[Botany • 2022] Paraphlomis nana (Lamiaceae) • A New Species from Chongqing, China

Paraphlomis nana  Y.P. Chen, C. Xiong & C.L. Xiang 

in Chen, Xiong, Zhou, Chen & Xiang, 2022. 

矮生假糙苏  ||  DOI:  10.55730/1300-008X.2680

Abstract

Most species of Paraphlomis are distributed in the south of the Yangtze River in China. In this study, a new species, Paraphlomis nana, from northeast Chongqing in the north of the Yangtze River is described and illustrated. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses based on two nuclear ribosomal DNA regions (ITS and ETS) and three plastid DNA markers (rpl32-trnL, rps16, and trnL-trnF) were carried out to explore the phylogenetic position of the new species within Paraphlomis. Though the nuclear and plastid trees reveal incongruent placements of P. nana in Paraphlomis, which may be caused by chloroplast capture, a close relationship between the new species and P. albiflora is supported by molecular phylogenetic, morphological, and geographic evidence. However, the two species can be clearly distinguished from each other by the plant height and lamina and calyx morphology.

Keywords: Chloroplast capture, Matsumurella, Paraphlomideae, the Yangtze River

Line drawing of Paraphlomis nana.
 (A) habit (B) lateral view of flower (C) dissected calyx (D) frontal view of corolla (E) dissected corolla (F) pistil.

 Drawn by J. Tian.

Morphology of Paraphlomis nana from the type locality.
 (A) habitat (B, C) leaves (D, E) plants (F) frontal view of flower (G) lateral view of flower (H) calyx and corolla.

Photographed by C. Xiong.

 

Paraphlomis nana Y.P. Chen, C. Xiong & C.L. Xiang sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Paraphlomis nana is morphologically most similar to P. albiflora, but differs by its 1–5 cm tall (vs. 30–60 cm tall) plants, ovate laminae (vs. ovate to broadly ovate) with obtuse apices (vs. acute), and ca. 3 mm long calyx teeth (vs. ca. 1 mm long) with bristle-like-acuminate apices (vs. acute).

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the dwarf plants of the new species compared with that of most species of Paraphlomis.

Common name (assigned here): Ai Sheng Jia Cao Su (矮生假糙苏; Chinese name). 

Distribution and habitat: The new species has only been found in two localities in northeast Chongqing, China (Figure 5). It usually grows on moist cliffs or at streamsides in valleys of evergreen broad-leaved forests at altitudes of 1000–1300 m.

 Yaping Chen, Chi Xiong, Houlin Zhou, Feng Chen and Chunlei Xiang. 2022. Paraphlomis nana (Lamiaceae), A New Species from Chongqing, China. Turkish Journal of Botany. 46(2); 7. DOI:  10.55730/1300-008X.2680