[Botany • 2025] Petrocosmea pengzhouensis (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from Sichuan Province, China

 

Petrocosmea pengzhouensis K.Huang & Z.X.Fu,

in Zheng, Qu, Chen, Zhang, J. Wang, L. Li, Wu, Y. Wang, B. Li, Huang et Fu. 2025.  

彭州石蝴蝶  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.262.164617

Abstract

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocosmea pengzhouensis K.Huang & Z.X.Fu, sp. nov., from the Feilaifeng Scenic Area of Longmen Mountain National Geological Park (Pengzhou, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China), is described and illustrated. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses provide robust evidence for its recognition as a new species. While morphologically most similar to P. duclouxii Craib, phylogenetic reconstructions reveal its closest affinities with P. duclouxii and P. intraglabra (W. T. Wang) Z. J. Qiu. The new species is morphologically distinguished from P. duclouxii by a suite of diagnostic characters: leaf shape (ovate to oblique-ovate vs. ovate to nearly orbicular), corolla throat (spotless vs. bearing two deep purple spots), and filament pubescence (translucent-puberulent vs. rust-brown puberulent). A distribution map and a comparative morphological table with P. duclouxii, P. intraglabra, and P. hexiensis S. Z. Zhang & Z. Y. Liu, and a preliminary conservation assessment following IUCN criteria are provided.

Key words: Morphological characters, new species, Petrocosmea, taxonomy

Petrocosmea pengzhouensis sp. nov.
A, B. Habitat; C, E. Plant; D, F. Plant and roots (Photos A, B by KH and C–F by XZ).

Petrocosmea pengzhouensis sp. nov. 
A. Leaves; B, D. Flowers; C. Dissected corollas; E, F. Stamens; G. Pistil and stamens; H. Sepals (Photos by XZ).

 Petrocosmea pengzhouensis K.Huang & Z.X.Fu, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. In terms of traits such as being a rosette-forming herb, possessing a single-flowered cyme, and having a pale purple corolla, P. pengzhouensis most closely resembles P. duclouxii but differs primarily in the following characteristics: leaf shape (ovate to oblique-ovate vs. ovate to nearly orbicular), corolla throat (spotless vs. bearing two deep purple spots), and filament pubescence (translucent-puberulent vs. rust-brown puberulent) (Table 2).

Etymology. The new taxon is named after the type locality, Pengzhou, Chengdu City, China.

Vernacular name. The Chinese name is “péng zhōu shí hú dié” (彭州石蝴蝶).

 Xinyi Zheng, Tianmeng Qu, Xinyu Chen, Yanru Zhang, Jin Wang, Li Li, Wen Wu, Yujie Wang, Bo Li, Ke Huang and Zhixi Fu. 2025. Petrocosmea pengzhouensis (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Sichuan Province, China. PhytoKeys. 262: 145-160. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.262.164617