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| Strobilanthes bolavenensis K. Yamaz., Tagane & Soulad., in Yamazaki, Souladeth & Tagane, 2021. |
Abstract
A new species of Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae), S. bolavenensis, is described from Bolaven Plateau, southern Laos. Photos and illustration are given together with information of habitat, ecology, vernacular name and preliminary conservation assessment based on IUCN criteria.
Keywords: Flora of Laos, Indochina, Lamiales, Lao PDR, taxonomy
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| Strobilanthes bolavenensis K. Yamaz., Tagane & Soulad. a. flowering plant; b. abaxial surface of inflorescence bract; c. adaxial surface of bract; d. bracteoles (left: abaxial surface, right: adaxial surface); e, calyx opened out (outside); f, corolla opened out showing stamens; g, pistil. Materials: a–g from Souladeth et al. L3452 (KAG). Drawn by K. Yamazaki. |
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| Strobilanthes bolavenensis K. Yamaz., Tagane & Soulad., a. habit; b. portion of abaxial leaf surface; c. adaxial leaf surface enlarged; d. abaxial leaf surface enlarged; e. calyx opened out showing pistil; f. inflorescence with one flower (lateral view); g. rachis of inflorescence; h. flower (front view); i. corolla opened out; j. adaxial surface of bract (left) and bracteole (right); k. abaxial surface of bract (left) and bracteole (right); l. adaxial surface of inflorescence bract; m. immature capsule; n. immature capsule opened out; o. immature seed. Photographs a, b, f and h were taken by S. Tagane on 18 Dec. 2019; c–e, g, i–o from Souladeth et al. L3452 (KAG). |
Strobilanthes bolavenensis K. Yamaz., Tagane & Soulad., sp. nov.
Type:—LAOS. Champasak Province, Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area [Bolaven Plateau], Paksong District, ___ in lower montane forest, 15°__′__″N, 106°__′__″E, 1167 m, 18 December 2019, Souladeth P., Tagane S., Kongxaysavath D., Rueangruea S., Somran S., Suyama Y., Suzuki E. L3452 [fl. & young fr.] (holotype FOF!, isotype: KAG [KAG155816!]).
Strobilanthes bolavenensis is most similar to S. guangxiensis endemic to Guangxi, China in having purple corolla and hairy simple spike inflorescence but distinguished by its smaller plant height up to 30 cm tall (vs. ca. 1 m tall), rachis of inflorescence sparsely puberulent (vs. densely pubescent), bracts and bracteoles covered with short appressed yellowish brown hairs near apex adaxially (vs. glabrous), larger calyx length 1.4–1.6 cm long (vs. 1 cm long), and calyx acute at apex (vs. acuminate).
Distribution and habitat:— LAOS, known only from the type locality. Strobilanthes bolavenensis was found in hill evergreen forests at 1167 m elevation, where it grows with Hymenasplenium excisum (C. Presl) S. Linds. (Aspleniaceae), Cornopteris opaca (D. Don) Tagawa (Athyriaceae), Cyclosorus ciliatus (Wall. ex Benth.) Panigrahi (Thelypteridaceae), Canscora andrographioides Griff. ex C. B. Clarke (Gesneriaceae), Sonerila yunnanensis Jeffrey ex W. W. Sm. (Melastomataceae).
Etymology:— This specific epithet “bolavenensis” refers to the type locality of this species.
Vernacular name:— Hom Bolaven [ຫ້ອມບໍລະເວນ].
Kaito Yamazaki, Phetlasy Souladeth and Shuichiro Tagane. 2021. Strobilanthes bolavenensis, A New Species of Acanthaceae from Bolaven Plateau, southern Laos. Phytotaxa. 513(2); 152-158. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.513.2.6
