[Botany • 2021] Agapetes heana (Ericaceae: ser. Longifiles) • A New Species from Yunnan, China

Agapetes heana Y. H. Tong & J. D. Ya

in Tong, Bai, Feng & Ya, 2021.

 疆海树萝卜 ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.180.69667

Abstract

Agapetes heana Y. H. Tong & J. D. Ya (Ericaceae), a new species from Lüchun Xian, Yunnan Province, China is described and illustrated. This new species is assigned to Agapetes sect. Agapetes ser. Longifiles Airy Shaw. It is closest to A. inopinata Airy Shaw and A. oblonga Craib, but differs in having bead-like tubers, leaf blade with a wholly serrulate margin, subulate and much longer calyx lobes, much larger corollas that are carmine, green at the apex and maroon on angles, and longer stamens without spurs on the back.

Keywords: China-Vietnam border, epiphytic, Huanglian Shan, morphology

Figure 2. Agapetes heana Y. H. Tong & J. D. Ya 
A fruiting branch B trichomes on branch and petiole C flower D calyx and style E opened corolla, abaxial view F stamens, abaxial (left) and adaxial (right) view G young fruit

(A, G from J. D. Ya et al. 21CS20738, B–F from J. H. He 210304). 

Drawn by Mr. D. H. Cui.

Figure 1. Agapetes heana Y. H. Tong & J. D. Ya
A habit B tubers C flowering branch D inflorescence E fruiting branch F fructescence with young fruits

(C, D from J. H. He 210304, A, B, E, F from J. D. Ya et al. 21CS20738). 

All photographs by J. D. Ya except C by J. H. He.

Agapetes heana Y. H. Tong & J. D. Ya, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Agapetes heana is similar to A. inopinata Airy Shaw and A. oblonga Craib in the leaf blade shape, the glandular hairy inflorescence and the filaments that are longer than thecae, but can be distinguished from the latter two by its bead-like tubers (vs. spindle-shaped), leaf blade with a wholly serrulate margin (vs. entire, or inconspicuously serrate beyond middle, or sparsely denticulate at apex), subulate (vs. triangular) and much longer (7–8 mm vs. ca. 1 mm and 1.5–2.0 mm, respectively) calyx lobes, much larger (ca. 3.5 cm vs. ca. 0.8 cm and 1.3–1.9 cm, respectively) corollas that are carmine, green at the apex and maroon on angles (vs. red, crimson or carmine), and longer (ca. 3.6 cm vs. ca. 0.7 cm and 1.0–1.5 cm, respectively) stamens that are without spurs on the back (vs. with 2 obvious short spurs) (Table 1).

Etymology: The species epithet is named in honor of Ms. Jiang-Hai He, a local staff in Huanglian Shan National Nature Reserve, who has worked there for almost 30 years and made a big contribution to the knowledge of biodiversity of this nature reserve, and is also the discoverer of this new species.

Vernacular name: 疆海树萝卜(Chinese pinyin: Jiāng hăi shù luó bo).

Distribution and habitat: This species is currently known only from the type locality, i.e. Huanglian Shan National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China. Since this locality is very close to the border of China and Vietnam and the habitat is similar and continuous, this species is probably also distributed in Vietnam. It grows on the trunks of trees like Schima wallichii (DC.) Korth. or Lithocarpus sp. under broadleaved forests at an elevation of ca. 1800 m.

Yi-Hua Tong, Ying Bai, Jian-Ming Feng and Ji-Dong Ya. 2021. Agapetes heana,  A New Species of A. ser. Longifiles (Ericaceae) from Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 180: 133-139. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.180.69667