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| Illicium gansuense Z.F.Bai & Xue L. Chen, in Bai, Zhang, Chen et Zhang, 2023. |
Abstract
We describe the newly-discovered species Illicium gansuense (Schisandraceae), discovered in the Yuhe area of Giant Panda National Park, Gansu, China. Morphologically, I. gansuense resembles I. ternstroemioides and I. arborescens. However, the new species can be distinguished by its smaller leaf size, the larger number of tepals, tepal margin ciliate, and distinct flowering and fruiting seasons.
Key words: Austrobaileyales, basal angiosperms, Gansu, Giant Panda National Park, Illiciaceae, Yuhe area
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| Illicium gansuense Z.F.Bai & Xue L. Chen A flowering branch B adaxial and abaxial leaf surface C flower D tepals E removal of tepals showing gynoecium and stamens F, G stamens, dorsal and ventral views H carpel I fruiting branch J, K fruits L seed. (Drawn by Jianlu Bai based on type specimen). |
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| Illicium gansuense Z.F.Bai & Xue L. Chen A flower at front view B flower at side view C the largest tepals D all parts of flower E stamen F follicle G fruit at front view H fruit at side view I seed. Photographed by Zengfu Bai. |
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| Illicium gansuense Z.F.Bai & Xue L. Chen A habitat B, C flowering branch D bark. |
Illicium gansuense Z.F.Bai & Xue L.Chen, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Illicium gansuense is similar to I. ternstroemioides and I. arborescens in overall form, leaf characters, red flowers, location, and population density. Illicium gansuense can be distinguished from I. ternstroemioides and I. arborescens based on leaf-blades size (7–12 × 1.8–3.5 cm in I. gansuense vs. 7–13 × 2–5 cm in I. ternstroemioides vs. 6–12 × 2–4.5 cm in I. arborescens), tepal number and pubescence (10–17 tepals with ciliate margins vs. 10–14 tepals with glabrous margins vs. 14–21 tepals with glabrous margins), number of carpels (10–13 vs. 12–14 vs. 12–16), number and size of the stamens (23–27, 2–3 mm long vs. 22–30, 1.8–3.4 mm long vs. 39–41, 2–3 mm long), and ovary length (1–1.5 mm long vs. 1.3–2.5 mm long vs. 1–1.8 mm long). (Table 1).
Zengfu Bai, Zhihua Zhang, Xuelin Chen and Ji Zhang. 2023. An unexpected New Tree Species from Gansu, China: Illicium gansuense (Schisandraceae). PhytoKeys. 230: 301-307. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.230.102754
