Cyclorhiza puana J. Zhou & Z.W. Liu, 2021

Zhou, Jing, Niu, Jun-Mei, Wang, Xin-Yue, Wang, Pei, Guo, Ming-Jia & Liu, Zhen-Wen, 2021, Cyclorhiza puana (Apiaceae), a new species from Sichuan, China, PhytoKeys 182, pp. 57-66 : 57

Cyclorhiza puana J. Zhou & Z.W. Liu sp. nov.

Fig. 1G-I

Type.

China. Sichuan: Luhuo County, Renda Town , 3052 m, 100°38'59.57"E, 31°24'50.76"N, 17 Aug 2016, J. Zhou, Z.W. Liu & Y.Z. Gao LZ201606120 (holotype: KUN! [KUN1519999]; isotype: KUN!) .

Diagnosis.

Cyclorhiza puana resembles C. waltonii but differs from the latter in its long-cylindric roots with sparse annular scars (vs. stout, branched near stem into a cluster of several long, woody, carrot-like roots with prominent annular scars), smaller ultimate segments 2-4 × 0.5-1 mm (vs. 4-20 × 2-6 mm), rays subequal (vs. unequal), stylopodium obconic (vs. low-conic) and seed face slightly concave (vs. deeply sulcate).

Description.

Herbs perennial, 40-60 cm tall, glabrous. Taproots long-cylindrical with sparse annular scars. Stem base covered in purplish-brown remnant sheaths, solitary or rarely several, ribbed, unbranched or upper 1-3-branched, 2-3 mm in diameter. Basal and lower leaves petiolate, petioles 2-6 cm long, sheaths narrow, short; blade triangular-ovate in outline, 4-pinnatisect, 2-5 × 7-12 cm, ultimate segments linear, 2-4 × 0.5-1 mm. Upper leaves smaller and reduced. Umbels loose, compound, terminal and lateral; bracts absent or sometimes 1; bracteoles absent or rarely 1-2, linear; rays 4-6, subequal; umbellules 6-14-flowered, pedicels 6-8 mm, subequal. Calyx teeth minute, triangular; petals not known; stylopodium obconic, brown; styles short. Fruit oblong, 5 × 2 mm, dark yellow; ribs 5, filiform, prominent, slightly thickened; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Seed face slightly concave. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

Etymology.

The species epithet " Cyclorhiza puana " is given in honour of Prof. Pu Fading (1936-) for his outstanding contributions to the Chinese Apiaceae .

Vernacular name.

The Chinese name is given as “炉霍环根芹” ( lú huò huán gēn qín), referring to the locality where the type specimen was collected.

Phenology.

Flowering from June to July, and fruiting from July to September.

Distribution and habitat.

The new species is distributed in Sichuan Province, China. It grows in the alpine open mixed forests at elevations of 3000-3200 m (Fig. 3 ).

Additional specimens examined (paratype).

China. Sichuan: Batang County, Jiangbading Village , 3268 m, 99°11'51"E, 29°55'54"N, 30 Jul. 2014, X.X. Zhu, B. Chen, B. Shen & Y.G. Song CSH06561 (CSH! [CSH0037273]) .

Conservation status.

So far, only two populations with no more than ten individuals have been found. Through further investigations, more populations may be discovered to assess its conservation status. Based on the available data, the new species can be assessed as Data Deficient (DD) on the basis of recommendations of the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN 2019).

Figures

Figure 1. Cyclorhiza waltonii (H. Wolff) M. L. Sheh & R. H. Shan (A-C) A syntype (K 000685236) B fruit image C cross-section; C. peucedanifolia (Franch.) Constance (D-F) D syntype (P 00057007) E fruit image F cross-section; C. puana J. Zhou & Z. W. Liu (G-I) G holotype (KUN 1519999) H fruit images I cross-section. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 3. Distribution map of C. waltonii, C. peucedanifolia and C. puana.