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| Spiradiclis liboensis L. Wu & W. J. Liu, in Song, Liu, Chen, ... et Wu, 2022. |
Abstract
Spiradiclis liboensis L. Wu & W. J. Liu, a new species in tribe Ophiorrhizeae of Rubiaceae from limestone mountain areas of Guizhou, south-western China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to S. guangdongensis and S. jingxiensis, but differs from the latter two by the following traits: stipule triangular, inflorescence sessile or with peduncle up to 0.5 mm long, pedicel 0.8–2.2 mm long, corolla white, salverform, corolla tube 1.6–2.2 cm long, corolla tube of long-styled morph inside with a villous ring and stigmas positioned at the throat of the corolla tube. The conservation status is assessed as “Vulnerable” (VU) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Keywords: China, limestone, Rubiaceae, Spiradiclis, taxonomy
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| Spiradiclis liboensis L. Wu & W. J. Liu. A habit B leaf blade, adaxial and abaxial views C short-styled flower D long-styled flower E infructescence F calyx and disc in face view G stipules. Drawn by X.Y. Zeng. |
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| Spiradiclis liboensis L. Wu & W. J. Liu. A habitat (the arrow shows the place of growth) B habit C leaves showing variation range D inflorescence, side view E–F dissected short-styled flower and long-styled flower showing floral parts G long-styled flower, frontal view H young capsules I discs in face view. S. jingxiensis J habit. (Designed by Lei Wu and Xiao-Fei Song). |
Spiradiclis liboensis L. Wu & W. J. Liu, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: The new species is similar to S. guangdongensis and S. jingxiensis, but differs from the former by the triangular (vs. linear), ca. 0.8 (vs. 1–3.5) mm long stipule, 1.6–2.2 (vs. 0.8–1) cm long corolla tube and stigma and anthers positioned at (vs. exserted 5 mm above) the throat of the corolla tube in the long-styled form and short-styled form, respectively, and from the latter by its green (vs. purple) stem, 0.8–2.2 mm (vs. 3–5 mm) long pedicels, white (vs. pink) corolla with tube ca. 1.2 mm wide at the lower part, enlarged at the upper part and ca. 4.8 mm wide at the throat (vs. ca. 2 mm).
Distribution and habitat: Spiradiclis liboensis is currently only known from limestone hills in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, Libo County, Guizhou Province, south-western China. It grows on humid slopes or within crevices under the evergreen broad-leaved forest, at an altitude of 850–950 m. The forest here is dominated by trees of Fagaceae (e.g. Cyclobalanopsis glauca (Thunb.) Oerst.), Lauraceae (e.g. Phoebe calcarea S. K. Lee et F. N. Wei and Lindera megaphylla Hemsl.) and Sapindaceae (e.g. Handeliodendron bodinieri (H. Lév.) Rehder).
Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Libo County, southern China. The Chinese name is given as “荔波螺序草” (lì bō luó xù cǎo).
Xiao-Fei Song, Wen-Jian Liu, Ao-Xue Chen, Zheng-Ming Yao, Hong-Bo Lan and Lei Wu. 2022. Spiradiclis liboensis (Rubiaceae), A New Species from Limestone Mountain Areas in Guizhou, China. PhytoKeys. 204: 73-81. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.204.84397