Aristolochia weixiensis X. X. Zhu & J. S. Ma, 2015

Zhu, Xin-Xin, Zhang, Lin, Hua, Zhi-Xiang, Chen, Guang-Fu, Liao, Shuai & Ma, Jin-Shuang, 2015, Aristolochia weixiensis, a new species of Aristolochiaceae from Yunnan, China, Phytotaxa 230 (1), pp. 54-60 : 54-59

Aristolochia weixiensis X. X. Zhu & J. S. Ma , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 )

Aristolochia weixiensis is very close to A. moupinensis Franchet (1887: 79) with similar leaves in shape and size, but differs from the latter in the limb with dark purple colour and dense papillae, ca. 3.5 cm in diameter, throat with light brown colour and dense brownish red patches, 13–16 mm in diameter. Meanwhile, A. weixiensis is similar to A. wuana with similar leaves in shape, but differs in fruit and the size of leaf. A detailed morphological comparison among these three species is showed in Table 1, the comparison between A. weixiensis and A. moupinensis is also showed in Fig. 4 .

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Weixi County, Tacheng Town, 27°38’51”N, 99°21’47”E, 2599 m, 29 May 2015, X. X. Zhu & Z. X. Hua ZH084 (holotype CSH barcode 0087897!, isotypes CSH! & PE!).

Climbing shrubs, 5–6 m long or more. Stems terete, striate, densely gray-yellow villous, old branchlets glabrous, up to 2 cm in diam. Petiole 1–7 cm, densely gray-yellow villous; leaf blade ovate, ovate-cordate, oval to suborbicular, 4–16 × 3–15 cm, papery, adaxially slightly villous, abaxially densely villous, especially on veins, veins palmate, 2–3 pairs from base, deeply cordate or auriculate at base, sinus 0.5–3.5 cm deep, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers axillary, rarely cauliflorous, solitary, rarely paired. Peduncle pendulous, 2–7 cm, densely gray-yellow villous; bracteoles 1, rarely 2, oval to suborbicular, 0.5–3 × 0.4–2.8 cm, both surfaces villous, inserted below the middle of peduncle, usually with short stalk. Calyx reddish, with purple veins; tube geniculately curved, abaxially gray-yellow villous; basal portion of tube 2.4–3.2 cm long, upper portion of tube 3.0– 3.7 cm long; limb discoid, ca. 3.5 cm in diam., shallowly 3-lobed; lobes broadly ovate, recurved, dark purple with dense papillae; throat light brown with dense brownish red patches, 1.3–1.6 cm in diam. Anthers 6, oblong, ca. 2 mm long, adnate in 3 pairs to the base of gynostemium, opposite to the lobes. Gynostemium ca. 5 mm long, 3-lobed, apex of lobes usually obtuse, rarely bilobate, margin crispate. Ovary terete, ca. 1.2 cm long, densely gray-yellow villous. Capsule commonly cylindric, 3–7 × 1.5–2.5 cm, dehiscing basipetally. Seeds triangular ovate, ca. 5–6 × 4–5 mm.

Distribution and habitat: —The new species is currently known to Weixi County and Dêqên County, northwestern Yunnan, China, at elevations of 2100–3200 m. It is locally common, growing on the roadside or under mixed forest on sunny slopes, accompanied by Cotoneaster sp. , Fraxinus sikkimensis , Cyclobalanopsis oxyodon , Corylus wangii , Populus haoana , et al. ( Fig. 2A ).

Phenology: —This new species has been observed in flowering period from May to June and fruiting period from July to August.

Etymology: —The specific epithet derives from the type locality,Weixi County, northwestern Yunnan, southwestern China.

Additional specimens of Aristolochia weixiensis examined (paratypes): — CHINA. Yunnan: Weixi County, Kangpu , 12 May 1940, K. M. Feng 3832 ( KUN) ; Tacheng, 11 August 2015, X. X. Zhu & S. Liao ZH 116 ( CSH), Weideng , 19 May 1982, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 6571 ( KUN, PE) ; Yezhi , August 1935, C. W. Wang 68113 ( PE), 14 May 1940, K. M. Feng 3863 ( KUN), 17 May 1940, K. M. Feng 3944 ( KUN), 27 May 1940, K. M. Feng 4204 ( KUN), 4 June 1964, S. Chow 1057 ( KUN), 7 May 1982, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 6298 ( KUN, PE) ; Dêqên County, Cizhong , 17 July 1940, K. M. Feng 5522 ( KUN) .

Specimens of Aristolochia moupinensis examined: — CHINA. Chongqing: Nanchuan District , 29 May 1957, C. H. Hsiung & Z. L. Chou 91052 ( IBSC), 11 July 1957, S. Y. Chen et al. 95126 ( NAS), 12 July 1957, C. H. Hsiung & Z. L. Chou 91972 ( IBSC), 25 July 1957, C. H. Hsiung & Z. L. Chou 92285 ( IBSC). Sichuan: Baoxing County, 4 August 1936, K. L. Chu 3410 ( IBSC), 1954, T. P. Soong, 38982 ( IBSC, NAS), 20 May 1958, Sichuan Agricultural College 4867 ( IBSC) ; Dayi County, 26 May 2015, X. X. Zhu & Z. X. Hua ZH082 ( CSH), 26 May 2015, X. X. Zhu & Z. X. Hua ZH083 ( CSH) ; Emeishan City , 11 May 1952, C. H. Hsiung et al. 30475 ( IBK, IBSC, NAS), 24 May 1952, C. H. Hsiung et al. 30750 ( IBSC), 26 June 1960, Sichuan Med. Pl. Exped. 12729 ( NAS), 29 April 2015, X. X. Zhu & Z. X. Hua ZH046 ( CSH) ; Jinyang County, 29 April 2013, C. Du & Y. Wang DC-325 ( CSH) ; Luding County, 14 July 2006, X. M. Gao G06117 ( WCSBG) ; Peng County, 17 May 2007, Z. B. Feng et al. 20070508 ( PE, WCSBG) ; Yingjing County, 20 May 1940, K. L. Chu 6901 ( NAS). Yunnan: Gongshan County , 25 May 2011, J. Cai et al. 11 CS2767 ( KUN) ; Qiaojia County, 27 May 2014, Q. Wang Q095 ( CSH) .

Specimens of Aristolochia wuana examined: — China. Xizang: Mêdog County, near Beibeng, 7 August 1974, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 74-4304 ( KUN) ; Zayü County, 1 August 1973, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 73-948 ( KUN), 3 September 1976, C. Y. Wu et al. 5450 ( KUN). Yunnan: Gongshan County , trail from Dulongjiang Township to Zayü County , 6 September 1982, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 9974 ( KUN) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aristolochia weixiensis. A. Flowering branch, B. Flower (front view), C. Opened flower (showing the inside structure), D. Anthers and gynostemium, E. Fruit. —Drawn by Yi Zhang, A–D from X. X. Zhu & Z. X. Hua ZH084, E from X. X. Zhu & S. Liao ZH116.

FIGURE 2. Aristolochia weixiensis. A. Habitat, B. Branches with leaves, C. Inflorescence, D–E. Flower (front view), F. Flower (back view), G. Opened flower (showing the inside structure), H. Anthers and gynostemium, I. Fruit and seeds.

FIGURE 3. Holotype of Aristolochia weixiensis (CSH barcode 0087897).

FIGURE 4.A–B: Aristolochia weixiensis. A. Flower (front view), B. Opened flower (showing the inside structure). C–D: A. moupinensis (calyx limb yellow). C. Flower (front view), D. Opened flower (showing the inside structure). E–F: A. moupinensis (calyx limb dark red). E. Flower (front view), F. Opened flower (showing the inside structure). G: A. moupinensis (calyx limb yellow with red spots, from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 136: pl. 8325. 1910). H: A. moupinensis (calyx limb yellow with red spots). I–J: A. moupinensis (calyx limb yellow with slight spots). I. Flower (front view), J. Opened flower (showing the inside structure).