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| Leontopodium nyingchiense X.Z.Lan, W.L.Zheng & W.Q.He, in He, F.-Y. Zhao, Chu, Chai, K.-H. Zhao, Tian, B.-X. Zhang, F.-Y. Zhang, Liao, Zheng et Lan, 2024. |
Abstract
Leontopodium nyingchiense, a new species of Asteraceae from the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region of China, is described and illustrated here. Morphologically, it is most similar to L. lingianum but can be distinguished by the combination of monoecious and dioecious individuals, involucral bracts arranged in 3–5 series (with outer series herbaceous and middle to inner series membranous), fimbriate apices on female florets, rough-edged lobes on male florets, and achenes lacking costae. Phylogenetic analyses further support the separation of this new species from related taxa. Finally, we characterize this new species through both morphological comparisons and molecular analyses.
Key words: Leontopodium, morphological analysis, new species, Nyingchi, phylogenetic analysis
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| Leontopodium nyingchiense X.Z.Lan, W.L.Zheng & W.Q.He A male inflorescence B female inflorescence C dissected male inflorescence with female florets D dissected floret E hermaphroditic floret F dissected sterile branch G outer and inner involucral bracts H leaf I–J involucre. |
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| Leontopodium nyingchiense X.Z.Lan, W.L.Zheng & W.Q.He A whole plant B male inflorescence C female inflorescence D male floret E dissected male floret F stamen G female floret H dissected female floret I leaf J outer involucral bract K middle and inner involucral bracts (drawing by Wenqi He). |
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| Leontopodium nyingchiense X.Z.Lan, W.L.Zheng & W.Q.He A habitat B, C morphology in the field D, E whole plant. |
Leontopodium nyingchiense X.Z.Lan, W.L.Zheng & W.Q.He, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Leontopodium nyingchiense is morphologically most similar to L. lingianum but can be distinguished by several features. The species includes monoecious and dioecious individuals, with some plants having both male and female flowers in the same individual. Its involucral bracts are in 3–5 series; the outermost series is herbaceous, while the middle and innermost series are membranous. The female floret corolla has brown, fimbriate apices and a fringed, ragged tip, while the male floret corolla has lobes with rough, granulate edges. Additionally, the achenes lack costae.
Etymology: The epithet indicates the type locality, i.e. Nyingchi area, Xizang, China.
Vernacular name: lín zhī huǒ róng cǎo (Chinese pronuciation); 林芝火绒草 (Chinese name).
Wen-Qi He, Fang-Yu Zhao, Zhao-Fu Chu, Guo-Zhu Chai, Kai-Hui Zhao, Jing-Qin Tian, Bao-Xin Zhang, Fang-Yuan Zhang, Zhi-Hua Liao, Wei-Lie Zheng and Xiao-Zhong Lan. 2024. Leontopodium nyingchiense (Asteraceae), A New Species from Xizang (Tibet), China. PhytoKeys. 249: 181-192. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.249.136846
