Rohdea tuberculata H. Z. Feng, 2023

Feng, Hui Zhe, Ying, Zhao Yan, Hui, Bi Ming, Hui, Li Wen & Chen, Jing, 2023, Rohdea tuberculata (Asparagaceae), a new species from Central Sichuan, China, Phytotaxa 613 (1), pp. 55-63 : 57-60

Rohdea tuberculata H. Z. Feng , sp. nov. ( Fig. 6 )

Type:— CHINA. Sichuan: Ya’an, Hongya, Wawu Mountain , alt. 2310 m, H. Z. Feng 103, dried herbarium specimen prepared by H. Z. Feng 2023-13 (holotype, CSH!), on 2 March 2023 from a plant cultivated at Biological Garden of Zaozhuang university, Zaozhuang , Shandong, China.

Diagnosis:—This species is most similar to R. wattii in sharing characters of the elliptical blades, perianth lobes reflexed and the stamen filaments which are obvious and strongly curved, but differs mainly by the large blades, perianth lobes with tuberculate protrusions and the stigma top below the base of the free part of the filaments.

Description:—Hemicryptophyte herb. Rhizome cylindrical, prostrate, ascending distally, to 2.5 cm in diameter. Roots fibrous, to 6 mm in diameter. Cataphylls a few. Leaves 2–4, basal, equitant, ca. 40 cm long including petiole; blades ovate or narrowly ovate, ca. 12 cm broad; petiole usually distinct. Peduncle stout, erect, usually half-orbicular, ca. 4 cm long, to ca. 1 cm in diameter. Spike stout, cylindric-oblong, densely many-flowered, ca. 13 cm long, to ca. 4 cm in diameter. Bracts 2 per flower; outer bract 1, persistence, borne below flower, deltoid or deltoid-ovate, apex acuminate, crisped, membranous, green, usually shorter than perianth, ca. 10× 5 mm; inner bract (bracteole) 1, narrowly deltoidlanceolate, to ca. 4 mm long. Perianth cupulate-subcampanulate, atrovirens and then turn pale orange, ca. 3–15 mm in diameter, 8–10 mm high; lobes broadly ovate or semi-orbicular, apex acuminate, somewhat rugose, base imbricate, ca. 2.5 mm long, ca. 5.5 mm broad, margins revolute and inner side densely with tuberculate protrusions; tube ca. 10 mm long, both surfaces of lower part smooth. Anthers broadly ovate, ca. 1 mm long; connectives tuberculate dorsally. Filaments strongly incurved, 3–3.5 mm long, each inserted at base of perianth lobe, decurrent parts dilated below and united with adjacent ones, forming crenulate small lamellar protrusion at each junction. Pistil ca. 5 mm long; stigma trisected, lower than the base of the free part of the filaments; style columnar, 1–1.5 mm long; ovary slightly depressed globose, ca. 2 mm long; ovules ca. 4 per ovary locule. Fruit no seen.

Phenology:—Flowering in March in cultivation.

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to its tuberculate perianth lobes.

Habitat:—The new species was found growing under humus-rich moist broad-leaved forest.

Distribution:—This species only found in Wawu Mountain, Hongya, Ya’an, Sichuan, China.

Taxonomic relationship:—The blades of most species in the genus Rohdea are lanceolate, only in R. wattii , R. tonkinensis , R. dangii K. S. Nguyen, N. Tanaka & Averyanov (2021: 68) and the new species are elliptic or narrowly elliptic. R. tonkinensis distributed in southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi & Yunnan) and northern Vietnam and R. dangii only distributed in northern Vietnam and both these two species have very long upright and naked stems, and filaments with a prominently incrassate decurrent part without forming a lamellar projection between them. In addition, R. tonkinensis and R. dangii all absence of cataphylls for protecting young leaves probably resulted from adaptation to a warm climate, and it is apparently a derived character state ( Tanaka 2010, Nguyen 2021). But in R. tuberculata and R. wattii the connective of anthers tuberculate dorsally, filaments decurrent parts dilated below and united with adjacent ones, forming crenulate small lamellar protrusion at each junction.

According to the structure of stamens, R. tuberculata is most closely related to R. wattii . The new species is, however, easily distinguishable from the latter mainly by the broad blade (20–40×9–11 vs. 15–34× 3.5–7.8 cm), long inflorescence (ca. 13 vs. 1.5–3 cm long), short bracts (not exceeding flower, ca. 10 mm long vs. exceeding flower, 7–20 mm long), atrovirens perianth (vs. green or orange) when young, lobes tuberculate adaxially (vs. smooth), pistil completely contained in the perianth tube and the stigma lower than the base of free part of filaments (vs. the perianth tube do not contained the pistil and the stigma above than the base of free part of filaments).

Other specimens examined:— Rohdea wattii . CHINA. Guangxi. Chenxi, 21 Setember 2014, Y. L. Zhu et al. 450481140921033 LY ( GXMG0146678 ). Debao, 2 April 2017, Debao Exped. 451024170402009 LY ( IBK00410969 ). Guangyang, 5 October 1958, Z. Y. Chen 52488 ( IBK00139400 ). Gongcheng, 16 October 2015, Gongcheng Exped. 450332151016040 LY ( IBK00377716 ). Huangjiang, 27 April 2013, Huangjiang Exped. 451226130427044 LY ( IBK00360576 ). Jinxiu, 17 May 1995, G. Z. Li 14522 ( IBK00139417 ). Lingyun, 14 August 1928, S. Q. Chen 92591 ( IBK00139405 ). Longlin, 10August 2008, Guangxi Exped. 3058 ( IBK00281556 ) ; B. Y. Huang et al. 45103112101069 LY ( GXMG0191618 ). Longsheng, 12 April 1963, S. F. Yuan 6303 ( NAS00566040 ). Luocheng, Luocheng Exped. 451225130310005 LY ( IBK00364489 ). Napo, D.X. Nong, Z. Z. Lan & L. L. Mo 451026141010064 LY ( GXMG0102027 ). Rong'an, 3 September 2019, Rong'an Exped. 450224190903027 LY ( IBK00421663 ). Rongshui, 23 April 1989, Beijing Exped. 891855 ( PE02018168 ). Shanglin, 24 March 2011, L. Wu & Y. S. Huang D1604 ( IBK00218335 ) ; L. Wu & R. H. Jiang D 0179 ( IBK00218336 ). Tengxian, 19 June 1936, C. Wang 39457 ( PE00035420 ). Tian'er, 9 May 1989, Beijing Exped. 891016 ( PE02018169 ). Tianlin, 10 July 1975, Anonymous s.n. ( PE0150355 ). Wuming, 5 April 1995, Y. C. Zhong 80853 ( PE01606973 ). Xiangzhou, 19 June 1936, H. Zhi 39457 ( IBK00139398 ). Yongfu, 3 July 2006, Huaping Exped. H1122 ( IBK00228498 ). Ziyuan, 12 May 1982, G. Z. Li 11359 ( K00188666 ). Guizhou. An'long, C. Y. Deng 522328140317261 LY ( GZTM0060919 ). Congjiang, 2 October 2011, M. T. An C-00501 ( GZAC0031490 ). Kaili, 7 May 1959, Qiannan Exped. 1363 ( PE01318222 ). Libo, 24 July 2008, D. G. Zhang 080724060 ( JIU02971 ). Nayong, 22 April 1974, Bijie Exped. 656 ( PE01318218 ). Rongjiang, 22 April 1959, Qiannan Exped. 02981 ( PE01318219 ). Hunan. Sangzhi, 4 August 2008, L. H. Li 25443 ( HNNU00065121 ). Yunan. Funing, 18 April 1940, C. W. Wang 88691 ( PE00593284 ). Guangnan, 10 March 1940, Q. W. Wang 87704 ( HITBC049596 ). Jingdong, 18 April 2012, C. Liu et al. 12 CS4387 ( KUN1391654 ). Jingping, 17 May 1956, Sino-Soviet Exped. 1590 ( PE00035416 ). Luchuan, Y. J. Guo et al. 12 CS4803 ( UN1391656 ). Luquan, 12 September 2014, J. S. Li NJWLS0281 ( KUN1278296 ). Maguan, 9 July 2015, Maguan Exped. 5326251032 ( IMDY0036397 ). Malopo, 21 February 1940, C. W. Wang 87053 ( PE00593272 ). Menglian, 29 July 1973, Menglian Exped. 9845 ( HITBC049597 ). Nanjian, 22 March 2012, E. D. Liu et al. 3507 ( PE01920734 ). Pingbian, 10 October 1965, K. M. Feng 4817 ( PE00593289 ). Simao, 26 March 1957, Sino-Soviet Exped. 9116 ( PE02088736 ). Shuifu, Z. Y. Li 2022686 ( IMC0015801 ). Wenshan, 8 September 2012, T. Zhang et al. 12 CS4603 ( KUN1391655 ). Xichou, 3 September 1965, Y. Q. Mo 2393 ( PE00593282 ). Xinping, 11 April 2014, Y. J. Guo et al. 14 CS8193 ( KUN1391653 ). Zhaotong, 28 June 1973, Kunming Exped. Wei-9 B ( KUN1222897 ). Zhenkang, March 1936, C. W. Wang 72455 ( PE00593280 ). Sichuan. E'mei, 20 October 1972, Anonymous 72-152 ( SM722208239 ). Gulin, 9 July 1976, Gulin Exped. 0717 ( SM722208268 ). Hejiang, 16 September 1977, Hejiang Exped. He-0975 ( SM722208260 ). Juanlian, 27 June1977, Anonymous 205 ( SM72220825 ). Xuyong, 16 May 1964, M. F. Zhong & S. G. Tang 0100 ( SM722208267 ). Yibin, 20 August 1980, Anonymous 80-24 ( SM72220824 ). Chongqing. 9 June 1972, Anonymous 152 ( SM722208252 ). Fuling, 5 August 1978, Anonymous 882 ( SM72220825 ). Youyang , China West Normal University Exped. 02110 ( SM722208256 ).

Rohdea tokinensis . CHINA. Guangxi. Long'an, 5 September 2018, Long'an Exped. 450224180905019 LY ( GXMG0210966 ). Nanning, cultivated in GXMG , 16 March 1984, Z. Y . Ni 12865 ( GXMG0038845 ). Rongxian , 26 January 1955, Z. Y . Wei & D. M . Lei 40254 ( IBK00139412 ). Shangsi , 27 April 2008, N. F . Li & S . Ren 17697 ( GXMG0038835 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Rohdea tuberculata. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence in vertical view. C. Young flower in vertical view. D. Blade. E. Inflorescence in lateral view. F. Stigma. G. Old flower in vertical view. H. Outer bract (left) and inner bract (right). I. Old flower without stamens in vertical view. J. Old flower, longitudinal section. K. Young flower in longitudinal section and with pistil. L. Young lower in longitudinal section without pistil. M. Young flower in external view. N & O. Stamen with lobe in young flower (N: vertical view, N: lateral view). Photos by H. Z. Feng.