Sunday, August 7, 2022

[Botany • 2022] Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx (Ericaceae) • A New Species from Hainan, China


Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx X. H. Ye, Q. L. Wang & Y. H. Tong, 

in Ye, Wang, Huang & Tong, 2022. 

Abstract
Here we describe a new species, Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx, and report a new record for the flora of China, V. viscifolium, both from Hainan Province. Vaccinium viscifolium also represents the first record of V. sect. Euepigynium for China. Detailed descriptions and illustrations with analytical photographs of the two taxa are provided.

Keywords: Morphology, new species, taxonomy, Vaccinium pubicalyx

Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx X. H. Ye, Q. L. Wang & Y. H. Tong.  
A flowering branches B bracteoles, adaxial (left) and abaxial (right) view C floral bract, adaxial view D flower E hypanthium, disk and style with front one calyx lobe removed F calyx lobe, adaxial view G opened corolla, adaxial view H stamens, adaxial view I dorsal anther spurs of antepetalous anthers (left) and antesepalous anthers (right) J ovary, transverse view.
 Drawn by Mr. D. H. Cui.

Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx X. H. Ye, Q. L. Wang & Y. H. Tong. 
A inflorescence B flower C two bracteoles and one floral bract, adaxial (left) and abaxial (right) view D calyx lobe, abaxial (left) and adaxial (right) view E leaves F opened corolla, adaxial (left) and abaxial (right) view G stamens, lateral (left), abaxial (middle) and adaxial (right) view H anther pores I hypanthium, disk and style with front two calyx lobes removed J ovary, apical (left) and transverse (right) view. 
Scale bars: 3 cm (E); 1 cm (A, B); 5 mm (F, I); 3 mm (D, G); 2 mm (D, J); 1 mm (H). 
Photos by X. H. Ye.

 Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx X. H. Ye, Q. L. Wang & Y. H. Tong. 
A habit B trunk C leafy branch D flowering branch.
 Photos A–C by Y. H. Tong; D by X. H. Ye.

 Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx X. H. Ye, Q. L. Wang & Y. H. Tong, sp. nov.
 
Diagnosis: Vaccinium pseudopubicalyx is morphologically similar to V. pubicalyx and its varieties, but can be distinguished by having fewer pairs of secondary veins (3–5 (Fig. 2E) vs. 5–9 (Fig. 5A, B)), smaller (2–3.5 × ca. 1 mm vs. 5–8 × ca. 1.5–2 mm) and lanceolate (vs. ovate) floral bracts, young twigs and inflorescences rachis white-pubescent (vs. brownish-tomentose), and anthers with smaller dorsal spurs (0.5–1 mm vs. ca 4 mm, Fig. 5F).

Etymology: The specific epithet pseudopubicalyx, a noun in apposition, alludes to close alliance to Vaccinium pubicalyx.

Vernacular name: 拟毛萼越橘 (Chinese pinyin: nǐ máo è yuè jú).
 

 Xue-He Ye, Qing-Long Wang, Ming-Zhong Huang and Yi-Hua Tong. 2022. Novelties on the Genus Vaccinium (Ericaceae) from Hainan, China: A New Species and A New Record for the Country. PhytoKeys. 202: 121-132. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.202.82786