moss Polytrichum commune Hedwig (1801: 88), as well as Vaccinium chaetothrix Sleumer (1941: 432), and Acorus tatarinowii Schott (1859: 101). The elevation is 2800–2900 metres above sea level. The climate here is rainy and humid, with rain falling for most of the year.
Etymology: Named in honor of Prof. Li Heng, a Chinese botanist who has made significant contributions to the knowledge of the flora of Dulongjiang region.
Zhuo Cheng, Qiong Fang, Fei Wang and Chun-Lin Long. 2021. Utricularia lihengiae (Lentibulariaceae), A New Species from Northwest Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 177: 17-24. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.177.63346
