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| Tarenna pendula Y.H.Qin, S.X.Yu & W.H.Wu, in Qin, Bussmann, Liu, Li, Xia, Wu et Yu, 2025. |
Abstract
The species Tarenna pendula (Rubiaceae), a small shrub, is newly described and illustrated from southwestern Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. This species is similar to Tarenna tsangii but is readily distinguished by its asymmetrical leaves, larger vegetative leaves than inflorescence leaves, adaxially pilosulous blades, pendulous inflorescences, longer pedicels (15–35 mm vs. 4–7 mm in T. tsangii), shorter corolla tubes (1–1.4 cm vs. 1.8–1.9 cm), multiple ovules per locule (vs. two), and sparsely pubescent fruits containing 13–19 seeds (vs. glabrous fruit containing only four seeds).
Key words: Distribution, Ixoroideae, morphology, Pavetteae, taxonomy
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| Tarenna pendula sp. nov. A flowering branches B portion of inflorescence showing stipule C portion of stem showing stipule D portions of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces, (D1) pressure side of blade, (D2) low pressure side of blade E flower F stamen G longitudinally opened corolla showing the position of the stamens H pedicel, bracteoles, ovary and calyx I ovary, calyx, style and stigma J fruit K cross section of ovary L longitudinal section of fruit. Drawings by Lijie Zhu, based on type specimens. |
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| Tarenna pendula sp. nov. A habitat B flowering branch C pendulous cyme D flower (D1) and ovary and calyx (D2) E longitudinally opened corolla F ovary, calyx, style and stigma G fruiting branch H blade in adaxial view (H1) and in abaxial view (H2) I young fruits in different developmental stages J unripe seeds clustered together (after removal of fruit wall) K unripe seeds. |
Tarenna pendula Y.H.Qin, S.X.Yu & W.H.Wu, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Similar to Tarenna tsangii, but distinguished by its small form, asymmetrical leaves, vegetative leaves larger than inflorescence leaves, blades adaxially pilosulous, pendulous inflorescences, longer pedicels (15–35 mm vs. 4–7 mm in T. tsangii), shorter corolla tubes (1–1.4 cm vs. 1.8–1.9 cm), multiple ovules per locule (vs. 2), and sparsely pubescent fruits with 13–19 seeds (vs. glabrous fruit containing only 4 seeds).
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the pendulous inflorescence, which differs from several other Tarenna spp. in the area.
Vernacular name. Chuixiu wukoushu in Mandarin Chinese,
which translates to ‘pendulous Tarenna’.
Yong-Hua Qin, Rainer W. Bussmann, Zhi-Rong Liu, Man Li, Chang-Ying Xia, Wang-Hui Wu and Sheng-Xiang Yu. 2025. Tarenna pendula (Rubiaceae), A New Species from Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 257: 1-8. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.257.148816