Aspidistra yangchunensis S.P. Dong & Z.L. Ning

Dong, Shu-Peng, Huang, Yi & Ning, Zu-Lin, 2024, Aspidistra yangchunensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China, Phytotaxa 647 (1), pp. 115-120 : 115-118

Aspidistra yangchunensis S.P. Dong & Z.L. Ning , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Type:— CHINA. Guangdong, Yangchun City, Ehuangzhang Nature Reserve , on shady reclined slopes, 113.37° E, 23.18° N, alt. 200 m, 17 September 2023, Shu-Peng Dong, Jing-Bo Ni, Yi-Da Xu 1001 (holotype: IBSC0913128 , isotype: IBSC0913127 ) .

Diagnosis:— The new species is morphologically similar with A. subrotata , but clearly differs the latter by its perigone tube syntepalous part almost flat, 4 alternate perigone lobes folded at base in full bloom, pure white pistil, lower surface of stigma folds inward to form a circular inner space.

Herbs perennial, evergreen. Rhizome creeping, subterete, 4–10 mm thick, covered with scales, nodes dense. Roots numerous. Vaginal leaves 3–5, purple-red, 1–12.5 cm long, enveloping base of petiole, becoming black-brown when dry. Leaves solitary, 5–20 mm apart; petiole stiff, upright, 14–33 cm long, 2–3 mm thick, adaxially sulcate; blade narrowly lanceolate, 24–43 cm long, 5.1–6.5 cm wide, dark green, frequently with small yellowish white spots, apex long acuminate, base cuneate, gradually tapering to petiole, inequilateral, margin entire, midvein strongly prominent on abaxial surface, secondary veins prominent on abaxial surface, 4–5 each side of midvein. Peduncle arising from the nodes of apical part of rhizome, base creeping, distal part upright, purple, 2.5–3.0 cm long, with 3 bracts, bracts gradually wider from base to top of peduncle, the topmost one broadly ovate, purplish red, 6–9 mm long, 7–10 mm wide, apex acuminate. Flower solitary at the top of the peduncle, always up. Perigone purple, fleshy, syntepalous part almost flat, white, with 8 lobes, lobes oblong, 9–10 × 2–5 mm, glabrous, adaxially white at lower 1/4 part, purple at upper 3/4 part, abaxially purple. Stamens 8, opposite to lobes, filaments short, white, cylindrical, 1–2 mm long, placed at the base of syntepalous part of perigone, quite near the base of ovary, anthers white, oblong, ca. 2 mm long and 1 mm wide. Pistil pure white, mushroom-shaped, 6–7 mm long, ovary inconspicuous, style short, cylindrical, 1–2 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, stigma enlarged, hemispherical, 5–6 mm long, upper surface slightly convex, ca. 10 mm in diameter, with 4 inconspicuous radial lines, base concave. Fruits unknown.

Phenology:— The new species was observed flowering from September to October.

Etymology:— The specific epithet ‘ yangchunensis ’ is derived from the type locality, Yangchun City. The Chinese name is given as ‘ Ñðǿfl抱¶ ’(Chinese pinyin: yáng chūn zhī zhū bào dàn).

Distribution and ecology:— The new species is known only from the type locality. It grows on shady slopes under evergreen broad-leaved forests. Living plants introduced from the type locality are currently cultivated in South China Botanical Garden.

Similar species:— Aspidistra yangchunensis is similar to A. subrotata Y. Wan & C. C. Huang , but differs by the small perigone (3 cm vs. 4.5–5.3 cm), the syntepalous part of perigone almost flat (vs. campanulate), 4 alternate perigone lobes folded at base in full bloom (vs. spreading obliquely upward), pure white pistil (vs. white with lavender spots), and revolute (vs. straight) stigma margin. A detailed morphological comparison between the two species is provided in Table 1 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Aspidistra yangchunensis. A. Habit. B. Flower. C. Flower with stigma removed to show stamens. D. Stigma, top view. E. Stigma, bottom view. F. Longitudinal section of stigma (Drawn by Yun-Xiao Liu from the holotype).

FIGURE 2. Aspidistra yangchunensis. A. Plant in natural habitat. B. Leaves. C. Flower, top view. D. Flower, lateral view. E. Fading flower. F. Peduncle and flower. G. Flower with stigma removed to show stamens. H. Stigma, top view. I. Stigma, bottom view. J. Longitudinal section of stigma.