Oreocharis speciosa (Hemsl.) Mich. Möller & W. H. Chen 2014

Chen, Wen-Hong, Shui, Yu-Min & Möller, Michael, 2014, Two new combinations in Oreocharis Benth. (Gesneriaceae) from China, Candollea 69 (2), pp. 179-182 : 180-182

Oreocharis speciosa (Hemsl.) Mich. Möller & W. H. Chen , comb. nova

( Fig.1 A-E).

Ξ Didissandra speciosa Hemsl. in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 26: 228. 1890.

Ξ Briggsia speciosa (Hemsl.) Craib in Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 11: 264. 1920.

Lectotypus (designated here): CHINA. Prov. Hubei (Hupeh): Hsingshan , A. Henry 6411A ( K [ K000858093 ]!; iso-: E [ E00396435 ]!).

Distribution and habitat. – Oreocharis speciosa is distributed in W Hubei (Enshi city), SW Hunan (Hongjiang county), and S Chongqing [previously E Sichuan] (Nanchuan county). The species grows on shady, damp rocks on slopes, at an altitude ranging from 300 to 1600 m.

Observations. – In the protologue of Didissandra speciosa, HEMSLEY (1890) lists A. Henry collections in Hubei from Patung, Nanto, Hsingshan and Tunghu, all deposited at K without designating an holotype. Four collections mounted on two herbarium sheets of A. Henry are currently deposited at K: A. Henry 6356 from Nanto [K000858092] and A. Henry 6411A from Hsingshan [K000858093], both mounted on one sheet, and A. Henry 3951 from Nanto [K000858094] and A. Henry 7668 from Patung [K000858095], mounted on another. The specimens of A. Henry 6411A [K000858093] and A. Henry 6356 [K000858092] are annotated by Skog as syntypes of D. speciosa . A slightly smaller and atypical plant mounted on the second sheet was annotated “ Oreocharis ? sp. C. B. Clarke”. Another duplicate collection of A. Henry 6411A [E00396435] deposited at E is also annotated by Skog as a syntype of D. speciosa . Overall, A. Henry 6411A represents the more complete and accurate collection of this species and is here designated as the lectotype.

Conservation status. – Oreocharis speciosa has a wide distribution range across three provinces in South China. Only two populations have been observed by two of the authors (YMS, WHC), one situated in S Chongqing in the Jinfoshan Mountain and one in W Hubei in Enshi in the Suo Bu Ya Stone Forest park ( Fig. 1 F-H). There are around hundred mature individuals and many immature plants in each known population, and the total number of individuals would be around 5000. The “Extent of Occurrence” (EOO) in Suo Bu Ya is around 100 m 2 and both locations receive some protection due to their occurrence in National Parks. We have not enough information for a definitive conservation assessment, but the species has been proposed by WEI & al. (2010) to be categorized as “Vulnerable” [VU A1c] following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN, 2012).

Figures

Fig. 1. – Oreocharis speciosa (Hemsl.) Mich. Möller & W. H. Chen (A-E) and Oreocharis dimorphosepala (W. H. Chen & Y. M. Shui) Mich. Möller (F-I). A-B. Habitat; C. Habit in situ; D. Top view, and E. Front view of flowers showing the arched filaments; F. Habit; G. Top view, and H. Front view of flowers; I. Cut-open view of a flower showing the straight filaments with a bent at almost right angle at the apex. [photos: A-E: M. Möller; F-I: Y.-M. Shui]