Wednesday, February 2, 2022

[Botany • 2021] Aspidistra nitens (Asparagaceae: Convallariaceae s. str.) • A New Species from central Laos


Aspidistra nitens Aver., K. S. Nguyen et Tillich,

in Averyanov, Nguyen, Tillich, ... et Sokolova, 2021. 
Novitates Syst. Pl. Vasc. 52; 26-32. 

Abstract
The paper describes a new species of Aspidistra discovered in Laos, namely A. nitens Aver., K. S. Nguyen et Tillich in addition to ten species (A. elegans, A. glandulosa, A. khangii, A. laongamensis, A. laotica, A. lurida, A. medusa, A. purpureomaculata, A. globulifera, A. subrotata) earlier reported in this country. The new species is most similar to A. maguanensis originated from Yunnan (China) but differs by short peduncle 5–9 mm long completely covered by 3–4 imbricate bracts, urceolate perigone tube with 8–10 free, unequal, white, narrowly ovate lobes, 8–10 stamens, and subsessile, oblate, purple, indistinctly 4–5-lobed stigma obscurely wavy along the margin. Short diagnosis, standard taxonomical description, type citation, epithet etymology, data on ecology, phenology, estimated conservation status, color illustrations, notes on the taxonomy of related species are provided for the described species. New nomenclatural combination, A. globulifera (Aver., K. S. Nguyen et Tillich) Aver., comb. et stat. nov. substituting the name A. semiaperta var. globulifera Aver., K. S. Nguyen et Tillich is published.

Key words: Asparagaceae, Convallariaceae, Aspidistra, Laos, flora, plant diversity, new species

Aspidistra nitens Aver., K. S. Nguyen et Tillich.
A — flowering plants; B–D — apical part of rhizome with fl ower; E — flower bracts, adaxial (upper row) and abaxial (lower row) surface; F, G — flower, front view; H, I — flower, side view; J — base of flower with intact floral bracts; K — tangential flower section with intact pistil; L, M — sagittal flower section, pistil removed; N — perigone lobe, adaxial surface; O — sagittal section of perigone tube with anthers; P — intact stigma, side view; Q — stigma, top view; R — stigma, bottom view; S — stigma, sagittal sections; T — ovary, cross section.
All photos made from the living plant used for the type preparation (L. Averyanov, T. Maisak, AL 150A garden number 1638). 
Photos by L. Averyanov, correction and design by L. Averyanov and T. Maisak.

Aspidistra nitens Aver., K. S. Nguyen et Tillich, sp. nova. 

Diagnosis. Most similar to A.  maguanensis S. Z. He et D. H. Lv but differs by short peduncle 5–9 mm long completely covered with 3–4 imbricate bracts, urceolate perigone tube with 8–10 free, unequal, white, narrowly ovate lobes, 8–10 stamens, and subsessile, oblate, purple, indistinctly 4–5-lobed stigma obscurely wavy along the margin.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to a very glossy, mirror-like adaxial surface of the perigone tube.


Aspidistra globulifera (Aver., K.  S.  Nguyen et Tillich) Aver., comb. et stat. nov. 
≡ A.  semiaperta Aver. et Tillich var. globulifera Aver., K.  S.  Nguyen et Tillich, 
2020, Nordic J. Bot. 38 (9), -e02877:
 

L. V. Averyanov, Khang Sinh Nguyen, Hans-Juergen Tillich, L. I. Krupkina, T. V. Maisak and I. V. Sokolova. 2021. Aspidistra nitens (Asparagaceae, Convallariaceae s. str.), A New Species from central Laos.  Novitates Systematicae Plantarum Vascularium [Novitates Syst. Pl. Vasc.]. 52; 26-32. DOI: 10.31111/novitates/2021.52.26