 |
| Lilium huanglongense T.Wang & Y.D.Gao, Wang, Yuan, Zhou et Gao, 2025. 黄龙百合 || DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.135155 |
Abstract
In this study, we describe Lilium huanglongense, a newly-discovered lily species identified following extensive surveys in an undeveloped area of the Huanglong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan, China. This region, located in the Hengduan Mountains of south-western China, is recognised as one of the world’s prominent biodiversity hotspots, providing diverse habitats for a wide range of plant species. Morphologically, L. huanglongense resembles Lilium fargesii Franch., which is distributed in central China, as well as other tepal-recurved members of the section Lophophora (Bureau & Franch.) F. T. Wang & Ts. Tang. This section comprises dwarf lilies predominantly found in the alpine scrub of the Hengduan Mountains, extending westwards into the Himalayas. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using both nuclear ITS and chloroplast genomes confirm the independent status of the new species and its placement within the section Lophophora. The identification of this new species helps to fill the distribution gap between broad-leaved forest and alpine scrub species within the section, thereby enhancing our understanding of the diversity and distribution history of Lophophora.
Key words: Liliaceae, Lilium huanglongense, Lophophorum-clade, new species, section Lophophora
 |
| Comparison of floral structures of similar species A Lilium huanglongense flower B tepals of Lilium huanglongense with basal nectaries C Lilium matangense flower D Lilium fargesii flower E Lilium stewartianum flower F tepals of Lilium matangense with basal nectaries G tepals of Lilium fargesii with basal nectaries H tepals of Lilium stewartianum with basal nectaries. Photographed by Yundong Gao. |
 |
| Lilium huanglongense T.Wang & Y.D.Gao, sp. nov. A habit B dissected flower C outer perianth segment D inner perianth segment E stamen F pistil (frontal view) G pistil (lateral view). Drawn by T. Wang from the holotype. |
 |
| Habitat of Lilium huanglongense and morphological comparison with Lilium fargesii A habitat destroyed by mudslides B flowering plant C habit of Lilium huanglongense exhibiting a greater abundance of basal leaves, accompanied by wider leaf blades compared to L. fargesii D habit of Lilium fargesii. |
Lilium huanglongense T.Wang & Y.D.Gao, sp. nov.
Common name: 黄龙百合 huang long bai he
Diagnosis: Lilium huanglongense is most similar to L. fargesii and L. stewartianum, but can be distinguished from L. fargesii by its yellow tepals and stamens that are longer than the pistil and, in contrast to L. stewartianum, L. huanglongense lacks a deep, slender floral tubes (the height of the cone formed by the connivent tepals) and has a trilobed, non-inflated stigma. (Table 1, Suppl. material 1: table S1)
Etymology: The epithet adopted here is derived from Huanglong National Natural Reserve, the site of discovery of this species.
Ting Wang, Yumei Yuan, Ting-Hong Zhou and Yundong Gao. 2025. Lilium huanglongense (Liliaceae): A Newly-discovered Species in north-western Sichuan, China. PhytoKeys. 252: 9-24. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.252.135155
