Ophiopogon hayatae (N.Tanaka) N.Tanaka, Aver. &

Averyanov, Leonid V., Tanaka, Noriyuki, Nguyen, Khang Sinh, Nguyen, Hiep Tien & Konstantinov, Eugene L., 2015, New species of Ophiopogon Ker Gawl., Peliosanthes Andrews and Tupistra Ker Gawl. (Asparagaceae) in the flora of Laos and Vietnam, Adansonia 37 (1), pp. 25-45 : 30

Ophiopogon hayatae (N.Tanaka) N.Tanaka, Aver. &

T.Koyama, comb. & stat. nov. ( Fig. 3 )

O. platyphyllus Merr. & Chun var. hayatae N.Tanaka , Journal of Japanese Botany 76 (1): 14 (2001).

TYPUS. — Vietnam. Tonkin , Tamdao, 28.VII.1917 , B.Hayata s.n. (holo-, TI!; iso-, TI!).

HABITAT AND PHENOLOGY. — Primary broad-leaved evergreen humid submontane forests on granite and shale at elevations 1000- 1200 m a.s.l., usually on rich soils in shady places of small depressions along ridge edges. Flowers in September-November. Locally very common. Expected IUCN Red List status – LC.

DISTRIBUTION. — Vietnam (Vinh Phuc provinces, Tam Dao district; Thanh Hoa province, Thuong Xuan district). Endemic of northern Vietnam .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Vietnam. Thanh Hoa province, Thuong Xuan district, Bat Mot municipality, Vin village, Xuan Lien Natural Reserve , primary broad-leaved evergreen wet forest on shale at elevations 1000-1200 m a.s.l. around point 19°58’18.2’’N, 104°59’24.0’’E, terrestrial herb in shady places along ridge edge, flowers white with green to blue tint, very common, 2.VII.2013, L .Averyanov, N. T.Hiep, N. S. Khang, CPC 6586 ( CPC!, LE!) .

REMARKS

Ophiopogon platyphyllus var. hayatae ( Tanaka 2001) , to whichour plant is assignable, shares with var. platyphyllus ( Tanaka 2000a) a comparatively short, suberect or ascending stem which becomes rhizome-like with age and bears many linear leaves in the distal part and a few or several ligneous prop roots in the proximal part, and ovaries slightly concave at the apical center. Ophiopogon platyphyllus var. hayatae is, however, well distinguishable from var. platyphyllus by the slightly more slender stem (becoming rhizome-like with age), narrower leaves, more slender peduncle and rachis of inflorescence, proximal stalky part of the flower (including the jointed pedicel) articulated in the distal part, smaller flowers with shorter perianth segments and stamens. Having many features, var. hayatae seems to well deserve an independent specific status. It is Dr. Tetsuo Koyama who first recognized the plant as a distinct new species. He inscribed the name “ O. hayatai ” on the label of the specimen (type of var. hayatae ) kept at TI (cf. Tanaka 2001: fig. 4), although the name was not published by him. The plant is here published as O. hayatae (N.Tanaka) N.Tanaka, Aver. & T.Koyama , comb. & stat. nov. at the specific rank by the authors including Dr. Koyama who agreed with this publication. The specific epithet refers to the collector of the type specimens, Dr. Bunzo Hayata.

Meanwhile, Ophiopogon hayatae (N.Tanaka)N.Tanaka,Aver.& T.Koyama , comb. & stat. nov. also resembles O. stenophyllus (Merr.) L. Rodr. and O. pierrei L. Rodr. ( Tanaka 2000b) , but differs from the former by the proximal stalky part ofthe flower (including the jointed pedicel) articulated in the distal part (vs middle or proximal part), free anthers (vs connate anthers), and the ovary slightly concave at the apical center (vs apically slightly convex ovary), and from the latter by the more slender peduncle and rachis of inflorescence, longer pedicels, and the ovary slightly concave at the apical center (vs apically convex ovary).

Figures

FIG. 3.— Ophiopogon hayatae (N.Tanaka) N.Tanaka,Aver.& T.Koyama:A, flowering plant in natural habitat;B, inflorescence;C, flower;D, intact flower with pedicel, side view; E, flower with 3 frontal tepals removed, side view; F, flower with 3 frontal tepals and stamens removed, side view; G, sagittal section of flower;H, cross section of style; I, ovary, cross section. Photos and drawings by N.S.Khang, L.Averyanov and T.Maisak (specimen CPC 6586). Scale bars: D-G, 5 mm; H, I, 3 mm.