A peer-reviewed open-access journal PhytoKeys 214: 7—I5 (2022) & doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.214.93901 46Ph y toKe y S https:/ / Pp hyto keys -pen soft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Oreocharis polyneura, a new species of Gesneriaceae from southern Yunnan, China Yan-Xiong Gong', Hong-Bo Ding??*, Xiang-Shuai Yan', Fang Wen?*, Yao-Hua Tian', Yun-Hong Tan??4 | Yunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Jinghong, CN-666100, Yunnan, China 2 Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, CIN-666303, Yunnan, China 3 Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, CN-666303, Yunnan, China 4 Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, CN-666303, Yunnan, China § Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, CN-541006, Guangxi, China 6 Gesneriad Committee of China Wild Plant Conservation Association, National Gesneriaceae Germplasm Resources Bank of GXIB, Gesneriad Conservation Center of China, Guilin Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, CN-541006, Guangxi, China Corresponding authors: Yao-Hua Tian (tyhyhf@126.com), Yun-Hong Tan (tyh@xtbg.org.cn) Academiceditor: Eberhard Fischer | Received 23 August 2022 | Accepted 13 October 2022 | Published 22 November 2022 Citation: Gong Y-X, Ding H-B, Yan X-S, Wen EF, Tian Y-H, Tan Y-H (2022) Orveocharis polyneura, a new species of Gesneriaceae from southern Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys 214: 7-15. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.214.93901 Abstract Oreocharis polyneura, a new species from southern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is mor- phologically similar to O. rhytidophylla by having more obvious lateral veins forming a crosslinked network on the adaxial surface of leaf blades, but can be distinguished by having more lateral veins (12-15 pairs vs. 7-9 pairs) of leaf blades, shorter corolla tubes (the length ratio of corolla tube to corolla lobes = 1.2—2.9 vs. 3.4—6) and shorter pistils (6-8 mm long vs. 27-30 mm long). In addition, a detailed morphological description, a photographic illustration, the distribution and phenology of the new species are presented. Keywords flora of Yunnan, morphology, new taxon, Oreocharis rhytidophylla, taxonomy Introduction In recent years, the genus Oreocharis Benth. has been a hotspot for the research of the family Gesneriaceae. The newly circumscribed genus Oreocharis is recently enlarged Copyright Yan-Xiong Gong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 8 Yan-Xiong Gong et al. / PhytoKeys 214: 7-15 (2022) by incorporating ten other genera (Ancylostemon Craib, Bournea Oliv., Dayaoshania W.T.Wang, Deinocheilos W.T.Wang, Isometrum Craib, Opithandra B.L.Burtt, Paraisometrum W.T.Wang, Thamnocharis W.T.Wang, Tremacron Craib, Briggsia Craib s.str.) with high floral diversity (Moller et al. 2011; Weber et al. 2013), although Bournea was \ater reinstated as an independent genus (Chen et al. 2020a). Hitherto, Oreocharis s.l. contains ca. 150 taxa mainly distributed in southern and southwestern China (Wen et al. 2021), with a few of them (ca. 15 species) expanding to Bhutan, India, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, and northern and central Vietnam (Moller et al. 2016, 2017, 2018; Cai et al. 2020a; Le et al. 2022). In China, southern Yunnan is rich in species diversity of the genus, with about 38 species recorded in this area (Li and Wang 2004; Moller et al. 2011; Chen et al. 2012, 2013, 2020b; Tan et al. 2013, 2015; Rossini and Freitas 2014; Cai et al. 2015, 2020; Cai and Dao 2020). In 2021, during the expedition of the plant resources of tropical Yunnan in China, we collected an interesting plant of Gesneriaceae from Lancang county at anthesis (Figs 1, 2). Judging from the vegetative habit and floral characteristics, we considered it a member of Oveocharis. Upon careful comparisons of diagnostic morphological and anatomical features from the closely related species from China and adjacent regions, we determined that the plant is new to science and thus describe it herein. Its morpho- logical characters are compared with the closely related species Oreocharis rhytidophylla C.Y. Wu ex H.W. Li (Li 1983; Zhang et al. 2019) (Fig. 3). Materials and methods Vouchers of the new species were collected from Lancang County, Yunnan Province, China. Photographs and phenology data were obtained during field expeditions. Mor- phological examinations and measurements of the new species were conducted on both living plants in the wild and herbarium specimens. All morphological characters are described according to the terminology presented by Wang et al. (1990, 1998). The preliminary conservation assessment for the new species was evaluated according to the guidelines of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2019). Taxonomic treatment Oreocharis polyneura Y.H.Tan, FE Wen & Y.X.Gong, sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77308755-1 Figs 1, 2 Diagnosis. Oreocharis polyneura is similar to O. rhytidophylla in having more obvious lateral veins forming crosslinked network on the adaxial surface of leaf blades, but can be distinguished by having more lateral veins (12-15 pairs vs. 7—9 pairs) of leaf blades, shorter corolla tubes (the length ratio of corolla tube to corolla lobes = 1.2—2.9 vs. 3.46) and shorter pistils (6-8 mm long vs. 27-30 mm long). Oreocharis polyneura 9 Type. Cura. Yunnan Province, Puer City, Lancang County, Zhutang Town, on rocks or cliffs in evergreen broad-leaved forests in ravines, 22°45'44.28"N, 99°43'26.81"E, elev. 2137 m, 29 July 2021, YX. Gong G344 (holotype: HITBC0079099; isotypes: HITBC, IBK). Fig. 2. Description. Perennial herbs. Rhizomes subterete, short, straight, with numer- ous fibrous roots. Leaves basally forming a rosette, 4—8, petiolate; petioles terete, 1.2-7.0 cm long, 3—5 mm in diameter, densely rust-brown pannose, leaf blade thickly chartaceous, elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 4-13 x 2—7 cm, apex rounded, base rounded to subcordate, margin serrate to crenate, adaxially green, glabrous, abaxi- ally whitish-green, densely rust-brown pannose along veins, lateral veins 12-15 on each side of the midrib, adaxially conspicuously sunken, abaxially conspicuously prominent, anastomosed forming on both surfaces. Inflorescences cymose, axil- lary, 2-4, 2—4-branched, 4—10-flowered; peduncles 4.5—9.0 cm long, ca. 1-3 mm in diameter, rust-brown lanate; bracts 3, verticillate, each 8.5—-9.5 x 3.2—4.2 mm, lanceolate to elliptic, margins usually entire, occasionally 2—3-denticulate, adaxi- ally glabrous, abaxially rust-brown pannose; pedicels 1.0—3.5 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diameter, sparsely puberulent. Calyces actinomorphic, 5-parted from the base, segments equal, linear-lanceolate, 7.5—9.0 x 1.5—2.5 mm, margin dentate, adaxi- ally glabrous, abaxially rust-brown pannose. Corollas yellow, 1.8-—2.2 cm long, outside glabrous, inside sparsely glandular-puberulent in the throat on adaxial lobes; tube narrowly infundibuliform, slightly bent near the throat, 1-1.5 cm long, 4—5.5 mm in diameter, proximally and distally almost equal in width; limb indis- tinctively bilabiate, adaxial lip 2-lobed, lobes obovate to elliptic, 5.8-6.2 x 3.8- 4.8 mm, apex obtuse, margin entire, abaxial lip 3-lobed, lobes obovate to elliptic, almost equal, 6.2—8.2 x 5.2-6.2 mm, apex rounded, margin entire. Stamens 4, included, two pairs of stamens cohering at the anther tips, adnate to corolla tube 4—6 mm from base; adaxial stamens 3.5—4.5 mm long, abaxial stamens 5-6 mm long; filaments yellow, linear, glabrous; anthers basifixed, reniform, 2-locular, de- hiscing transversely; staminode 1, 1.4 mm long, adnate to corolla tube 1.8 mm from the base. Pistils 6-8 mm long, glabrous; ovary 5—6.5 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm in diameter, glabrous, with two parietal placentae; style 1-1.5 mm long; stigma 1, disciform, retuse, edge flipped outwardly, 1.5—2.0 mm in diameter. Dises ring- shaped, ca. 2.3 mm high, margin slightly undulate with 5 irregularly and shallow lobes. Capsules indistinctively 4-angled to subterete, ca. 4 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diameter, glabrous. Phenology. Flowering from July to October; fruiting from September to November. Etymology. Greek polys, many, and neuron, nerve, alluding to abaxially conspicu- ous lateral leaf veins. Habitat and distribution. Endemic to Zhutang town, Lancang county, Puer city, Yunnan Province, China (Fig. 4). It grows on rocks or cliffs under evergreen broad- leaved forests in ravines at elevations of 1900—2200 m. Conservation status. Oreocharis polyneura is currently known only from its type locality. Based on our present knowledge and available data, its conservation status is assessed as “Data Deficient” (DD; IUCN 2019). Yan-Xiong Gong et al. / PhytoKeys 214: 7-15 (2022) ae Oo ee a em sing Sie 29 EN Henig O ‘4 ss Wet Figure |. Oreocharis polyneura Y.H.Tan, EWen & Y.X.Gong, sp. nov. A habit B inflorescence C behind view of flower D fruit E whole plant F inflorescence with scale G adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces H bracts I,J calyces K opened corolla showing stamens and staminode L pistil with disc and calyces M cross section of fruit. Photographed by Yan-Xiong Gong. Oreocharis polyneura 11 Kelrwun of ibemglenna Tropical Botanical” Garden » Chinese of Toinees My A 198309 a HB EAR Sem Lo f si VI i HITBC 0079099 D | 3{ =n =O 8) af ¢ : 2, ie xrite a, r o| 8 | gf mae BS Flora of Yunnan (H/TBC) o. mi RES: G344 SHAM: 7/29/2021 Bs KA: Rea KR: AHA AP Me AE ‘ YER. 99.7241146 E, 22.7622997 N HEHR: 2138 m | 4B. BE Se Bt: SA eR: m AH: cm TER: 7h: HE; 3 i A: BI: Gesneriaceae =, SE: ] ate: Dau oO Figure 2. Type sheet of Oveocharis polyneura Y.H.Tan, R Wen & Y.X.Gong, sp. nov. 12 Yan-Xiong Gong et al. / PhytoKeys 214: 7-15 (2022) PRA BAL SUE MR OR HE \\ EZ wm th awk oF 715, 4 bib PRE RAO POY aw, 2/0 Yar Pat ty) —— ii i = a nt 6 5 In memory of the late academician yn — nN — - See 0 Cn cc A eS Vee , Orcharis rhytidophylla Ge. Wy BDs 1 J — (i EBA: Oe. WU, 1978 BR r icon x. oss) |i | | - e : *1219180* : - Figure 3. Type sheet of Oreocharis rhytidophylla C.Y. Wu ex H.W. Li. Oreocharis polyneura 13 Vernacular name. The Chinese name of the new species is “Duo Mai Ma Ling Ju Tai” (4 hkK4# EB). The first two words, Dué Mai mean the numerous veins of the leaf blades, and the rest four words mean the genus Oveocharis in mandarin. Notes. Morphologically, Oreocharis polyneura is most similar to O. rhytidophylla in its leaves and inflorescences but is readily distinguishable by an array of characters (see Table 1). Legend a o'O"N e O.rhytidophylla 4 O.polyneura sp.nov. LAN CANG e: Orr 101" 0" 1 E "OnE Figure 4. Distribution of Oveocharis polyneura (black triangle) and O. rhytidophylla (black circle). Table |. Morphological comparison between Oreocharis polyneura and O. rhytidophylla. Character Oreocharis polyneura Oreocharis rhytidophylla Petiole terete plane Leaf lateral veins 12-15 pairs lateral veins 7—9 pairs Peduncle 4.5—9 cm long up to 14 cm long Corolla 1.8—2.2 cm long; tube narrowly 3.5—3.7 cm long; tube cylindric infundibuliform Length ratio of corolla 1,2-2.9 3.46 tube to corolla lobes Stamen two pairs cohered at the anther tips, adnate adaxial stamens cohered in pair, abaxial stamens to corolla tube 4-6 mm from base free, adnate to corolla tube 8—9 mm from base Pistil 6.0-8.0 mm long; ovary 5.0—6.5 mm long 27-30 mm long; ovary 17-18 mm long 14 Yan-Xiong Gong et al. / PhytoKeys 214: 7-15 (2022) Acknowledgements We are grateful to Dr. Eberhard Fischer and Dr. You-Pai Zeng for their valuble com- ments on the manuscript. We thank Shi-Wei Guo and Jian-Wu Li for providing scanned images of specimens. We also thank Bing-Fan Yang, Guo-Yun Chen and Yi-Gang Wei for their kind help in the fieldwork. 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