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| Silene ophioglossa Huan C. Wang & Feng Yang, in Yang, Wang, Wang et Wang, 2023. |
Abstract
Silene ophioglossa Huan C. Wang & Feng Yang, a new species of Caryophyllaceae, is here described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species was found in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, southwest China. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences showed this new species belongs to section Cucubaloides. Morphologically, it resembles S. phoenicodonta and S. viscidula, which were also found in the southwest China, but clearly differs from the latter two species by having 5–7 mm long calyces with sparsely hirtellous and short glandular hairs, white petals, linear limbs and lobes, and absent or oblong-linear coronal scales. A distribution map and a table with morphological diagnostic characters of new species and its closest relatives are provided, as well as a preliminary conservation assessment of S. ophioglossa under the IUCN criteria.
Keywords: Conservation assessment, endemism, ITS sequence, Silene phoenicodonta, Silene sect. Cucubaloides
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| Silene ophioglossa sp. nov. A habit B abaxial surface of leaf C adaxial surface of leaf D roots E dichasial cymes F flower (side view, showing the calyx) G flower (front view) H dissected flower (showing the androgynophore and claws) I pistil and androgynophore J petal (showing the claw, auricles and coronal scales) K immature capsule L seeds. (Photographed by F. Yang) |
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| Silene ophioglossa sp. nov. A habit B flower (front view) C adaxial surface of leaf D petal E pistil and androgynophore F seed. (Drawn by Tingting Wang) |
Silene ophioglossa Huan C. Wang & Feng Yang, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Silene ophioglossa is morphologically similar to S. phoenicodonta (Fig. 3), but clearly differs from the latter in having 5–7 mm (vs. 6–8 mm) long calyces sparsely hirtellous and short glandular hairs (vs. densely hirtellous and with short glandular hairs), white (vs. dark violet) petals, linear (vs. obovate) limbs and linear (vs. ovate or nearly band-shaped) lobes, absent or oblong-linear (vs. orbicular-linear) coronal scales.
Etymology: The specific epithet “ophioglossa” is derived from the Greek words “ophis” (meaning snake) and “glossa” (meaning tongue), which refer to the petal lobes of this new species which resemble the tongue of a snake.
