[Botany • 2025] Halophila siaochihkanensis (Hydrocharitaceae) • A New Species from Penghu County, Taiwan

Halophila siaochihkanensis P.-L. Lu & P.-J. Liu, 

in Liu, C.-W. Lin, H.-J. Lin, W.-J. Lin, Hsieh, Cai, Hong et Lu, 2025.  

小赤崁鹽草  ||  https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2106  

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Abstract

Halophila siaochihkanensis P.-L. Lu & P.-J. Liu (Hydrocharitaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Penghu County, Taiwan. It is morphologically similar to Halophila ovalis (R. Br.) Hook. f. and Halophila decipiens Ostenf., but differs in flowering time, leaf hairs, and vegetative life history, having smaller leaves and fewer leaf veins, flowers with white to light yellowish brown tepals, shorter stamens, and fruits that are smaller, globose, and including several seeds in a fruit. This study explores the phylogenetic analysis of 11 species representing all four genera with two outgroup species using DNA Internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The dataset was analyzed using parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis. Results show that Halophila siaochihkanensis is monophyletic group. The species is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from the remaining seagrass species in Taiwan and is recognized as a new species, Halophila siaochihkanensis P.-L. Lu & P.-J. Liu, and a new key for seagrass of Taiwan is made.

Keyword: Hydrocharitaceae, Halophila decipiens, Halophila ovalis, phylogenetics, taxonomy

Halophila siaochihkanensis P.-L. Lu & P.-J. Liu.
the habitat, seagrass bed, and their young/old leave.
A. The yellow circle indicates the flowers. B. The morphology of the individual. C. The morphology of mature leaves. D. The morphology of young leaves.E. The population. F. The nature habitat. G. The nature habitat.

Distribution of Halophila siaochihkanensis.
collection site, in Penghu County, Taiwan.

Halophila siaochihkanensis P.L. Lu & P.J. Liu, sp. nov. 

小赤崁鹽草 

 

Diagnosis: Halophila siaochihkanensis is morphologically similar to Halophila ovalis (R. Br.) Hook. f. in having oval leaf morphology. However, H. siaochihkanensis can be clearly distinguished from H. ovalis by its small leaves and fewer than 9 pairs branching veins, flowers with pinkish color, smaller flower size, after fruiting, above vegetative parts completely disappearing (Table 2, Figure 3). Halophila siaochihkanensis is also morphologically similar to Halophila decipiens Ostenf in having oval leaf morphology. However, H. siaochihkanensis can be clearly distinguished from H. decipiens by its completely smooth blade, growing elevation above 2 m, small leaves and fewer than 9 pairs branching veins, flowers with pinkish color, smaller flower size, after fruiting, above vegetative parts completely disappearing (Table 2, Figure 3).

Pi-Jen Liu, Chiao-Wen Lin, Hsing-Juh Lin, Wei-Jen Lin, Li-Te Hsieh, Cheng-Xuan Cai, Ming-Yang Hong and Pei-Luen Lu. 2025. Halophila siaochihkanensis (Hydrocharitaceae), A New Species from Penghu County, Taiwan. Taiwania. 70(2); 2106-2106. https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2106 [27 March 2025] 

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[Botany • 2019] Ottelia fengshanensis (Hydrocharitaceae) • A New Bisexual Species of Ottelia from southwestern China

Ottelia fengshanensis Z.Z.Li, S.Wu & Q.F.Wang

in Li, Wu, Zhou, et al. 2019.

 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.135.38531 

Abstract

Ottelia fengshanensis, a new species (Hydrocharitaceae) from southwest China is here described and illustrated. Comparing its morphological features to putative close relatives O. guanyangensis, it has 3–4 flowers (vs. 2–5) each spathe, hexagonal-cylindric fruit, white styles (vs. yellow), green leaves (vs. dark green) and fruit tiny winged (vs. winged obviously). Molecular phylogenetic investigation of four DNA sequences (ITS, rbcL, trnK5’ intron and trnS-trnG) and the Poisson Tree Processes model for species delimitation (PTP) analysis, further resolves O. fengshanensis as a new species that is close to O. guanyangensis with distinct support.

Keywords: karst, bisexual flowers, molecular phylogeny

Figure 2. Ottelia fengshanensis Z.Z.Li, S.Wu & Q.F.Wang.
 A Habitat B flowering plant C bisexual flower with red-green sepals D individual and leaf: triplinerved with conspicuous cross veins E fruit: Hexagonal-cylindric with tiny wings F the character of pollens by SEM G spathe H seeds.

Figure 3. Illustration of Ottelia fengshanensis Z.Z.Li, S.Wu & Q.F.Wang.

Drawn by Shuai-Jie Li. 

Ottelia fengshanensis Z.Z.Li, S.Wu & Q.F.Wang, sp. nov.

Description: The new species is similar to Ottelia guanyangensis in having bisexual flowers, three stamens, but differs through having (3)-4 flowers in each spathe (vs. 2–5), white styles (vs. yellow), green leaves (vs. dark green) and by fruits which are tiny winged (vs. obviously winged).

Figure 4. Phylogenetic tree and PTP analysis of Ottelia fengshanensis sp. nov. and Blyxa japonica as an outgroup. Posterior probabilities (PP > 0.70) and bootstrap values (BS > 70) based on Bayesian Inference and maximum likelihood (ML) analysis are shown above the branches.

Distribution and habitat: Ottelia fengshanensis is known from a single population in Fengshan County, Guangxi Province, China. The species inhabits a karst river less than 1.5 m in depth. Due to the complex underground river system in the karst region, it is probable that the species occurs in nearby areas as well.

  

Etymology: The epithet is derived from the name of Fengshan County, which is the only known locality of occurrence.

 Zhi-Zhong Li, Shuang Wu, Chun-Yu Zhou, Yan Liu, Guang-Wan Hu, Samuli Lehtonen, Qing-Feng Wang and Jin-Ming Chen. 2019. Ottelia fengshanensis, A New Bisexual Species of Ottelia (Hydrocharitaceae) from southwestern China. PhytoKeys. 135: 1-10.  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.135.38531