[Botany • 2025] Aster mayangheense (Asteraceae: Astereae) • A New Species from Guizhou Province, China

 

Aster mayangheense  Z.Li, 

in Li, Wu, Wang, Zhou et An, 2025.

麻阳河紫菀  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.257.145670 

 

Abstract

Aster mayangheense Z.Li (Asteraceae, Astereae), a new species from Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated here. Morphological and molecular analyses based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (nrDNA ITS) confirm its distinct status. The species is morphologically similar to A. saxicola, but differs by its falcate, adaxially shiny upper leaves 3.5–5.0 × 0.8–2.0 cm with long-acuminate to caudate apices (versus oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves in A. saxicola); 5-seriate, abaxially red-purple phyllaries (versus 3–5-seriate with purple-tipped phyllaries); and fewer florets (7–12 ray florets and 5–9 disc florets versus 9–14 ray florets and 10–18 disc florets). Phylogenetic analysis strongly supports its distinctness, with four samples forming a monophyletic clade (PP = 1.00, BS = 100%) nested within Aster.

Key words: Aster, morphology, molecular phylogeny, new taxon

Habitat and morphology of Aster mayangheense
 A habitat B flowering plants C capitula arranged on a branch D top view of the capitula E rhizomes F upper leaves, falcate with shiny surface G side view of two capitula H phyllaries (from outer to inner, left to right) I a disc floret (left) and a ray floret (right).

 Aster mayangheense Z.Li, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Aster mayangheense differs from A. saxicola by its falcate upper leaves (3.5–5.8 × 0.8–2.0 cm) with adaxially shiny surfaces and long-acuminate to caudate apices (vs. oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves 1.0–6.7 × 0.4–1.5 cm, margins entire, shortly petiolate to sessile), 5-seriate red-purple to purple phyllaries abaxially (vs. 3–5-seriate phyllaries purple/purplish only at apex) and fewer florets per capitulum (ray florets: 7–12 vs. 9–14; disc florets: 5–9 vs. 10–18) (Figs 1, 2, Table 1).

Etymology. The specific epithet indicates the type locality, Mayanghe, Yanhe County, Guizhou Province, China. The locality name is rendered “Mayanghe National Nature Reserve” in Chinese Pinyin.

Vernacular name. 麻阳河紫菀 mā yáng hé zī wǎn in Chinese Pinyin.

Zhi Li, Jiang-hua Wu, Yu-jie Wang, Qi-xian Zhou, Ming-tai An. 2025. Aster mayangheense (Asteraceae, Aster), A New Species from Guizhou Province, China. PhytoKeys. 257: 179-190. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.257.145670