Primula meishanensis K. Huang & Z. X. Fu, 2024

Li, Tingyu, Chen, Xinyu, Li, Bo, Hua, Donglai, Luo, Can, Luo, Huixian, Liang, Yun, Yue, Jieli, Xi, Xiaodan, Huang, Ke & Fu, Zhixi, 2024, Primula meishanensis (Primulaceae), a new species from Sichuan, China, PhytoKeys 248, pp. 73-90 : 73-90

Primula meishanensis K. Huang & Z. X. Fu sp. nov.

Type.

China, Sichuan Province, Meishan City, Qingshen County, Zhongyan temple , grows on moist rock surfaces amidst moss under the forest, at elevations of approximately 417 m; 29°45′47.39″N, 103°50′44.017″E; 26 December 2023 (fl.), Ke Huang & Zhixi Fu 8200 (holotype SCNU!) (Figs 1 – 3 ) .

Diagnosis.

The new species is morphologically similar to Primula dejuniana in having ciliate, sharply and remotely dentate leaf blade margin, while it can be easily recognised by the following combination of characters: scape solitary, the length of petiole 2.5–5 cm, a terminal umbel of (1) 2–3 (4) flowers, leaf blade smooth, oblanceolate, 19.5–25 × 2.5–5 cm, apex acute, corolla pastel violet, 5–6 lobes spreading and stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube, corolla tubes 11.0–12.0 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diam., style 4.0–7.0 mm above base of corolla tube, stamens reaching the corolla tube mouth, 7.0–12.0 mm above base of corolla tube. (Figs 1 – 3 ).

Description.

Perennial herbs, 12.0–20.0 cm tall. Roots numerous, fibrous, without hairs. Leaves pilose, forming a spreading rosette, each rosette with only 2-4 leaves of previous year at flowering time; resting bud of rosette clothed by a few small paleaceous scales, basal bud scales ovate to ovate-oblong, ciliolate, rose red, apex acute; petiole 2.5–5 cm long, narrowly winged and densely covered with multicellular hairs; leaf blade oblanceolate, smooth, 19.5–25 × 2.5–5 cm, cuneate at base, abaxial surface densely along mid-vein, sparser on lateral veins covered with multicellular hairs; margin ciliate, sharply and remotely dentate; apex acute; mid-vein dull yellow in fresh state, turning brownish when dry; veins impressed adaxially, prominently raised and subalveolate abaxially. Scape solitary, 7.2–11.8 cm long, pilose, carrying a terminal umbel of (1) 2–3 (4) flowers, dull yellow in fresh state, turning brownish when dry at base. Bracts lanceolate, 4–5.5 mm long, minutely ciliate. Pedicel 0.4–1.4 cm long, shorter than leaf blade, pilose. Flowers distylous. Calyx campanulate, 8–9 mm long, parted to 1 / 2 of its length or slightly below; lobes linear lanceolate to lanceolate, apex acute. Corolla pastel violet, annulate, 5–6 lobes spreading, lobes broadly elliptic, 8.0–10.0 mm long, emarginate, densely yellow farinose abaxially, smooth adaxially. Pin flower: corolla tubes 9.0–10.0 mm long, stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube, 9.5–10.5 mm long, style slightly exceeding the corolla tube mouth. Thrum flower: corolla tubes 11.0–12.0 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diam., 2 times as long as the calyx, style 4.0–7.0 mm above base of corolla tube, stamens reaching the corolla tube mouth, 7.0–12.0 mm above base of corolla tube (Fig. 1 G ).

Phenology.

The flowering period is from December to February and the fruiting period is March to May.

Etymology.

The epithet “ meishanensis ” is derived from Meishan City, located in Sichuan Province, China.

Distribution and habitat.

P. meishanensis is currently known from its type locality in Zhongyan temple, Ruifeng Town, Qingshen County and roadside of Panjiaozui, forest Hongya Forest Farm, Hongya County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province, China (Fig. 4 ). This new species probably exists in other localities. It grows on moist rock surfaces amidst moss under the forest, at elevations of approximately ca. 400–1000 m (Fig. 2 ).

Additional specimens examined.

China, Sichuan, Meishan City , Qingshen County, 29°45′47.39″N, 103°50′44.017″E, 26 December 2023 (fl.), Ke Huang & Zhixi Fu 8201 ( SCNU!) ; Hongya County , 29°49'57.23"N, 103°09'50.23"E, 28 May 2015 (fl.), Ya J. D. & Hu X. J. 15 CS 11038 ( KUN!)

Conservation status.

Data Deficient (DD). Currently, two populations with more than 100 individuals have been found in the Qingshen and Hongya Counties. The population of P. meishanensis inhabits moist rocks. Given its currently limited occurrence near the temple, there is a significant likelihood that the taxon may also be found in other localities. Until we have fully investigated the situation, it would be suggested to assess the conservation status of the species as Data Deficient (DD) following the IUCN Red List Criteria ( IUCN 2024).

Relationship with related species.

Critical examination of collected specimens, comparison with type material of allied taxa and relevant taxonomic literature revealed that P. meishanensis is a new member of the P. sect. Petiolares. Morphologically, P. meishanensis shares certain similarities with P. dejuniana . However, P. meishanensis differs from P. dejuniana in featuring the leaf apex acute (vs. the leaf apex acute, but with a small point at tip), corolla pastel violet (vs. the corolla pale rose-purple), scape solitary, 7.2–11.8 cm long, carrying a terminal umbel of (1) 2–3 (4) flowers (vs. the scape usually one per rosette, 8–12 (18) cm long, carrying a terminal umbel of 2–6 flowers), the length of petiole 2.5–5 cm (vs. 1–3 cm), basal bud scales rose red (vs. flesh pink) and flowering period is from December to February (vs. from early February to early March). The number of chloroplast genes etc. is different in the two species (Table 2 , Fig. 6 , Suppl. material 1). To some extent, P. meishanensis also resembles to P. davidii as a perennial herb with calyx and corolla. However, it differs from P. davidii in leaf blade margin (sharply vs. erose-dentate) and apex (acute vs. rounded). The species of P. meishanensis bears similarities to P. epilosa , yet the former is readily distinguished by its leaf apex (acute vs. rounded), corolla (pastel violet vs. rose-purple with a yellow eye) and altitude (400–420 m vs. 2000–2900 m). Further morphological comparisons amongst the species of P. meishanensis , P. davidii , P. dejuniana and P. epilosa are shown in Table 1 .

Figures

Figure 1. Primula meishanensis sp. nov. A plant and roots B roots C petioles D, E leaves F pin flower G thrum flower H scape and bract (Photos by XC).

Figure 2. Primula meishanensis sp. nov. A – C habitat D – H flowers I, J fruit (Photos A, B, D, E by ZF and C, F – J by KH).

Figure 3. Holotype image of Primula meishanensis K. Huang & Z. X. Fu, sp. nov.

Figure 4. Location of the population of Primula meishanensis in Qingshen County and Hongya County, Meishan City and Sichuan Province (red star).

Figure 6. The covariance analyses of two species.