Ixeridium nujiangense Ze H.Wang, in Wang, Zhong, Li, Xu et Sun, 2024. |
Abstract
In this paper, we describe Ixeridium nujiangense, a novel species identified in southwestern Yunnan, China. Two populations have been found along the riverbanks of the Nujiang River in Yongde and Zhenkang Counties. Morphologically, I. nujiangense is most similar to the recently described I. malingheense, but it can be readily distinguished by its mostly divided basal leaves, narrower non-clasping cauline leaves, notably shorter corolla tube, pale brown anthers, and considerably longer beak of achenes.
Key words: Ixeridium malingheense, morphology, new species, Nujiang River, taxonomy
Ixeridium nujiangense Ze H.Wang, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Ixeridium nujiangense is morphologically most similar to I. malingheense but can be distinguished by the following traits: basal leaves usually pinnatisect or pinnately divided, with only a few entire leaves (vs. basal leaves all entire), cauline leaves lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, with upper leaf base attenuated, not clasping (vs. cauline leaves oblong or narrowly elliptical, with upper leaf base auriculately clasping), corolla tube ca. 1/5 of the corolla length (vs. corolla tube ca. 1/3 of the corolla length), anthers pale brown (vs. anthers yellow), achenes 2.9–3.1 mm in length (vs. achenes 2.5–2.6 mm in length), beak ca. 1/3 of the achene length (vs. beak ca. 1/6 of the achene length).
Etymology: The specific epithet ‘nujiangense’ is derived from the name of the Nujang River along whose banks the type locality is situated.
Vernacular name: Simplified Chinese:怒江小苦荬; Chinese Pinyin: Nùjiang Xiǎokǔmǎi.
Ze-Huan Wang, Qian-Qian Zhong, Yong-Liang Li, Jia-Ju Xu and Qing-Wen Sun. 2024. Ixeridium nujiangense (Crepidinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), A New Species from southwest Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys. 244: 163-174. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.244.126940