Primulina fengshanensis (Gesneriaceae), a New Species from Guangxi, China

Abstract

Primulina fengshanensis Fang Wen & Yue Wang, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi, is described and illustrated. The new species is compared with the similar P. linearifolia and P. longgangensis.

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Ann. Bot. Fennici 49: 103–106 ISSN 0003-3847 (print) ISSN 1797-2442 (online)
Helsinki 26 April 2012 © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2012
Primulina fengshanensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species
from Guangxi, China
Fang Wen1,*, Shi-Li Xi1, Yue Wang2, Mei-Shu Xiang2 & Long-Fei Fu3
1) Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of
Sciences, 541006 Guilin, Guangxi, China (corresponding author’s e-mail: wenfang0608@139.
com)
2) Zhejiang Senhe Seed Co., 310012 Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
3) The Life Science College, Guangxi Normal University, 541004 Guilin, Guangxi, China
Received 28 Mar. 2011, nal version received 21 Apr. 2011, accepted 27 Apr. 2011
Wen, F., Xi, S. L., Wang, Y., Xiang, M. S. & Fu, L. F. 2012: Primulina fengshanensis (Gesne-
riaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China. — Ann. Bot. Fennici 49: 103–106.
Primulina fengshanensis Fang Wen & Yue Wang, a new species of Gesneriaceae from
Guangxi, is described and illustrated. The new species is compared with the similar P.
linearifolia and P. longgangensis.
The genus Chirita in southern China once con-
sisted of over 140 species, especially in the sec-
tion Gibbosaccus (Li & Zhu 2010). However, it
was recently revised by Wang et al. (2011) and
Möller et al. (2011). Chiritopsis, Wentsaiboea
and all species of the section Gibbosaccus of
Chirita were incorporated into Primulina, which
incipiently had only one species, P. tabacum
(Hance 1883, Wang 1990, Wang et al. 1998, Li
& Wang 2004, Wei et al. 2010).
We collected some specimens of an unrecog-
nized Primulina species in a limestone cave in
northern Guangxi, China, in October 2004. After
a thorough consulting of the relevant literature
(Wang 1990, Wang et al. 1998, Li & Wang 2004,
Li et al. 2006, Li 2007, Wei et al. 2007, Han et
al. 2008, Li & Wang 2008, Li & Möller 2009,
Wen et al. 2009, Wei et al. 2010, Li & Zhu 2010,
Xu et al. 2010, Huang et al. 2010) as well as
herbarium specimens, we concluded that our
specimens represent a new species of Primulina,
which is described and illustrated here.
Primulina fengshanensis Fang Wen &
Yue Wang, sp. nova (Fig. 1)
Type: China. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feng-
shan County, Hungkun Tong, in a large scale limestone cave,
alt. 568–580 m, owering, 1 Oct. 2004 F. Wen 06100101
(holotype IBK; isotype IBK, BJFC).
eTymology. The specic epithet is derived from the type
locality, Fengshan County.
Herbs perennial. Rhizome subterete, 3–10 cm
long, 1–1.3 cm in diam., internodes inconspicu-
ous. Leaves 6–21, clustered at apex of rhizome,
ternate, sessile; blade eshy, obovate-elliptical to
obovate-lanceolate, 4–15 ¥ 2–3 cm, apex obtuse,
elliptic or rotund, base attenuate, margin entire,
densely appressed pubescent on both surfaces,
lateral veins ca. 3 on each side, unapparent adax-
ially and slightly prominent abaxially. Cymes
3–8 or more, 2–5-branched, 10–20-owered or
more; peduncle 15–50 cm long, 2–2.5 mm in
diam., sparsely appressed pubescent and glandu-
lar pilose; bracts 4, pairwise opposite, larger pair

104 Wen et al. • ANN. BOT. FENNICI Vol. 49
oblong-lanceolate, 12–14 ¥ 4.2–4.5 mm, smaller
pair linear or linear-lanceolate, 9–10 ¥ 1.2–2.0
mm, all margin entire, larger pair acuminate
at apex, smaller pair acute at apex, all outside
densely appressed pubescent, all inner nearly
glabrous, margin pubescent or ciliate; bracteole
2, opposite, linear, 4–5 ¥ 1 mm, margin entire,
acute at apex, hairs same as bracts. Pedicels
1.5–3 cm long, spreading glandular-pubescent.
Calyx 5-parted to base, lobes narrow lanceo-
late, 2.5–3.2 ¥ 0.35–0.52 mm, margin entire,
acute at apex, glandular-pubescent outside, gla-
brous inside. Corolla fuchsia or purple, 2.5–4
cm long, outside short pubescent-glandular,
sparsely short pubescent inside; corolla tube
funnel-formed, lilac, 2.0–3.0 cm long, 5–9 mm
in diam. at mouth; limb distinctly 2-lipped, adax-
ial 2-lobed to middle, lobes narrowly ovate,
4.5–5 ¥ 2.0–3.0 mm, obtuse at apex, with dark
purple lines inside; abaxial lip 3-lobed to or
slightly over middle, obtuse at apex, with 3
dark lines inside, lobes ovate-oblong, 5.0–7.0 ¥
2.5–4.0 mm, rounded at apex, with 3 dark purple
stripes inside. Stamens 2, adnate to 1.0–1.2 cm
above base of corolla tube, laments geniculate,
8–9 mm long, glabrous; anthers subreniform,
1.1–1.2 mm long, glabrous, fused face to face.
Staminodes 2, 3–5 mm long, glabrous, adnate
to 3–4.5 mm above base of corolla tube, turgid
and curved at apex. Disc annular, 0.5–0.8 mm
high, margin entire. Pistil 1.5–1.9 cm long, ovary
linear, 8.5–10 mm long, 0.8–0.9 mm in diam.,
densely short glandular-pubescent; style 5.3–7.5
mm long; stigma 1.2–1.5 mm long, 2-lobed,
lobes narrow triangular or triangular, parted to or
over half-length, lobes 1–1.5 mm long, acute or
Fig. 1. Primulina feng-
shanensis (from the holo-
type, drawn by A. L. Li).
— A: Habit. — B: Corolla
opened with stamens and
staminodes. — C: Ino-
rescence with owers and
fruits. — D: Calyx and
pistil.

ANN. BOT. FENNICI Vol. 49 • Primulina fengshanensis, a new species from Guangxi, China 105
acuminate at apex. Capsule linear, 3–4 cm long,
2–3 mm in diam., pubescent when young, style
persistent, straight.
Primulina fengshanensis grows on a
moist rock surface in a large limestone cave,
alt. 568–580 m in Fengshan County, northern
Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. Flower-
ing from September to October. Fruiting from
December to January. It is similar to P. long-
gangensis and P. linearifolia, but differs e.g.
by its eshy leaves, apex of leaf blades ovate
or rotund, and by two pairs bracts and pairwise
opposite. A more detailed comparison of these
Primulina species is given in Table 1.
Acknowledgements
We thank Prof. Li Zhen-Yu in the Institute of Botany, CAS
(PE), and Prof. Wei Yi-Gang in the Guangxi Institute of
Botany, CAS (IBK) for their important comments on the draft
and checking specimens; Prof. Wang Wen-Tsai, Academician
of CAS, for correcting the description for us; Ms. Li Ai-Li for
drawing the gure; Mr. Johnny, Chia-Cheng Liu and Mr. Tam,
Alvin Yu Hin (Hong Kong) for linguistic comments on the
manuscript. This work was supported by the Guangxi Natural
Science Foundation (2011GXNSFB018050), fund of Guangxi
Institute of Botany (Guizhiye 11001) and Science and Tech-
nology Innovation Program of Guangxi Academy of Sciences.
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