Gaultheria stenophylla P.W.Fritsch & Lu Lu, 2015

Fritsch, Peter W., Lu, Lu, Wang, Hong & Li, De-Zhu, 2015, New species, taxonomic renovations, and typifications in Gaultheria series Trichophyllae (Ericaceae), Phytotaxa 201 (1), pp. 1-26 : 22-25

8. Gaultheria stenophylla P.W.Fritsch & Lu Lu , sp. nov.

Haec species Gaultheria hypochlora Airy Shaw (1941: 324) simillima, sed ab eo laminis longioribus 1–2.4 plo longioribus quam latioribus, angustis ellipticis vel leviter oblanceolatis, setis abaxialibus 1–35, positis secus vel prope costam, calyce fructifero plerumque ellipsoideo vel longo-cupuliformi, interdum cupuliformi differt.

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Gongshan Dulongzu Nuzu Zizhixian, Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along road from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, 3400 m, 27°46 ʹ 42.4 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 29.4 ʺ E, 13 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-7 (holotype KUN!, isotypes CAS!, GH!).

Ascending-erect or sometimes slightly pendent shrublet with stems to 15 cm long from horizontal stolons, hermaphroditic. Current-year branchlets pale green, occasionally flushed red, to 7 cm long, with sparse white puberulence and appressed or appressed-uncinate straight or curved setae, longer setae 0.28–0.74 mm long. Internodes among largest leaves averaging ca. 1.3–5 mm. Petioles 0.4–1.2 mm long, abaxially glabrous or with sparse uncinate-appressed setae, adaxially with white puberulence in a line, margin entire or 1- or 2-toothed per side; longer leaf blades narrowly elliptic to slightly oblanceolate, shorter leaf blades often less narrow, (6.2–)7–14(–17) × 2.4–5(–5.5) mm, 2–3.4 times as long as wide, subcoriaceous to occasionally coriaceous, planar, abaxially dull whitish green except glossy green and often flushed maroon near margin, at least some leaves with 1 to 35 appressed setae scattered on midvein or occasionally also on surface but usually near midvein (longer setae 0.18–0.4 mm long), adaxially glossy deep green, midvein abaxially raised, not thickened to slightly thickened immediately below apical gland, adaxially impressed and with white puberulence proximally, secondary veins abaxially obscure or 2 or 3 on each side of midvein, adaxially obscure; base cuneate to subrounded; margin serrulate throughout, slightly thickened, slightly to strongly revolute, marginal teeth (setae) 8 to 15 per side, all teeth oriented off leaf surface, longer teeth 0.12–0.2.8 mm long; apex acute to subrounded, tip with planar or occasionally downward-pointing apical gland. Overwintering flower bud pedicels 0.8–2.2(–3.7) mm long, glabrous or with white puberulence and/or minute setae proximally; overwintering flower buds compressed laterally, 2–3.6 × 1.1–2.1 mm, 1.4–1.9 times as long as wide, glabrous, bracteoles keeled, margins often sparsely ciliolate at apex. Flowers 5–7 mm long. Calyx green, 3.7–4.5 mm long; lobes narrowly ovate-deltoid, 2–3.2 × 1.5–2.4 mm, adaxially (and rarely abaxially at apex) pubescent, apex acute, ciliolate, not erose. Corolla white, campanulate, 4–6.5 × 4.5–9 mm; lobes 2.2–4 × 2–2.9 mm. Stamens 10; filaments dilated gradually then abruptly constricted toward middle, 0.9–1.5 mm long; anther cells 0.7–1.1 mm, awns 2 or occasionally 1 per theca, 0.3–0.7 mm long. Style 1.8–3.5 mm long; stigma pink. Calyx lobes glabrous or sparsely pubescent adaxially, apex sparsely to densely ciliolate, smooth. Fruiting pedicel 1.7–7.2 mm long. Fruiting calyx prolate, usually ellipsoid or long-cupuliform, occasionally cupuliform, open but not widely so and sometimes nearly closed, 8–16 × 10–14 mm, outer wall dark blue or occasionally light sky blue or pure white, inner wall white; calyx lobes erect to incurved, long-deltoid, 3.5–7 mm long, apex sparsely ciliolate, not erose. Capsule green, exceeded by calyx lobes.

Illustration — Figure 11 .

Images — Figure 8G–N .

Phenology —Flowering May; fruiting July–October.

Etymology —The species is named for its narrowly elliptic leaf blades.

Habitat and distribution —Mixed evergreen broadleaved or deciduous forests, coniferous forests, alpine meadows and thickets with scattered bamboo, mixed granite and metamorphics, banks of road cuts, among rocks, in humus and moss; 2400–3636 m elev. Bhutan, China (Yunnan, Xizang), India (Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim) .

Discussion —Many collections of Gaultheria stenophylla have been made over the last 100+ years, apparently beginning with G.H. Cave’s collection from “Kanghasi” in 1912; only now, however, has it been recognized as a distinct species. Fritsch et al. (2008) identified several specimens collected from the Gaoligong Mountains and adjacent areas as G. hypochlora but noted their aberrantly narrow leaves. On this basis, Fritsch et al. (2008) suggested that these specimens might not be conspecific with G. hypochlora and that they were deserving of further study. Our field and herbarium observations confirm that these narrow-leaved specimens are distinct from G. hypochlora and we thus recognize them here as G. stenophylla . See also Discussion under G. ciliisepala .

Gaultheria stenophylla exhibits a fruiting calyx color polymorphism, with fruiting calyces colored either dark blue, pale blue, or white on separate plants ( Figs. 8M–N ).

Depauperate plants of this species with smaller stature, leaves, and fruit have been found growing on a thin moss substrate over sloping flat rock faces (e.g., Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 16918 and L. Lu LL-2013-10) but match the type of Gaultheria stenophylla in all other respects.

The specimen S. Panda 29940 (CAL not seen), from Sikkim, India, was reported as Gaultheria sinensis ( Panda 2005) but may be G. stenophylla . The leaves in the description and illustration are too long for those of G. sinensis , a species otherwise unreported for Sikkim, whereas G. stenophylla is known for Sikkim from the collection of D.G. Long et al. 742 (E!).

Paratypes —COUNTRY UNKNOWN. East Himalaya, Kanghasi, 11,000 ft, 25 June 1912, G.H. Cave s.n. (E!).

BHUTAN. Rudo La (E side), 10,500–12,000 ft, 18 May 1949, F. Ludlow et al. 18885 (E!) ; Lao , Trashiyangsi Chu, 9500 ft, 10 May 1949, F. Ludlow et al. 20617A (E!) .

CHINA. Yunnan: Fugong Xian. Yaduo Cun, above Shibali to Myanmar border at Yaping Yakou, N side of N fork of Yamu He, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 2750 m, 27°10 ʹ 23 ʺ N, 98°46 ʹ 03 ʺ E, 10 August 2005, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 26921 ( CAS!). Gongshan Dulongzu Nuzu Zizhixian. Cikai Zheng, rd from Gongshan to Kongdang, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3340 m, 27°46 ʹ 50 ʺ N, 98°28 ʹ 06 ʺ E, 1 October 2002, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 16817 (CAS!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, N of rd from Gongshan to Kongdang, E side of Gaoligong Shan, u-shaped valley draining into upper reaches of Pula He, 3350 m, 27°47 ʹ 04 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 38 ʺ E, 3 October 2002, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 16918 (CAS!, KUN [2]!); Cikai Zheng, N of rd from Gongshan to Kongdang, E side of Gaoligong Shan, u-shaped valley draining into upper reaches of Pula He, 3429 m, 27°47 ʹ 35 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 57 ʺ E, 3 October 2002, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 16950 p.p. (CAS! mixed with G. hypochlora, KUN ! mixed with G. hypochlora ); Cikai Zheng, E side of Gaoligong Shan at Km 48, rd from Gongshan to Kongdang, 3330 m, 27°47 ʹ 04 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 40 ʺ E, 11 November 2004, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 22409 ( CAS!); Cikai Zheng, E side of Gaoligong Shan at Km 48 on rd from Gongshan to Kongdang, 3330 m, 27°47 ʹ 04 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 40 ʺ E, 11 November 2004, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 23018 ( CAS!); Cikai Zheng, Heipu Pass, rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang Valley, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3490 m, 27°46 ʹ 19.6 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 47.6 ʺ E, 12 August 2006, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 32036 ( CAS!); Cikai Zheng, Heipu Pass, rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang Valley, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3490 m, 27°46 ʹ 19.6 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 47.6 ʺ E, 12 August 2006, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 32053 (CAS [2]!); Cikai Zheng, Heipu Pass, rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang Valley, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3490 m, 27°46 ʹ 19.6 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 47.6 ʺ E, 12 August 2006, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 32060 ( CAS!); Cikai Zheng, ca. 1.2 direct km SSE of Heipu Pass tunnel on new rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang Valley, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3350 m, 27°45 ʹ 41.7 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 2.3 ʺ E, 13 August 2006, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 32127 ( CAS!); Cikai Zheng, ca. 1.2 direct km SSE of Heipu Pass tunnel on new rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang Valley, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3350 m, 27°45 ʹ 41.7 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 2.3 ʺ E, 13 August 2006, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 32150A (CAS [2]!); Cikai Zheng, near Yipsaka Lake, 2.1 direct km SSE of Heipu Pass tunnel on new rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang Valley, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3450 m, 27°45 ʹ 18.1 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 21 ʺ E, 13 August 2006, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 32235 ( CAS!); [Cikai Zheng], Gaoligongshan, rd from Qiqi to Twelfth Bridge, 2400–2600 m, 3 June 2006, L. Lu & R.F. Lu 06-0040 ( CAS!); Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, 3335 m, 27°46 ʹ 10.4 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 49.2 ʺ E, 11 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-1 (CAS!, GH!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, 3335 m, 27°46 ʹ 10.4 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 49.2 ʺ E, 11 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-2 (CAS!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, 3400 m, 27°46 ʹ 42.4 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 29.4 ʺ E, 13 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-8 (CAS!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, 3400 m, 27°46 ʹ 42.4 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 29.4 ʺ E, 13 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-9 (CAS!, GH!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, 3360 m, 27°47 ʹ 8.6 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 37.4 ʺ E, 13 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-10 (CAS!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, Qiqi River drainage, along trail from No. 12 Bridge to Dong Shao Fang and pass, 2770 m, 27°42 ʹ 54.3 ʺ N, 98°30 ʹ 8.9 ʺ E, 17 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013- 28 (CAS!, KUN!); Dulongjiang Xiang, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, W side of Gaoligong Shan, 3357 m, 27°46 ʹ 30.0 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 49.1 ʺ E, 26 June 2014, L. Lu LL-2014-5 (CAS!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, vicinity of tunnel at Heipu Pass along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3335 m, 27°46 ʹ 10.4 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 49.2 ʺ E, 26 June 2014, L. Lu LL-2014-8 (CAS!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, Danzhu Cun, rd from Danzhu to Myanmar, along Damawadi He (N branch of W-most origin of Danzhu He), E side of Gaoligong Shan, 3243 m, 27°37 ʹ 25.0 ʺ N, 98°34 ʹ 32.3 ʺ E, 28 June 2014, L. Lu LL-2014-11 (CAS!, KUN!); Cikai Zheng, Danzhu Cun, rd from Danzhu to Myanmar, along Damawadi He (N branch of W-most origin of Danzhu He), E side of Gaoligong Shan, 2880 m, 27°38 ʹ 6.5 ʺ N, 98°36 ʹ 25.0 ʺ E, June 28, 2014, L. Lu LL-2014-12 (CAS!, KUN!); Dulongjiang Xiang, along rd from Gongshan to Dulongjiang, W side of Gaoligong Shan, 3275 m, 27°49 ʹ 29.1 ʺ N, 98°26 ʹ 56.7 ʺ E, 29 June 2014, L. Lu LL-2014-22 (CAS!, KUN!); from Jidu Forestry Station to Dongshaofang, 2600 m, 22 July 1982, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 8345 ( KUN [2]!); [Dulongjiang Xiang], Taron-taru divide, Ahtehmai, 2500 m, 29 August 1938, T.T. Yü 20049 (A!, E!, KUN!); [Dulongjiang Xiang], Salwin-Kiukiang Divide, Lunguailaka, 3600 m, 14 September 1938, T.T. Yü 20262 (A!, E!, KUN!). [Dulongjiang Xiang], Salween-Kiu Chiang Divide, Lunguailaka, 3200 m, 16 September 1938, T.T. Yü 20324 (A!, E!, KUN!). Xizang: Motuo Xian. Duoxiongla, trail to Lage, 3200–3400 m, 29°29 ʹ N, 94°55 ʹ E, 24 July 2007, L. Lu LL-07118 ( CAS!); Duoxiongla, trail to Lage, 29°29 ʹ N, 94°55 ʹ E, 3200–3400 m, 24 July 2007, L. Lu LL-07119 (CAS!, GH!, KUN!); Duoxiongla, trail to Lage, 29°29 ʹ N, 94°55 ʹ E, 3200–3400 m, 24 July 2007, L. Lu LL-07122 ( KUN!); Duoxiongla, trail to Lage, 3200–3750 m, 29°29 ʹ N, 94°55 ʹ E, 24 July 2007, L. Lu LL-07134 p.p. (CAS! mixed with G. cf. sinensis ). Lage, 3250 m, 31 July 1974, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 74-3778 ( KUN [2]!); Lage, Duoxiongla Mountain, 3300 m, 25 October 1992, H. Sun, Z.K. Zhou, H.Y. Yü Expedition to Mêdog 0623 ( KUN!).

INDIA. Arunachal Pradesh. Pachakshiri District, Nyug La, 8000–9500 ft, 28°45 ʹ N, 94°00 ʹ E, 11 May 1938, F. Ludlow et al. 3733 (A!, E!). Sikkim: West District, Phedang to Tsoka, S of Dzongri, 3300 m, 27°26 ʹ N, 88°10 ʹ E, 26 July 1992, D.G. Long et al. 742 (E!).

Note on conservation assessment —In accordance with IUCN (2014) guidelines, we classify the eight species enumerated in this study as least concern (LC). This is based on the relatively high number of individuals in populations, the tolerance of these plants for disturbance, such as road cuts and low-intensity livestock grazing, and their occurrence in protected areas of the Gaoligong Shan National Nature Reserve and other relatively intact habitats. Proposed large-scale mining in some areas of occurrence, such as in the largely unprotected Biluo Snow Mountains, could eventually warrant reassessment of this categorization for some species.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Images of Gaultheria major, G. sinensis, and G. stenophylla. A–E. Gaultheria sinensis, habit (A), flowers, lateral view (B) and apical view (C), fruit, lateral view (D) and apical view (E) (A, D–E: L. Lu LL-2013-14; B–C: L. Lu LL-2013-52). F. Gaultheria major (left) and G. sinensis (right) fruits from plants growing together, showing differences in size and mature calyx color [L. Lu LL-2013-51 (left), LL-2013-52 (right)]. G–N. Gaultheria stenophylla, habit (G), flowers in lateral view (H) and apical view (I), fruit, lateral and apical view (J), fruit, lateral view (K), fruit, lateral view, from a plant with open mature calyces (L) (cf. J), plants with dark blue or white mature calyces (the different colors are on separate individuals) (M), plant from same area as those in (M), with light blue mature calyces (N) [G, L: L. Lu LL-2013-7; H–I: L. Lu LL-2014-8; J–K, L. Lu LL-2013-1; M, L. Lu LL-2013-7 (blue) and LL-2013-9 (white); N, L. Lu LL-2013-8]. Photographs A–B, D, G, I–K, M–N by PWF; C, E–F, H, L by LL. Scale bars:A, M, 5 cm; B–E, H–I, 5 mm; F, J–L, N, 10 mm; G, 10 cm.

FIGURE 11. Gaultheria stenophylla. A. Fruiting plant. B. Leaf, abaxial view. C. Section of branchlet with leaf bases in abaxial (left) and adaxial (right) view, and flower buds. D. Flower. E. Stamen. F. Nectar glands and gynoecium. G. Fruit, lateral view. H. Fruit, apical view. (A drawn from L. Lu LL-2013-7, CAS; B, D–F drawn from F. Ludlow, G. Sherriff & G. Taylor 3733, A; G–H drawn from L. Lu LL-07118, CAS, and images of the living plant.)