Synotis jinpingensis M.Tang, Y.Z.Xiong & Q.E.Yang, 2023

Zhao, Liao-Chen, Chen, Ren, Yu, Zhi-Yong, Tang, Ming & Yang, Qin-Er, 2023, Synotis jinpingensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species with white ray florets from southeastern Yunnan, China, PhytoKeys 235, pp. 199-210 : 199

Synotis jinpingensis M.Tang, Y.Z.Xiong & Q.E.Yang sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 4

Type.

China. Yunnan province: Jinping county, Fenshuiling National Nature Reserve, Guaitang village , in mixed forests, alt. ca. 2400 m, 22°45′36.87″N, 103°28′4.65″E, 30 March 2022, Z.Y. Yu et al. JXAU 01 (holotype: JXAU; isotypes: IBSC, JXAU). Fig. 4 .

Diagnosis.

Synotis jinpingensis is most closely similar to S. duclouxii in habit and leaf shape, but differs by having white (vs. yellow) ray florets, fewer nerves on the leaves (10-14 vs. 18-20), longer bracts of calyculus (6-8 mm vs. 1-3 mm), and larger phyllaries (8-10 mm long, 2-3 mm broad vs. 5-7 mm long, 1- 2 mm broad).

Description.

Perennial herbs, erect, rhizomatous. Rhizome thick, horizontal. Vegetative stems solitary, simple, rarely branched, erect, 50-100 cm tall, median and lower parts subglabrous, upper part often densely yellowish setulose. Flowering stems solitary, erect, scapiform, 15-30 cm tall, few-branched, fulvous tomentose. Leaves always aggregate at base of fertile shoot; petioles 1-1.5 cm long; blades obovate-lanceolate or elliptic, 12-18 cm long, 2.5-4 cm broad, papyraceous, abaxially glabrous or subglabrous, adaxially sparsely pubescent, pinnately veined, lateral veins 10-14, arcuate-ascending, base cuneate, margin shallowly sinuate-apiculate, apex acute-acuminate. Stem leaves on reproductive shoots few, narrowly lanceolate, remote, much smaller. Capitula radiate, numerous, arranged in an attenuate broadly paniculoid corymb; peduncles 3-5 mm long, fulvous tomentose, 1- or 2-bracteate; bracts below capitula linear, 5-20 mm long. Involucres cylindric-campanulate, 8-10 mm long, 2-3 mm broad, with 7-10 subulate bracteoles at base, bracts of calyculus linear, 6-8 mm long, green, apically purple; phyllaries usually 7 or 8, occasionally 5 or 6, oblong, 2-3 mm broad, green, herbaceous, glabrous, apically acute, purple. Ray florets 7 or 8; corolla tube 3.5-4.5 mm long, glabrous; lamina white, oblong-lanceolate, 6-9 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm broad, 3-4-veined, apically obtuse, 3-denticulate. Disk florets 8-12, white; corolla 4-5 mm long, with ca. 4.5 mm long tube and funnelform limb; lobes ovate-oblong, 3-3.5 mm long, apically acute. Anthers ca. 3 mm, anther tails ca. 1.5 times as long as antheropodia; appendages ovate-oblong; antheropodia slightly dilated at base. Style branches ca. 2 mm long, fringed with long fine papillae, the central tuft prominent, much longer than laterals. Achenes 1.8-2 mm, glabrous. Pappus white, 6-7.5 mm long.

Phenology.

Flowering from March to April; fruiting from April to July.

Etymology.

The species is named after its type locality, i.e., Jinping county in southeastern Yunnan province, China.

Distribution and habitat.

Synotis jinpingensis is currently known from its type locality, i.e., Jinping county in southeastern Yunnan province, China (Fig. 2 ). It grows in mixed forests at an altitude of ca. 2400 m above sea level.

Conservation status.

Synotis jinpingensis seems currently known only from its type locality. Four small populations of this species, each with ca. 100 individuals, have been discovered there. The habitat of S. jinpingensis is now well preserved. The discovery of further populations of this species is to be expected as botanical exploration of southeastern Yunnan proceeds. According to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria ( IUCN 2022), the new species may better be categorized as Data Deficient (DD).

Figures

Figure 1. Synotis jinpingensis in the wild (Jinping, Yunnan, China) A habitat B habit C portion of stem D leaves (left three: adaxial side; right three: abaxial side) E synflorescence F capitulum (side view) G capitulum (top view) H florets (left: ray floret; right: disk floret) I phyllaries (left: adaxial side; right: abaxial side) J bracts of calyculus.

Figure 2. Distribution map of Synotis jinpingensis (black dot) and S. duclouxii (black star).

Figure 4. Holotype (A) and isotype (B) sheets of Synotis jinpingensis.