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| Oreocharis corallodiscoides Huan C. Wang & Xi Li, in Li, Q.-P. Wang, Yang, Ye et H.-C. Wang, 2025. |
Abstract
Oreocharis corallodiscoides, a new species of the tribe Trichosporeae (Gesneriaceae), is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by its ovate, rounded or sometimes rhombic leaves densely covered with appressed hairs, yellow corolla, and the presence of two purple triangular appendages inside the base of the corolla tube. It is known only from the type locality, Luzhijiang dry-hot valley in Yimen county, central Yunnan, southwest China. A morphological comparison with its morphologically similar species (O. agnesiae and O. longifolia) is also presented.
Key words: Dry-hot valley, endemism, morphological comparison, taxonomy, xerophyte
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| Oreocharis corallodiscoides sp. nov. A habit B adaxial surface of leaf C abaxial surface of leaf D flower (side view) E style, stamens and two triangular purple appendages F immaturate capsule. |
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| Oreocharis corallodiscoides sp. nov. A, B habit C flower in front view D flower in side view, pedicel E adaxial surface of leaf F abaxial surface of leaf G pistil and stamens H pistil, stamens and two triangular purple glandular appendages (at the arrow) I immaturate capsule J mature capsule. |
Oreocharis corallodiscoides Huan C. Wang & Xi Li, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Oreocharis corallodiscoides is similar to O. agnesiae (Forrest ex W. W. Sm.) Mich. Möller et W. H. Chen in texture and indumentum of the leaves, as well as in flower morphology and size, but can be clearly distinguished from the latter by its leaves ovate, rounded or sometimes rhombic (vs. ovate to oblong), with a length-to-width ratio of 1–1.5 (vs. 2.2–2.7), corollas yellow (vs. purple-red), and the presence (vs. absence) of two purple and triangular appendages inside the base of the corolla tube. Additionally, while O. corallodiscoides shares the inflated yellow corolla tube with O. longifolia, it differs by its ovate-rotund leaves (vs. lanceolate-oblong), shorter petioles (0.5–2 cm vs. 3.5–5 cm), crenate leaf margins (vs. serrate), glandular pistils (vs. glabrous), and the presence of appendages with thickened filaments.
Vernacular name. Shan hu ye fo du ju tai (珊瑚叶佛肚苣苔) (Chinese).
Etymology. The specific epithet corallodiscoides is derived from the generic name Corallodiscus Batalin (Gesneriaceae) by adding the suffix “-oides”, reflecting the leaf morphological similarity of this new species to some members of the genus Corallodiscus, such as C. lanuginosus (Wall. ex A. DC.) B. L. Burtt; particularly, its sometimes rhombic leaves are rare in the genus Oreocharis.
Xi Li, Qiu-Ping Wang, Feng Yang, Jing-Yi Ye and Huan-Chong Wang. 2025. Oreocharis corallodiscoides (Gesneriaceae, Trichosporeae, Didymocarpinae), A New Species from Yunnan, southwest China. PhytoKeys. 256: 73-81. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.256.148644
