Valeriana hsuii M.J. Jung, 2013

Jung, Ming-Jer, 2013, Valeriana hsuii (Valerianaceae), a new species from Taiwan, Phytotaxa 89 (2), pp. 47-52 : 47-50

Valeriana hsuii M.J. Jung sp. nov. Figs 1 & 2

Valeriana hsuii is similar to V. flaccidissima in outline, but has hairy stems (cf. glabrous), basal and cauline leaf blades that are dark-greenish adaxially (cf. pale-greenish), basal leaf blades with whitish spots on intercostal regions on adaxial surfaces (cf. absent), and undulate to sinuate leaflet margin (cf. irregularly dentate to serrate).

Type:— TAIWAN. Hsinchu Hsien, Jien-Sher Hsiang, Syakaro National Trail , 1,600–1,700 m, 29 January 2005, M. - J . Jung x012906! (holotype TAIF) .

Perennials, rhizome short, rather stout. Stolons many, to 50 cm long or longer, internodes to 5 cm long, to 0.8 cm in diameter, with opposite leaves; stolon leaves with petiole to 1 cm long, blade narrowly ovate, base cordate, apex obtuse, margin crenate. Stem erect, to 0.8 cm thick, puberulous. Basal leaves in rosette or nearly so; petiole to 7 cm long, puberulous; blade narrowly ovate, base cordate, apex obtuse, chartaceous, margin undulate to sinulate, palmate-veined, adaxial surface dark-greenish, sparsely hairy, densely papillate, intercostal regions of adaxial surface tinged with pale greenish to whitish spots, epidermal cells conical- shaped, abaxial surface whitish or pale-grayish, pulverulent, sparsely puberulous on veins. Cauline leaves opposite, odd-pinnate compound; petiole to 4 cm long; blade puberulous, dark-greenish on adaxial surface, occasionally with whitish or pale spots on intercostal regions, sparsely hairy, densely papillate, epidermal cells conical-shaped, abaxial surface whitish or pale-grayish, pulverulent, sparsely puberulous on veins; apical leaflet narrowly ovate, base round, apex acute to acuminate, margin undulate to sinulate, occasional crenate; lateral leaflets 2–5 paired, opposite on leaf axis, blade base oblique, apex acute, margin undulate to sinuate, occasional crenate. Inflorescence an apical cyme, scape sparsely puberulous; bracteoles oblong, apex rounded. Calyx pale-greenish, curved as a ring on the apex of ovary. Corolla 5-lobed, whitish, funnel-shaped; lobes elliptic, apex round, glabrous. Stamens 3–4, adnate to corolla; filament 1–1.5 mm long; anther to 0.5 mm long, whitish. Pistil 1; ovary cylindrical, greenish, glabrous. Achene ovoid, compressed, 2–2.5 mm long, to 1 mm wide, 3-keeled on one side and flat on another side, cross section pentangular; pappus pinnate, to 5 mm long; base fused as cup-shaped, ca. 0.7–1 mm long. Flowering and fruiting from December to May.

Habitat, distribution and IUCN Red List category:— Valeriana hsuii grows along roadsides, logging tract-sides, margins of forests in the middle elevations (1300–2340 m alt.) in northern, north-eastern and eastern Taiwan ( Fig. 3). Based on collection information from vouchers of V. hsuii and other Taiwanese Valeriana species (Appendix 1), several populations of V. hsuii are located near populations of V. flaccissima . Populations of this new species are locally abundant, and could be sustained by stolons and fertile achenes. Because of its local endemism, habitat area, and the restricted distribution, the author considers V. hsuii to be Threatened ( NT) following the IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2003).

Etymology:—The author dedicates this new species to honor Dr. Chien-Chang Hsu (also named as K. Kyoda), the agrostologist and former professor of Department of Botany, National Taiwan University. The specific epithet recognizes his emphatic interest and substantial contribution to the study of Taiwanese Angiosperms, especially in Poaceae .

Morphological comparison:—After comparison of material of various species (see Appendix 1) the author ascertained that six diagnostic leaf characters are useful for identification of Taiwanese Valeriana taxa ( Table 1). Many vouchers of V. hsuii were previously misidentified as V. flaccissima . Diagnostic characters of V. hsuii include: margins of basal and cauline leaves are undulate to sinulate in V. hsuii ( Figs 1A & 2 A-B), but are crenulate to serrate in V. flaccissima ; adaxial surfaces of leaf blades are hairy and densely papillate in V. hsuii ( Figs 1D & 2C ), but are glabrous and flat in V. flaccissima ; leaf blades are dark-greenish in V. hsuii , but pale-greenish in V. flaccissima ( Table 1). In addition, the adaxial epidermis of leaf blades is composed by conical cells in V. hsuii ( Fig 2C ), and abaxial surfaces are pale-grayish and pulverulent, these two characters are unique in the new taxon and absent in other congeners in Taiwan. Valeriana hsuii is also similar to V. hardwickii Wallich (1820: 166) morphologically which is found in east Asia. However, rhizome is absent in V. hardwickii ( Wallich 1820, Hong et al. 2011) but present in V. hsuii ; adaxial surfaces of basal leaves are darkgreenish with pale prominent ribs in V.hardwickii ( Wallich 1820) , but dark-greenish tinged with pale greenish to whitish spots on intercostal regions of adaxial surface in V. hsuii .

Additional specimens of Valeriana hsuii examined:— TAIWAN. Hsinchu Hsien, Jian-Shih Hsiang, Campus of Shin-Kuan Elementary School , 26 December 2004, M.- J . Jung w122604! ( TAIF); Chenshipao, 1300–1700 m, 11 April 1999, J.- C . Wang et al. 10877! ( TNU); Chenshipao, 1300–1700 m, 25 March 2000, C.- H . Chen et al. 3070!, 3118! ( TNU); Chenshipao, 1300–1700 m, 22 April 2008, M.- J . Jung 2718! ( TAIF); Shin-Kuan, 9 January 2005, M.- J . Jung x090102! ( TAIF); Syakaro National Trail, 29 January 2005, M.- J . Jung x012903!, x012907!, x01290! 9, x012910! ( TAIF); Tai-Kang to Hsin-Kuang, 24° 35’ 18” N, 121° 18’ 03” E, 1540 m, 23 January 2002, Y.- Y . Huang 891 ( TNU); Yu-Lao Village , 22 February 2009, S.- W . Huang 631! ( TNU); Wu-Fong Hsiang, Kuanwu to Chutong, along the Kuanwu Forestry Road , 1600 m, 4 May 2011, S.- W . Chung 10320! ( TAIF) ; Miaoli Hsien, Tai-an Hsiang, Tahsuehshan , 24 °18’ 52.7” N, 121° 02’ 23.9” E, 22 January 1997, J .- D. Yang 669! ( TAIE) ; Taichung City, Hoping District, Nanshan to Ssuyuanyakou , 1600–1800 m, P.- C . Tzeng 78! ( TNU); Ssuyuan Forest Road, 24° 13’ 24” N, 121° 21’ 12: E , 2100–2340 m, 22 January 1995, H.- Y . Shen 455! ( TNU); Tahsuehshan, 210 Forestry Road, 24° 14’ 00” N, 120° 57’ 00” E, 19 April 1995, J.- C . Huang 1029! ( TAIE); Tahsuehshan, 210 Forestry Road, 24° 19’ 00” N, 121° 06’ 00” E, 19

achene.

April 1995, T.- W. Hsu 6648! ( TAIE); Ilan Hsien, Tatung Hsiang, Nanshan , 24° 26’ 0” N, 121° 22’ 0” E, 1200–1300 m , 16 April 2000, S.- C. Liu & C.- C. Lu 384! ( TNU); Nanshan Village to Suyuanyakou , 1300–1600 m , 12 April 2011, T.- C. Hsu 3863! ( TAIF); Hualien Hsien, Hsow-Ling Hsiang, Hoping Logging Tract , 1900–2100 m , 21 April 2002, S.- M. Kuo et al. 694! ( TNU); Hoping Forest road 27–27.5 K, 1610 m , S.- T. Chiu et al. 6164! ( TAIF); Panshih Power Maintenance Station to Tienchang Tunnel , 1200–1400 m , 6 April 2011, T.- C. Hsu 3810! ( TAIF); Tatung to Mt. Chingshui Entrance , 900–1200 m , 25 March 2011, T.- C. Hsu 3764! ( TAIF); Wanjung Logging Trail , 18 April 2007, Y.- P. Cheng 5054! ( TAIF); Yueh-Wang-Ting, 600–1000 m , 27 March 1999, C.- H. Chen et al. 2683! ( TNU); Yueh-Wang-Ting to Yen-Hai Logging Tract , 300–1100 m , 3 April 1991, J.- C. Wang et al. 6778! ( TNU); Yueh-Wang-Ting to Yen-Hai Logging Tract , 24 March 1992, J.- C. Wang et al. 7618! ( TNU) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–K. Valeriana hsuii. A. Habit. B. Basal leaf. C. Cauline leaf. D. Cross section of middle part of basal leaf blade. E. Bracteole. F. Flower, lateral view. G. Flower. H. Dissected corolla. I & J. Achenes, I: with spreading pappus. K. Cross section of

FIGURE 2. A–C. Valeriana hsuii. A. Habit. B. Leaves with whitish spots at intercostal regions. C. Cross section of leaf blade, showing the conical epidermal cells. (Bars: A & B. 5 cm. C. 100 µm).