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| Lespedeza jianghuensis Song Huang, Jia X. Li & B. Pan bis, in Huang, Chen, Song, Li, Pan, Zhong, Zhou, Liu, Zheng et Zhao, 2025. |
Abstract
Lespedeza jianghuensis (Fabaceae), from Yangtze River basin, China, is described and illustrated as a new species. It is a dwarf shrublet occurring in the riparian meadows along the banks of rivers and lakes. It is morphologically similar to L. cuneata, L. lichiyuniae, and L. caraganae, but differs by its prostrate or decumbent habit, angulate but not furrowed stems, and small stipules (ca. 1 mm). Phylogenetic analyses based on combination of five chloroplasts fragments and ITS sequence confirmed that it belongs to Lespedeza sect. Junceae. We also evaluate its conservation status as Least Concern (LC).
Key words: Fabaceae, morphological traits, new species, taxonomy, wetland
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| Lespedeza jianghuensis Song Huang, Jia X. Li & B. Pan bis, sp. nov. A habit B fruiting branch C flowering branch D leaf E bracts F bracteoles G calyx H standard I keel-petal J wing K pistil L stamens M pod of chasmogamous flower N pod of cleistogamous flower O seed. Illustrated by Mei-Qian Chen. |
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| Morphology and habitat of Lespedeza jianghuensis Song Huang, Jia X. Li & B. Pan bis, sp. nov. A habitat B habit C flowering branch D fruiting branch E stipule F lateral view of flower G fruit and seed, pod of chasmogamous flowers (left), pods of cleistogamous flowers (right) H flower dissections, from left to right (bracts and anatomical calyx; wing, keel-petal and standard; stamens and pistil). Photographed by Jia-Xiang Li and Song Huang. |
Lespedeza jianghuensis Song Huang, Jia X. Li & B. Pan bis, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: L. jianghuensis is morphologically most similar to L. cuneata, in having narrow leaflets and straight lateral veins to the margin, but differs from the latter by its prostrate or decumbent habit (vs. erect or ascending), stems strongly branched at the base (vs. stems simple), branches with appressed-pubescent (vs. densely ascending-pubescent), leaves sparse (vs. leaves crowded), leaflets narrowly obovate, terminal leaflets 5–16 mm long (vs. cuneate or linear-cuneate, terminal leaflets 7–30 mm long in L. cuneata), abaxial surfaces of leaves pubescent with obvious veins (vs. densely whitish pubescent, veins indistinct), stipules triangular, 0.7–1 mm long (vs. lanceolate, 1–4 mm long in L. cuneata) and calyx lobes narrowly triangular (vs. lanceolate) (Fig. 5).
Etymology: The specific epithet “jianghuensis” refers to the distribution area, with “jiang” standing for Yangtze River and its tributaries, and “hu” standing for the lakes in Yangtze River Basin.
Chinese name: (assigned here). jiāng hú tiě sào zhou (江湖铁扫帚).
Song Huang, Mei-Qian Chen, Feng Song, Jia-Xiang Li, Bo Pan, Hui-Yi Zhong, Li-Qun Zhou, Ang Liu, Yu-Tao Zheng and Pan Zhao. 2025. Lespedeza jianghuensis (Fabaceae), A New Species from riparian meadows of Yangtze River basin, China. PhytoKeys. 252: 51-63. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.144564
