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| Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng, in Wang, Chang & Tseng, 2022. |
Abstract
A new species of Smithia Aiton, S. yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng, sp. nov. from the wetlands of Taiwan is reported in this article. This species was mistakenly identified as S. sensitiva Aiton, but can be distinguished by its pale yellow corolla (vs. vivid yellow), often smaller flowers and shorter style. There is also a color gradient on the adaxial surface of the leaflets between young and mature leaves. Surface sculpture of pollen of S. yehii has significantly larger perforations, and muri are wider than those of S. sensitiva. An identification key to the Smithia taxa of Taiwan and S. sensitiva is presented.
Keywords: endangered (EN), macro-morphology, pollen morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Smithia ciliata Royle, S. sensitiva Aiton
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| Comparison of Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng and its similar species. A S. yehii (photo by C.M.Wang, from Miaoli, Taiwan) B S. sensitiva Aiton (photo by Chih Y.Chang, from Chiang Mai, Thailand) C S. ciliata Royle (photo by C.M.Wang, from Chiayi, Taiwan). Scale bars: 3 cm |
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| Line drawings of Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng A habit B leaf (abaxial) C stipule D flower E bracteoles F calyx G standard H wing I keel J gynoecium K diadelphous stamen L pod M joint of pod N seeds. |
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| Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng A habitat B, C habit D, E raceme F (leaf adaxial) G (leaf abaxial) H flowers I bracteoles J calyx K standard and part of diadelphous stamen L wing M keel N gynoecium O diadelphous stamen P pod Q joint of pod R seed. Voucher A, D–H Chih Y.Chang 3620 (TCF) B, L–R C.M.Wang 17247 (TNM). |
Smithia yehii C.M.Wang, Chih Y.Chang & Y.H.Tseng, sp. nov.
S. sensitiva sensu acut. Forbes and Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 170, 1887; Henry, List 32, 1896; Matsumura, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 16: 73, 1902; Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 1: 180, 1911; Hosokawa in Masamune, Short. Fl. Formosa 106, 1936; Chuang and Huang, Leg. Taiwan Past. 93, 1965; Huang and Ohashi in Li, Fl. Taiwan 3: 381, 1977; Huang and Huang, Taiwania 32(1): 88, 1987; Huang and Huang, Flora of Taiwan, 2nd edition 3: 364, 1993, non Aiton.
Diagnosis: The new species is similar to S. sensitiva, but can be distinguished by its pale yellow corolla (vs. vivid yellow), often smaller flower and shorter style, and color variation on adaxial surface of leaflets when young and mature, viz. dark green at apex and light green at base.
Distribution and habitat: Endemic species of Taiwan. Smithia yehii grows in wetlands and open places, at elevations of < 300 m (Fig. 5). Common companion species are Cirsium lineare (Thunb.) Sch. Bip. (Compositae), Apluda mutica L. (Poaceae), Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth (Poaceae), Hydrocotyle batrachium Hance (Araliaceae), and Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel. (Thelypteridaceae).
Chinese name: yè-shìh-po-yóu-gan (葉氏坡油甘).
Etymology: The species epithet “yehii” was chosen to honor Prof. Mau-Shing Yeh (葉茂生), Department of Agronomy, National Chung-Hsing University, for his contributions to research into the legumes of Taiwan.
Chiu-Mei Wang, Chih-Yi Chang and Yen-Hsueh Tseng. 2022. Smithia yehii (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), A New Species from Taiwan. PhytoKeys. 210: 53-65. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.210.90598
