Monday, May 22, 2023

[Botany • 2021] Primulina papillosa (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Limestone Areas of Guangxi, China


Primulina papillosa  Z.B. Xin, W.C. Chou & F. Wen,

in Xin, Chou, Maciejewski, Fu et Wen, 2021. 
刺疣报春苣苔  ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.177.63878

Abstract
Primulina papillosa Z.B. Xin, W.C. Chou & F. Wen, a new species from limestone areas of Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated here. It morphologically resembles P. linearifolia (W.T. Wang) Yin Z. Wang and P. pseudolinearifolia W.B. Xu & K.F. Chung, but can be easily distinguished by some combined characters, especially its leaf blades densely papillose-hispid. We found only one population at the type locality with no more than 200 individuals, so that this new species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) using IUCN Criteria.

Keywords: Cliff-dwelling, flora of Guangxi, limestone flora, new taxon, taxonomy

Primulina papillosa
A, B habitat C habit D front view of the corolla E lateral view of the corolla F top view of the corolla G adaxial and abaxial surface of leaf blades H papillose-hispid hairs on leaf blade surface I stamens J pistil, calyx and opened corolla with stamens and staminodes.
 (A, B photos by W.C. Chou, C–J photos by F. Wen; arranged by Z.B. Xin).

Primulina papillosa Z.B. Xin, W.C. Chou & F. Wen, sp. nov.
 
Diagnosis: The new species resembles Primulina linearifolia (Fig. 2A, B) and P. pseudolinearifolia (Fig. 2C, D), but can be easily distinguished from the latter two by both surfaces of its leaf blades being densely papillose-hispid. It differs from P. linearifolia by its 1–2-flowered per cyme (vs. 4–7-flowered); pedicel 20–35 mm long (vs. 5–12 mm); calyx lobes 7.5–9 mm long (vs. 3.2–4 mm); disc ca. 1.2 mm high, margin entire (vs. ca. 0.5 mm, margin repand); capsule 5–6.5 cm long (vs. 2.2–3.6 cm). It also differs from P. pseudolinearifolia by its 1–2-flowered per cyme (vs. 4–12-flowered); pedicel 20–35 mm long (vs. 7–15 mm); central staminodes ca. 0.5 mm long (vs. ca. 3 mm); disc ca. 1.2 mm high, margin entire (vs. ca. 2.5 mm, margin repand).

Comparison of three species of Primulina
A, B P. linearifolia C, D P. pseudolinearifolia E, F P. papillosa.
 (photos by F. Wen; arranged by Z.B. Xin).

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘papillosa’ is derived from the leaf blade densely papillose-hispid on both surfaces.

Vernacular name: The Chinese name ‘刺疣报春苣苔’ (Cì Yóu Bào Chūn Jù Tái) is newly coined for this species because of its special leaf blades surface full of densely papillose-hispid hairs.


Zi-Bing Xin, Wei-Chuen Chou, Stephen Maciejewski, Long-Fei Fu and Fang Wen. 2021. Primulina papillosa (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Limestone Areas of Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 177: 55-61. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.177.63878