Lycoris wulingensis S.Y. Zhang, 2021

Zhang, Si-Yu, Huang, Ying, Zhang, Pei, Zhu, Ke-Run, Chen, Yong-Bing & Shao, Jian-Wen, 2021, Lycoris wulingensis, a dwarf new species of Amaryllidaceae from Hunan, China, PhytoKeys 177, pp. 1-9 : 1

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.177.62741

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1B44D616-36CF-5759-BD45-14786027B365

treatment provided by

PhytoKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Lycoris wulingensis S.Y. Zhang
status

sp. nov.

Lycoris wulingensis S.Y. Zhang View in CoL sp. nov. Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2

Type.

China. Hunan, Zhangjiajie County, Wangjiaping Town, Matouxi Village , 29°0'54.7"N, 110°48'3.7"E, under broad-leaved forest, beside the water ditch, 276 m a.s.l., 22 August 2020, S.Y. Zhang, ZSY202008001 (holotype: ANUB; isotypes: PE, KUN) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Most similar to L. x haywardii , but differs from it by smaller plant and flower sizes (Figs 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 , Table 2 View Table 2 ) and it is restricted to north-western Hunan Province (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ).

Description.

Perennial herb. Bulbs nearly spherical, 2-3 cm in diameter, covered brown epidermis, with fine lines on the epidermis. Leaves ligulate, often 4-7, blunt apex, appearing in mid-September, 15-27 cm long, 3-5 mm wide; upper surface dark green, mid-vein distinctly pale; bottom surface light green with a raised mid-rib. Inflorescence scapose, 25-30 cm high, green or reddish-brown; 2 spathe bracts, lanceolate, 2-2.5 cm long, 5-7 mm wide, semi-closed to wrap the bud; 3-7 flowers per umbels, pedicels 1.5-2 cm long, diameter 1.5-2 mm; flowers rose-red; perianth lobes oblanceolate, 2.5-2.8 cm long, about 5 mm wide, apex slightly reversed and undulate; floral tubes light red, about 3 mm long. Filaments 3-3.5 cm long, rose-red, slightly longer than tepals, anther yellow, 2-3 mm long; pistil length 4-4.5 cm, middle and lower part diameter 0.8 mm, rose-red, apex diameter about 0.4 mm, dark-red. Ovary 4 mm in diameter, spherical and green. Capsules three-lobed, green or pale when mature; seeds black, spherical, 5-7 mm in diameter.

Phenology.

Flowering from mid-July to late-August; fruiting in September; and leaves growing in mid-September.

Distribution.

Lycoris wulingensis is distributed in the east of Wuling Mountains and its surrounding areas, such as Cili, Linli, Li, Taoyuan and Yongding Counties (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ).

Habitat.

Lycoris wulingensis is partial to grow on the edge of forest roads, farmland or riverside beaches, usually under deciduous trees (such as Alangium chinense and Pterocarya stenoptera ) and accompanied by Pinellia ternata , Commelina communis , Arthraxon hispidus and Ophiopogon bodinieri etc. The surrounding residents sometimes cultivate it as an ornamental plant.

Vernacular name.

武陵石蒜 [wǔ líng shí suàn].

Etymology.

The specific epithet comes from its distribution area of the Wuling Mountains, which is an important biodiversity hotspot in South Central China.

Karyotype.

2n = 22 (Fig. 1J View Figure 1 ).

Reproduction.

This species can reproduce asexually by duplication of bulbs (1.5-2 times per year) and can also sexually reproduce through seeds.

Conservation status.

Compared with other species in the Lycoris , the distribution range of Lycoris wulingensis is relatively narrow. Based on preliminary investigation, we found only four large populations and some sporadic distribution points. However, considering the lack of in-depth investigation and also considering that some populations may occur in other similar habitats, we classified its conservation status as Data Deficient (DD), according to the IUCN Red List Criteria ( IUCN 2019).