Search

A new species of the genus Camellia (Theaceae), Camellia zijinica, discovered in the Danxia landscape from Guangdong Province, China, is characterized and illustrated. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes suggested its affinity with C. drupifera, C. oleifera and C. fluviatilis, however, it morphologically differs from all of the latter by leaf shape and size. Phonologically, it most closely resembles C. microphylla, but can be distinguished from the latter by its young branchlets glabrous (vs. densely pubescent), fewer bracteoles and sepals, diverse leaf shape, midvein raised slightly with sparsely pubescent or glabrous (vs. prominently with densely pubescent) and leaf adaxially matt (vs. vernicose) when dried. By morphological and molecular analyses, Camellia zijinica represented a distinct new species of C. sect. Paracamellia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new species Eriobotrya crassifolia, collected from Yunnan Province, China, is characterised and illustrated. A phylogeny based on chloroplast genomes supported its closest affinity with E. tengyuehensis, while a phylogeny based on 197 single-copy nuclear genes supported its closest affinity with E. fragrans and E. deflexa. Morphologically, however, it resembles E. angustissima. Nevertheless, it can be easily distinguished from E. angustissima by its abaxially retroflexed and sharply serrate leaf margins, densely rusty tomentose inflorescences, and oblong or elliptic leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilea danxiaensis L.F.Fu, A.K.Monro & Y.G.Wei, a new species of Urticaceae from Danxia landform, Guangdong, China, is described and photographed. Phylogenetic analyses based on three DNA regions (ITS, trnL-F and rbcL) suggest that the new species belongs to P. sect. Pilea. Within the section, the new species is morphologically most similar to P. sinocrassifolia and P. peploides. Plastid genome and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of the new species are assembled and annotated. The plastid genome is 151,857 bp in length and comprises two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,307 bp separated by a large singlecopy of 82,836 bp and a small single-copy of 18,407 bp. A total of 113 functional genes are recovered, comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. A global conservation assessment suggests that P. danxiaensis should be classified as of Least Concern (LC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eriobotrya laoshanica, a new species of Rosaceae from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is easily distinguished from the most similar species E. malipoensis K. C. Kuan by its longer petioles (2-5 vs. 0.5-1 cm); indumentum on the lower leaf surfaces (densely tomentose vs. glabrous); much fewer flowers (15- to 30-flowered vs. 50- to 100-flowered) on the panicle; larger flowers (2.5-3 vs. 1.5-2 cm in diameter); and non-angulated (vs. angulated) young fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saxifraga damingshanensis (Saxifragaceae), a new species from Damingshan Nature Reserve in Guangxi Province, is described and illustrated. A morphological comparison between the new species and its putative relatives, S. mengtzeana and S. luoxiaoensis, is presented. The new species is morphologically similar to S. mengtzeana, but it can be easily distinguished by its non-peltate leaf, both surfaces of mature leaf blade covered with white glandular trichome, petals 3-veined and margin entire. Phylogenetic analysis, based on two chloroplast DNA regions (matK and psbA-trnH), confirmed that the new species belongs to S. sect. Irregulares. The new species is currently only known from Damingshan, Guangxi and we assign it an IUCN Red List preliminary status as Data Deficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas is the property of Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)