[Botany • 2018] Lobelia hongiana (Campanulaceae) • A New Species from Guangxi, China

Lobelia hongiana Q.F.Wang & G.W.Hu, 

in Li, Wei, Liu, Chen, Hu et Wang, 2018.

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.95.20245

Abstract

Lobelia hongiana, a new species of Campanulaceae from Guangxi, South China, is described and illustrated here. This new species is most similar to L. chinensis and L. loochooensis, but differs by its elliptic-obovate or oblanceolate leaf, 2.5–3 mm long greenish-carmine hypanthium, 5 or 6 calyx lobes, purplish-white corolla, with yellowish-green blotches at the base of lower lobes, glabrous filaments, 7–8 mm long broadly obconic capsule. Molecular phylogenetic analysis has been conducted based on ITS and two chloroplast sequences (atpB and rbcL) and 14 taxa in Lobelia are included. L. hongiana is well supported as a new species by the evidence from both morphology and molecular phylogeny.

Keywords: Hypsela, Lobelia chinensis, Lobelia loochooensis, Southern China

 

Photos of Lobelia hongiana Q.F.Wang & G.W.Hu: morphology.
A Habitat B Part of one individual C A stem bearing leaves and a flower D–G Flower viewed from different orientations H–I Fruit viewed from different orientations.

Lobelia hongiana Q.F.Wang & G.W.Hu, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: The new species is distinguished from L. chinensis and L. loochooensis by its elliptic-obovate or oblanceolate leaves, usually sinuate-dentate margin; hypanthium 2.5–3 mm long, greenish-carmine; calyx lobes 5 or 6, shorter than hypanthium; corolla purplish-white, yellowish- green blotches at the base of lower lobes; glabrous filaments; broadly obconic capsule, 7–8 mm long; flowering time from May to July.

 

Distribution and ecology: The new species has been found in Huixian Wetland, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China, with only two populations. There is a high probability that L. hongiana is also distributed at adjacent areas, given its vegetative propagation traits. Its living environment is wetland and farmland.

Phenology: The new species was found in flower from May to July.

Etymology: Species epithet, “hongiana”, is in honour of Prof. De-Yuan Hong who made a significant contribution to the authors’ knowledge of Campanulaceae.

 Zhi-Zhong Li, Neng Wei, Yan Liu, Jin-Ming Chen, Guangwan Hu and Qing-Feng Wang. 2018. Lobelia hongiana (Campanulaceae), A New Species from Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 95: 27-36.  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.95.20245