Tuesday, May 13, 2025

[Botany • 2024] Aristolochia pulvinata (Aristolochiaceae) • A New Species from Yunnan, Southwest China

 

Aristolochia pulvinata Y.Fan Wang & Z.J.Yin, 

in Zhang, Wang, Guo, Zhu, Yang etYin, 2024. 
垫状花关木通  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.675.3.5  

Abstract
Aristolochia pulvinata Yi-Fan Wang & Zhi-Jian Yin, a new species of Aristolochia subgenus Siphisia (Aristolochiaceae) from Yunnan Province, southwest China, is described and illustrated. Aristolochia pulvinata is distinguished by its unique characters: an elevated and thickened pulvinate structure in the inferior calyx limbs of its perianth. Morphologically, it resembles A. ovatifolia, A. melanocephala, A. utriformis, and A. luudamcui due to the similar thickening on the calyx limb region, but it differs in terms of degree, surface texture, color, and angle, as well as leaf morphology. This species, discovered and known only from one region, is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN categories and criteria. This publication includes detailed morphological illustrations of A. pulvinata, with comparative photo plates and a table that highlights distinguishing features relative to similar species.

Aristolochiaceae, Isotrema, new species, taxonomy, perianth, Magnoliids

Aristolochia pulvinata Yi-Fan Wang & Zhi-Jian Yin. sp. nov.
 A. Habitat, B. Habit in situ, C. Frontal abaxial view of the bud, D. A pair of flowers in a fascicle on lignified stem, E. Front view of the flower, F-G. Longitudinal section of the flower, showing the adaxial side of the calyx limb covered with purple pustules, H. Thickened pulvinate structure on the calyx limb, I. Lateral and back view of the flower, J-K. Top and lateral view of the gynostemium, showing the paired anthers and their position, L. Adaxial (upper) and abaxial (down) side of the leaf, M-N. Taproot and root tips.

FIGURE 3. Morphological comparison.
A1-A5: Aristolochia pulvinata, B1-B5: A. ovatifolia, C1-C5: A. melanocephala, D1-D5: A. utriformis, E1-E5: A. neolongifolia.
A1, B1, C1, D1, E1: Lateral view of the flower; A2, B2, C2, D2, E2: Longitudinal section view of the flower; A3, B3, C3, D3, E3: Front view of the flower; A4, B4, C4, D4, E4:: Gynostemium; A5, B5, C5, D5, E5: Abaxial (upper right) and adaxial (lower left) sides of the leaf. C1-C5 were provided by Dr. Xinxin Zhu.

Aristolochia pulvinata Yi-Fan Wang & Zhi-Jian Yin, sp. nov.

Etymology:—The specific epithet "pulvinata" is derived from the distinctive pulvinate thickening on the inferiorlobe of the adaxial side of the calyx limb observed in its flowers. 
The subgenus Siphisia is commonly referred to as 关 木通 (guan mu tong) in Chinese, which differs from the genus name Aristolochia, typically known as 马兜铃 (ma douling). Therefore, the Chinese name is given as 垫状花关木通 (dian zhuang hua guan mu tong), reflecting this unique morphological trait. 


HONG-LIN ZHANG, Yi-Fan WANG, Zi-Rui GUO, Tong ZHU, Hu-Hua YANG and ZHI-JIAN YIN. 2024. Aristolochia pulvinata, A New Species of Aristolochiaceae from Yunnan, Southwest China. Phytotaxa. 675(3); 261-272. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.675.3.5 [2024-12-04]