Cheniella quinnanensis (T.C.Chen) R.Clark & Mackinder, 2017Bauhinia quinnanensis, Clark & Mackinder & Banks, 2017

Clark, Ruth P., Mackinder, Barbara A. & Banks, Hannah, 2017, Cheniella gen. nov. (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae) from southern China, Indochina and Malesia, European Journal of Taxonomy 360, pp. 1-37 : 14

1. Cheniella quinnanensis (T.C.Chen) R.Clark & Mackinder comb. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77165905-1

Basionym: Bauhinia quinnanensis T.C.Chen , Guihaia 8 (1): 48 ( Chen 1988). – Type: China, Guizhou, Anlong, Shipan, 26 May 1960, Guizhou Expedit. 3053 (holo-: SCBI n.v.). – Additional material: China, Cehang, Guizhou Expedit. 2332, 2416 (para-: IBSC). China, Xingren, Dashui, 1,300 m a.s.l., 26 Jul. 1960, Guizhou Expedit. 8755 (para-: IBSC).

Description

Leaf entire, ovate, apex emarginate to ca 10 mm, with mucro 1–2 mm, or occasionally attenuate; 4.7– 10.5 × (3.0–)3.5–9.0 cm; upper surface drying dark brown to blackish, glabrous, or with sparse hairs on the midvein, lower surface sparsely to moderately ferruginous semi-appressed pilose with short and long hairs, slightly denser at base, or sparsely to moderately villose, the hairs denser on the veins, particularly at the base; secondary veins 6–10. Petiole [0.9–] 1.4–2.8 cm. Stipule 2–5 mm. Inflorescence a corymb, or raceme becoming corymbose at the apex; axis 2.5–8.0 cm. Pedicel 1.8–3.6 cm. Bracts 5–10 mm. Bracteoles 4–9 mm. Hypanthium (slightly) inflated at base, 0.7–2.0 mm, sparsely to densely ferruginous pubescent, hirsute, pilose or villous. Petals white, ca 7–13 × 4–10 mm, sparsely pilose on outer surface, hairs mostly close to midvein, claw 1–4 mm. Fertile stamens 3, each 7–13 mm. Staminodes 7, of which 2 are inserted individually between the stamens, 5 mounted on a raised fleshy disc that is open on the side where the stamens are inserted, disc 1–3 × 1–2 mm, staminodes 2–3 mm. Ovary with a few hairs on stipe or on basal part of lower suture (or both), occasionally glabrous. Fruit broadly oblong, 23[–28] × 4.0–4.5(–5.5) cm. Seeds ca 23 per fruit, funicle encircling most of circumference of seed.

Distribution

China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan), India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam), Myanmar.

Ecology

Open areas, scrub, roadside, forest; elevation 800–2,100 m a.s.l.

Preliminary conservation assessment

Extent of Occurrence 322,120.231 km 2 = Least Concern (LC). Incorporating all subspecies, this species is distributed over a fairly wide area from southern China into northern Myanmar and India, and seems to be able to occupy a variety of habitats. It is therefore here considered to be Least Concern, although it should be noted that it is quite poorly represented in herbaria (ca 18 specimens known to the present authors), which could indicate that it is relatively uncommon within its range.

Key to the subspecies of C. quinnanensis comb. nov.

1. Leaf dimorphic, the apex emarginate, or attenuate, both forms occurring on a single branch .................. 1.3. C. quinnanensis subsp. gandhiana (Gogoi & Bandyop.) R.Clark & Mackinder comb. et stat. nov.

– Leaf not dimorphic, the apex emarginate only ……………..............….…………………………… 2

2. Hairs on lower leaf surface straight, mixed long and short, not or only slightly denser on secondary veins than blade; pedicel 23–33 mm; hypanthium 0.8–1.0 cm long …….....................................… ………... 1.1. C. quinnanensis (T.C.Chen) R.Clark & Mackinder comb. nov. subsp. quinnanensis

– Hairs on lower leaf surface villose, length more or less uniform, much denser on secondary veins than blade; pedicel 18–22 mm; hypanthium 1.5–2.0 cm long …………..……………..... 1.2. C. quinnanensis subsp. villosa R.Clark & Mackinder subsp. nov.