Search

Aeschynanthus smaragdinus F.Wen & J.Q.Qin, a new species of Gesneriaceae from the monsoon rain forest in Mangbang township, Tengchong City, Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated here. It morphologically resembles A. chiritoides C.B.Clarke in size, shape and hairs on the leaf blades. But it can easily be distinguished from the latter by the green corolla limb with brownish-red to maroon lower lobes. At the same time, the hairs of the pedicel and calyx lobes, the length of the staminode and the size of the seed grain can also help distinguish both. It is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, because field surveys for this new taxon have not been completed.

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Oreocharis wuxiensis, is described and illustrated from Wuxi County, Chongqing Municipality, China. The new species is morphologically similar to O. giraldii in the leaf blade’s shape and indumentum and the corolla’s shape and color. It can be easily distinguished by the shape of the corolla tube and lobes, the indumentum and pistil length, and the ovary’s size and style. At present, a total of three populations were confirmed in Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve, Wuxi County, with about 500 mature individuals. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, it is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable (VU D1).

Petrocodon wui F.Wen & R.B.Zhang (Gesneriaceae), a typically lithophyte occurring in the Danxia areas of north-western Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated as new to science. The new species shows overall similarity with P. chishuiensis Z.B.Xin, F.Wen & S.B.Zhou, which is also its sister species, based on molecular evidence. The new species can be distinguished from P. chishuiensis by the elongated rhizome, the relatively long indumentum on the peduncle, the shape, size and indumentum of calyx lobes, the location of the stamens in the corolla tube and the shape, size and indumentum of the stigma. We provide a diagnosis, detailed description, photographic images and a table with taxonomic notes to distinguish several other morphologically similar Petrocodon species.

Oreocharis yangjifengensis F.Wen & B.Chen, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Yangjifeng National Nature Reserve, Yingtan city, Jiangxi province, East China, is described and illustrated. It can be easily distinguished from other Oreocharis species by having a zygomorphic and urceolate corolla, and peduncle, bracts, pedicel and calyx densely pale brown woolly to pubescent.

Primulina jiulianshanensis F.Wen & G.L.Xu, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve of Jiangxi Province, China, is described and illustrated here. Molecular evidence showed it was sister to P. wenii Jian Li & L.J.Yan, while the morphological observation found clear differences between them, petiole, both sides of leaf blades, adaxial surface of the calyx lobes, corolla inside toward the bottom, bract margins covered glandular-pubescent hairs in P. jiulianshanensis (vs. no glandular-pubescent hairs in P. wenii); lateral bracts 4–9 × ca. 2 mm, the central one 2–5 × 1–1.5 mm, adaxially glabrous but sparsely pubescent at apex (vs. lateral bracts 14–16 × 2.5–3.0 mm, the central one 10–12 × 1.3–1.6 mm, all adaxially pubescent); calyx lobes 8–11 × ca. 2 mm, each side with several brown serrate teeth at apex (vs. 14–15 × ca. 2.5 mm, margin entire); filaments and staminodes sparsely yellow glandular-puberulent (vs. white, glabrous).

Primulina silaniae X.X.Bai & F.Wen, a new species of Primulina Hance (Gesneriaceae) from the limestone area of Wangmo County, Guizhou Province, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to P. spiradiclioides Z.B.Xin & F.Wen, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by a combination of characteristics, especially in the lateral veins of its leaf and floral shape and tube. At present, three populations in one locality of this new taxon were found, totaling about 600 mature individuals. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (Version 3.1), the species is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable [VU D1].

Microchirita minor (Gesneriaceae), a new species from the limestone area in Son La Province, north-western Vietnam, is described here. The new species resembles M. hamosa, but it differs by the combination of corolla tube shape, stamens number and the length of pistil. Detailed morphological description, together with photographic plates, information on phenology, distribution, ecology and preliminary conservation status of the new species are presented.

Pseudochirita trifoliata, a new Gesneriaceae species from Pu Luong-Cuc Phuong limestone mountain range in northern Vietnam is described and illustrated here. This new taxon is the second species of the narrowly endemic genus Pseudochirita which is known from limestone areas in southern China and northern Vietnam. It is easily distinguished from P. guangxiensis by a set of differences on the leaves, bracts, calyx, external corolla indumentum, staminode number, pistil length, ovary indumentum, style indumentum, and capsule length. A detailed description, illustration, information on distribution, ecology, phenology, provisional conservation assessment using IUCN categories and criteria of the proposed new species, and comparison with its similar species, are also provided.

Actinostephanus, a new genus from southern China, is described and colorfully illustrated with a single species, A. enpingensis. This new genus is morphologically most similar to Boeica and Leptoboea, nevertheless, it can be easily distinguished from the latter two by the following characteristics, such as leaves in whorls of three, all closely clustered at the top; corolla bowl-shaped, 5-lobed, actinomorphic; capsule hard, oblong-ovoid, short, 3–4 mm long, densely appressed villous, wrapped by persistent densely pubescent calyx lobes, style persistent. The new genus and related genera were sequenced using the next-generation sequencing technique. The whole plastid genome of the new genus is 154, 315 – 154, 344 bp in length. We reconstructed phylogenetic trees using the dataset of 80 encoded protein genes of the whole plastid genome from 47 accessions based on ML and BI analyses. The result revealed that the new genus was recovering in a polytomy including Boeica, Rhynchotechum, and Leptoboea with strong support, congruent to the morphological evidence. A global conservation assessment was also performed and classifies A. enpingensis as Least Concern (LC). In addition, after a review of recently described species of Gesneriaceae, we propose that plant enthusiasts, especially Gesneriad fans, have been playing an increasingly important role in the process of new taxa-discoveries.

Oreocharis phuongii, a new species of Gesneriaceae from central Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. The new species is most similar to O. longifolia by sharing peduncles up to 22 cm long, bracts 2, zygomorphic, yellow flowers with tubular corolla, stamens 4 with two pairs of coherent anthers and capsules up to 6 cm long. It mainly differs from the latter by the combination of some morphological characters of leaves (shape, base, apex and margin), size of calyx lobes, indumentum of corolla tube and inner surface of three lower corolla lobes. Detailed morphological description together with colour illustration, information on phenology, distribution, ecology, preliminarily conservation status of the new species and comparison with its similar species are also presented.

A new species of Oreocharis, O. guangwushanensis from the Sichuan Province of south-western China, is described and illustrated here. This new species has a pink corolla that is different from other species of Oreocharis in southwest China and, although it is morphologically similar to O. ronganensis and O. reticuliflora, it has significant differences in the colour and shape of the corolla, the apex of the corolla limb, shape and indumentum of the filaments and a shorter pistil. A detailed description, colour photographs, distribution and habitat, as well as the IUCN conservation status, are also provided.

Oreocharis polyneura, a new species from southern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to O. rhytidophylla by having more obvious lateral veins forming a crosslinked network on the adaxial surface of leaf blades, but can be distinguished by having more lateral veins (12–15 pairs vs. 7–9 pairs) of leaf blades, shorter corolla tubes (the length ratio of corolla tube to corolla lobes = 1.2–2.9 vs. 3.4–6) and shorter pistils (6–8 mm long vs. 27–30 mm long). In addition, a detailed morphological description, a photographic illustration, the distribution and phenology of the new species are presented.

Didymocarpus lobulatus, a new species endemic to Zhejiang province, eastern China, is described and illustrated with photographs. The new species is morphologically similar to D. heucherifolius, D. cortusifolius and D. salviiflorus in leaf morphology, but can be easily distinguished by a combination of characters, including the shape of bracts, calyx and calyx lobes.

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Primulina titan, is described and photographed from northern Guangxi, China. It resembles P. hunanensis,but can be distinguished by combined morphological characters of leaf,bract, corolla, stamen and pistil. We found only one population with approx.800 mature individuals at the type locality. This species is provisionally assessed as vulnerable [VU D1] using IUCN criteria.

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Oreocharis jasminina S.J.Ling, F.Wen & M.X. Ren from Hainan Island, south China, is highlighted and described. The new species is distinguished by its actinomorphic corolla, narrow floral tube and ovate anthers hidden in the floral tube. The new species also showed clear geographic and altitudinal isolation from the three currently-recognised Oreocharis species on the Island. Molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on nuclear ITS1/2 and plastid trnL-trnF sequences, supported the delimitation of the new species, which forms a single lineage with all the other Oreocharis species from Hainan Island. The roles of geographic and floral isolation in the evolution of the new species and its affinities are discussed.

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodon luteoflorus Lei Cai & F.Wen was first described and illustrated from Maolan National Nature Reserve, Libo County, Guizhou Province, China. The diagnostic characters and notes of this species between its most morphologically similar species, P. dealbatus Hance, a detailed description, colour photographs, etymology, as well as distribution and habitat, are also provided in this paper.

The newly-circumscribed genus Oreocharis is recently enlarged by incorporating ten other genera with high floral diversity. In this study, our morphological, molecular and cytological evidence supports our adding two species from other two different genera (Boeica and Beccarinda) to Oreocharis. The special corolla shape (campanulate or flat-faced) and related short filament of these two new combinations, Oreocharis guileana and O. baolianis, further enrich the diversity of floral characters of the enlarged Oreocharis. Meanwhile, some supplementary and amended descriptions of these two species are made here. Our morphological, molecular and geographical data indicate that O. guileana is related to O. pilosopetiolata to a certain extent. For O. baolianis, however, our current dataset does not allow conclusions on the species relationship within Oreocharis.

Aeschynanthus monetaria, a beautiful epiphytic species of Gesneriaceae, was rediscovered in monsoon rain forest along the Yarlung Zangbo River in Motuo County, Southeast Tibet (Xizang), China. Its description is amended and completed with both fresh and dried specimens in this discovery. To better facilitate its identification, the color images in the field and line illustrations based on our specimens are given. A taxonomic note concerning its lectotype and the ending of specific epithet is discussed.

Michaelmoelleria, a new genus from southern Vietnam is described with a single species, M. vietnamensis. The new genus is morphologically most similar to Deinostigma and Tribounia but it differs from the latter two by having four fertile stamens. Nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and plastid trnL-F intron spacer (trnL-F) DNA sequence data from the new genus and eighty-seven species representing 42 genera within tribe Didymocarpeae are used to resolve its generic placement. The molecular evidence reveals that it is most closely related to Cathayanthe rather than Deinostigma and Tribounia. The chromosome number is counted as 2n = 36 that further clarified its distinction comparing to the related genera within tribe Didymocarpeae. A global conservation assessment is also performed and classifies Michaelmoelleria vietnamensis as Critically Endangered (CR).

A new species, Petrocodon chishuiensis Z.B. Xin, F. Wen & S.B. Zhou, from NW Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated here. It shares a rare characteristic with P. hunanensis X.L. Yu & Ming Li, P. tongziensis R.B. Zhang & F. Wen and P. longitubus Cong R. Li & Yang Luo: all have four fertile stamens, a character state distinguishing this clade from the rest of Petrocodon. P. chishuiensis closely resembles P. hunanensis and P. tongziensis, but differs in vegetative and generative characters. We found only one population with no more than 60 mature individuals at the type locality. This species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR B2ab(iii)) using IUCN criteria.

Achimenes Pers. is well known for its floral diversity and widely used in horticulture, but its phylogenetic position is still poorly understood. And most research about the complete chloroplast genome sequence focused on the Old World species; therefore, we think it is necessary to examine taxa of the New World in more detail. This study determined the complete chloroplast genome of Achimenes cettoana H.E. Moore. The cp genome was 153,011 bp in a total length containing two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,162 bp separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,669 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,018 bp. The whole cp genome of A. cettoana contains 112 genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. This plastid genome is firstly reported in the New World Gesneriaceae, which will be a valuable resource for future studies on breeding, conservation genetics, and phylogeny of Gesneriaceae.

Petrocodon vietnamensis, a new species from karst cave in north Vietnam is described and illustrated. It is morphologically close to P. bonii, but can be distinguished from the latter by having a green, 3–6 cm long peduncle; green, ca 5 mm long calyx lobes; narrow infundibuliform, a 1.1–1.2 cm long corolla tube; ovate abaxial lip lobes; pink to white, 9.5–10.5 mm long filaments; lateral staminodes adnate to ca 12 mm above the corolla base; densely white glandular‐puberulent pistil; a pink to white, 5.5–7.5 mm long style; a white stigma, and a 2–3 cm long capsule. Information on ecology, phenology, preliminary conservation assessment of the new species and a key for the taxonomic identification of Petrocodon species in Vietnam are also provided.

Primulina serrulata R.B.Zhang & F. Wen, a new species from a limestone area in southeastern Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated here. The new species is morphologically related to P. fimbrisepala (Hand.-Mazz.) Y.Z.Wang. We examined the morphological differences between these congeners and provide illustrations and photographs of this new species in this paper.

Before 2010, Hemiboea Clarke (1798: 18) included about 23 species and 5 varieties mostly in central, southern and southwestern China, northern Vietnam and southern Japan (Ryukyu Islands), with the highest species diversity in southern and southwestern China (Weber 2004, Li & Wang 2004). Over the last two decades, 11 new taxa have been found and described in southern and southwestern China: eight new species and one new variety from Guangxi province (Li 2004, Li & Liu 2004, Xu et al. 2010, 2012, Wen et al. 2011, 2013, Pan et al. 2012, Zhou et al. 2013), two new species from Yunnan (Zhang et al. 2014, Chen et al. 2018), and one from Guizhou (Li et al. 2018). Meanwhile, the genus Metabriggsia Wang (1983: 1) including two species was revised and merged within Hemiboea (Weber et al. 2011). Additionally, H. subcapitata var. pterocaulis Li (2004: 261) was assigned from a variety to a distinct species, namely H. pterocaulis (Z.Y.Li) J.Huang, X.G.Xiang & Q.Zhang in Huang et al. (2017: 8) based on extensive morphological, phenological and molecular studies.

Five new species of Primulina (Gesneriaceae) are described and illustrated here, namely P.purpureokylin F. Wen, Yi Huang & W. Chuen Chou, P.persica F. Wen, Yi Huang & W. Chuen Chou, P.cerina F. Wen, Yi Huang & W. Chuen Chou, P.niveolanosa F. Wen, S. Li & W. Chuen Chou and P.leiyyi F. Wen, Z.B. Xin & W. Chuen Chou. The characteristic traits of these species, together with photographs, detailed descriptions, notes on etymology, distribution, and habitat, as well as comparisons with morphologically similar species, are provided.

Primulina papillosa Z.B. Xin, W.C. Chou & F. Wen, a new species from limestone areas of Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated here. It morphologically resembles P. linearifolia (W.T. Wang) Yin Z. Wang and P. pseudolinearifolia W.B. Xu & K.F. Chung, but can be easily distinguished by some combined characters, especially its leaf blades densely papillose-hispid. We found only one population at the type locality with no more than 200 individuals, so that this new species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) using IUCN Criteria.

Primulina spiradiclioides Z.B. Xin & F. Wen (Gesneriaceae), a new species from limestone areas in Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It resembles P. curvituba, but can be easily distinguished from it by several characters, especially by its straight corolla tube. We found only one population with fewer than 200 mature individuals at the type locality.

The limestone regions of Yunnan-Guangxi-Guizhou in southern and southwestern China are regarded as some of biodiversity’s hotspots for China’s Gesneriaceae where numerous rare new species of Primulina have been, or are being, described over the past two decades. Primulina flexusa, a new lithophytic species of Gesneriaceae from a limestone hill in a Karst area, from Guizhou, China, is described here with color photographs. It is similar to P. curvituba, but can be easily distinguished by a combination of characteristics, especially in the shape and length of its capsule. We found only one population with approximately 100 mature individuals at the type locality. This new species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered [CR C1] by using IUCN criteria.

Based on consulting original literature, the examination of specimens, and field investigations, Didymostigma trichanthera is shown to be conspecific with Henckelia anachoreta. Therefore, Didymostigma trichanthera is formally treated as a synonym of Henckelia anachoreta here.

Primulina hochiensis var. ochroleuca, a new variety from a limestone hill of karst areas, Guangxi, China is described with color photographs. It resembles P. hochiensis var. hochiensis, P. hochiensis var. ovata and P. hochiensis var. rosulata, but can be easily distinguished by a combination of characteristics, especially by its corolla color. We found only one population with approx. 3000 mature individuals at the type locality. This variety is provisionally assessed as vulnerable [VU C1] using IUCN criteria.

A new species of Deinostigma (Gesneriaceae) from Yunnan, China, Deinostigma fasciculatum W.H.Chen & Y.M.Shui, sp. nov., has been discovered and described. In the genus, the new species is similar to D. cicatricosum (W.T. Wang) D.J. Middleton & Mich. Möller and D. cyrtocarpum (D. Fang & L. Zeng) Mich. Möller & H.J. Atkins in dark purple flowers and falcate fruit, but differs from them mainly in the inflorescences with fasciculate flowers, calyx lobes (reflexed, narrowly lanceolate and 1.2–1.3 cm long), corolla tubes (sharply contracted below middle and white outside and below throat). The above three species grow nearby non-limestone wet cliffs and geographically isolated with different distributions (the new species in Southeast Yunnan, D. cicatricosum in Eastern Guangxi and D. cyrtocarpum in Southern Guangxi and Guangdong, China).

Two new species of Gesneriaceae, Oreocharis aimodisca and O. longipedicellata, from the limestone area of Yunnan Province, China, are described and illustrated. Their morphological relationship with similar species is discussed and colour photographs, detailed descriptions, distribution and habitat, as well as the IUCN endangered status are provided. We also discuss the accuracy of the scientific names of the described species O. tetrapterus from Guangxi, China in 2019 and O. brachypodus from Guizhou, China, in 2015, and put forward corrections related to name form.

Primulina cangwuensis X. Hong & F. Wen (Gesneriaceae), a new species growing in rocky crevices on a limestone hill in Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to P. repanda, P. subulata, P. jianghuaensis and P. lobulata, but can be distinguished from its congeners by the different shape of leaves, bracts and calyx, as well as by the different indumentum of pedicels and stamens.

Primulina zhoui and Primulina huangii, two new species of Gesneriaceae from the limestone area in Guangxi, China are described and illustrated. Primulina zhoui is similar to Primulina multifida B. Pan & K.F. Chung, but differs from the latter in its bracts, calyx lobes, corolla, adaxial lip and disc. Primulina huangii closely resembles Primulina bipinnatifida (W.T. Wang) Y.Z. Wang & J.M. Li, but differs from the latter in its bracts, pedicel, corolla, corolla tube, adaxial lip and pistil.

Paraboea wenshanensis is a new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan, China and is described and illustrated here. It is morphologically similar to P. angustifolia, P. martinii and P. glutinosa, but the congeners of this new taxon can be distinguished by several salient characters. A description of P. wenshanensis, together with illustrations and photographs, a distribution map and conservation assessment are presented.

Primulina dichroantha F. Wen, Y.G. Wei & S.B. Zhou (Gesneriaceae), a new species growing in karst caves in a limestone hill in Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to P. renifolia and P. mollifolia, but can be distinguished by a 10–30 mm long pedicel, 1.2–1.6 cm long corolla with a white adaxial lip and bluish-purple abaxial lip, three glabrous staminodes, sparsely glandular-puberulent style, and spherical stigma.