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| Koenigia medogensis Bo Li, in Xie, Wei, Chen, Zhang, Shen, Xing et Li, 2025. |
ABSTRACT
Koenigia medogensis, a distinctive new species discovered in Medog County, southeastern Xizang, China, is here described and illustrated. The generic placement of this species was validated through integrated morphological and palynological observations, as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses using three cpDNA markers (matK, rbcL, and trnL-F). Within Koenigia, K. medogensis is most closely related to K. mollis but differs significantly in growth habit, leaf shape, inflorescence structure, and achene micromorphology. Crucially, K. medogensis possesses a unique vegetative reproductive strategy, viz. the production of bulbils at both stolon apices and inflorescence apex. This dual-bulbil trait is exceptionally rare within Polygonaceae and likely represents an evolutionary adaptation to the hyperhumid monsoon environment of Medog County as a reproductive assurance strategy.
Keywords: micromorphology, palynology, Persicaria, phylogeny, Polygonoideae
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| Partial morphological characteristics of Koenigia medogensis. (a) inflorescence, (b) flowers, (c, d) leaves, (e) ocrea, (f, g) persistent pedicel and trigonous achene, (h) achene surface sculpture (a, b were photographed by Hai-Lei Zheng, c–e by Hong Jiang, f by Bing Liu, and g, h by Xiao-Ting Xie). |
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| Koenigia medogensis Bo Li, sp. nov.: (a) habit, (b) ocrea, (c) aerial roots, (d) opened flower (frontal and lateral view), (e) dissected flower, (f) gynoecium (lateral and apical view), (g) bulbils, (h) achene in persistent perianth (left) or not (right). Drawn by Yun-Xiao Liu from the holotype. |
Koenigia medogensis Bo Li, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: K. medogensis and K. mollis both have the densely pubescent rachis and spreading flowers but differ in growth habit (perennial herb vs. semi-shrub), reproductive mode (asexual reproduction via bulbils vs. exclusively sexual reproduction), leaf shape (ovate or ovate-lanceolate vs. elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate), inflorescence type (racemose and umbellate vs. paniculate), and perianth color (white or pale green vs. white).
Etymology: The Specific epithet Refers to the Type Locality, Medog County in China.
Xiao-Ting Xie, Yi-Ming Wei, Yong-Jun Chen, Dian-Xiang Zhang, Jian-Yong Shen, Yao-Wu Xing and Bo Li. 2025. Koenigia medogensis (Polygonaceae: Persicarieae), A distinct New Species from Xizang, Southwestern China. Ecology and Evolution. 15(9); e72089. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72089 [31 August 2025]
