 |
| Raphiocarpus discolor F.Wen, Z.B.Xin & L.B.Ji, in Qian, Fu, Ji, Tang, Xin et Wen. 2025. 化州漏斗苣苔 || DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.263.167423 |
Abstract
Raphiocarpus discolor, a new species from Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated. This species is morphologically similar to R. bicallosus C.H.Nguyen, Aver. & F.Wen but can be distinguished by several characteristics, including the absence of prophylls, all axes bearing white pubescence, the corolla tube being externally yellow to brownish yellow with several indistinct longitudinal yellowish-brown stripes, and internally purplish red to purplish brown and glabrous. According to the IUCN Red List criteria for endangered species, this new species has been provisionally recognized as Critically Endangered (CR).
Key words: Flora of Guangdong, new taxa, plant taxonomy, Raphiocarpus bicallosus
 |
| Raphiocarpus discolor F.Wen, Z.B.Xin & L.B.Ji. A. Habitat; B. Habit; C. Flattened flowering plant; D, E. Cymes (photographed by Fang Wen). |
 |
| Raphiocarpus discolor F.Wen, Z.B.Xin & L.B.Ji. A. Lateral view of flowers; B, C. Front view of flowers; D, F. Abaxial lip; E, G. Adaxial lip; H. Pistil; I. Disc; J. Stigma; K. Stamens; L. Sepals; M. Capsule (photographed by Fang Wen & Xiao-Mao Qian). |
Raphiocarpus discolor F.Wen, Z.B.Xin & L.B.Ji, sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Raphiocarpus discolor is morphologically similar to R. bicallosus, but it differs from the latter in its leaf blade adaxially densely white puberulent, abaxially nearly glabrous (vs. sparsely hispid adaxially and abaxially); prophylls absent (vs. present); calyx ca. 4 × 1 mm (vs. 5–6 × 2–3 mm), outside pubescent (vs. outside glandular pubescent); corolla tube outside yellow to brownish-yellow externally with several indistinct longitudinal yellowish-brown stripes (vs. tube outside yellow to orange-yellow), inside purplish-red to purplish-brown, glabrous, with two bosses inside the corolla tube placed at the base of the abaxial lobe (vs. inside yellow with more or less dense brown purple spots, hairy bosses inside the corolla tube placed at the base of the abaxial lobe); staminode ca. 6 mm long (vs. ca. 4 mm long); capsule in size 35–39 × ca. 2 mm (vs. 50–60 × ca. 3 mm) (Table 1), although there are differences between them, these distinctions remain consistently stable.
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘discolor’ is derived from the Latin ‘dis-’ (meaning ‘different’) and ‘-color’ (meaning ‘color’), referring to the color differences in different parts of the corolla.
Vernacular name. Huà Zhoū Loù Doú Jù Tái (Chinese pronunciation);
化州漏斗苣苔 (Chinese name).
化州漏斗苣苔 (Chinese name).
Xiao-Mao Qian, Jia-Xin Fu, Ling-Bo Ji, Bo Tang, Zi-Bing Xin and Fang Wen. 2025. Raphiocarpus discolor (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from Guangdong, China. PhytoKeys. 263: 165-174. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.263.167423
