p> Primulina fengkaiensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from limestone areas in Western Guangdong, China </p

Abstract

When the name Taxus chienii W.C. Cheng (Taxaceae) was published, three gatherings (S. Chen 1384, S. Chen 3024, and Y.Y. Ho 3166) were indicated as the types. Recently, Lin & Chao (2007) designated a duplicate of S. Chen 1384 at PE as the lectotype. However, they overlooked that Law (1948) had previously indicated another gathering Y.Y. Ho 3166 as the “type”, effectively lectotypifying the name. According to the Art. 9.17 of the ICN, Law’s lectotypification must be accepted as the first-step lectotypification and, as such, has priority over that by Lin & Cao. Here, a duplicate of Y.Y. Ho 3166 at NAS is designated as the second-step lectotype of the name Taxus chienii.

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Phytotaxa 000 (0): 000–000
www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/
Copyright © 2015 Magnolia Press Article PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
Accepted by Libing Zhang: 9 Jan. 2015; published: xx xxx. 2015
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.00.0.0
1
Primulina fengkaiensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from limestone areas in
Western Guangdong, China
ZU-LIN NING1, BO PANG2 & MING KANG1*
1South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510650, China.
2Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhang Autonomous Region and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin, Guangxi 541006,
China
*corresponding author’s e-mail: mingkang@scbg.ac.cn
Abstract Primulina fengkaiensis from western Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to the phyloge-
netically related P. baishouensis in the shape and size of corolla, but differs by leaf blades being elliptic to elliptic–lanceolate,
10–21 × 4–8 cm, margin with serrate, leaf blade adaxially sparsely pubescent, petiole 0.6-1.5 cm wide, pedicel 2.2–4 (–7.5)
cm long, cymes 3–9–flowered, stigma 4–5 mm long, lobes ovate.
Keywords Primulina, P. baishouensis, P. fengkaiensis, Guangdong, China
Introduction
The genus Primulina Hance (1883: 169), previously had only one species, P. tabacum Hance (1883: 169). However,
recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have altered the concept of generic delimitations among Old World members
of Gesneriaceae. Based on recent circumscription of molecular phylogenetic analyses, Chiritopsis Wang (1981: 21),
Wentsaiboea Fang & Qin (2004: 533) [except W. tiandengensis Yan Liu & B. Pan (2010: 739)] and all species of
Chirita sect. Gibbosaccus Clarke (1883: 130), were transferred to the originally monotypic genus Primulina (Wang et
al. 2011, Weber et al. 2011). The newly revised Primulina, is one of the largest genera of the Old World Gesneriaceae
comprising ca.150 species that are widely distributed throughout the Karst regions of China and adjacent countries of
Southeast Asia (Wei 2010, Wang et al. 2011), and is still expanding due to the new species are described.
In recent years, we have undertaken fieldwork and collected living plants of Gesneriaceae in limestone ar-
eas of Guangdong and its adjacent regions, China. In December 2011, during investigations of living collections of
Gesneriaceae in western Guangdong, China, we found a plant of Gesneriaceae with residual capsules in a limestone
cave near the town of Liandu (Fengkai County, Zhaoqing City). We pressed some plants for herbarium specimens and
collected several living individuals for planting in the South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), Guangzhou, China. In
2012, 2013 and 2014, the plants cultivated in SCBG flowered in Mar.–Apr., which is similar to P. baishouensis (Y.G.
Wei, H.Q. Wen & S.H. Zhong 2000: 299) Y.Z. Wang (2011: 60) and P. gueilinensis (W.T. Wang 1981: 43) Y.Z. Wang
(2011: 61) in the shape and size of corolla. However, the morphological characteristics of P. fengkaiensis are obviously
different from P. baishouensis and P. gueilinensis in the leaf blades, bracts, calyx and stigma. To further elucidate the
phylogenetic affinities of this new taxon, in a recent study of genome size evolution of the genus, Kang et al (2014)
reconstructed a most comprehensive species-level phylogeny of this genus published to date, representing 104 species
based on one nuclear (ITS) and three plastid markers (trnL-trnF, rpl32-trnL, and atpB-rbcL), where P. fengkaiensis
(sp. nov. 6, Fig. 1; Kang et al 2014) was most closely related to P. baishouensis. After carefully consulting the relevant
literature (Wang 1990, Wang et al.1998, Wei et al. 2000, Fang et al. 2004, Li & Wang 2004, Shen et al. 2010, Wei
et al. 2010, Liu et al. 2010, Wu et al. 2011, Wen et al. 2012, Ning et al. 2013), as well as herbarium specimens from
IBSC and IBK, it became clear that the plants represented a new species of Primulina, which is detailly described and
illustrated here.

NING ET AL.
2 • Phytotaxa 000 (0) © 2015 Magnolia Press
Primulina fengkaiensis Z. L. Ning & M. Kang, sp. nov. (Figs. 1–2)
Type:—CHINA. Guangdong: Zhaoqing City, Fengkai, 23.63°N, 111.86°E, elevation ca. 180 m, on limestone rock face in a Karst area; 15
Dec. 2011, Ming Kang et al GDFK06 (holotype: IBSC!).
FIGURE 1. Primulina fengkaiensis. A. Habit. B. Flower side view. C. Flower face view. D. Corolla opened showing stamens and
staminodes. E, F. Stamens. G. Pistil. Drawn by Yun-Xiao Liu, based on the holotype.
Perennial herbs. Rhizome subterete, 4–6 cm long, 2–3 cm in diameter. Leaves opposite, 15–30. Petiole 2–6 cm long, 0.6–
1.5 cm wide, appressed pubescent; Leaf blade elliptic to elliptic–lanceolate, asymmetric, 10–21 × 4–8 cm, herbaceous,
apex acute, base broadly cuneate, decurrent, margin serrate, adaxially pubescent, abaxially appressed pubescent;
lateral veins 5–7 on each side of the midrib, impressed adaxially and prominent abaxially. Cymes 3–12, 1–2–branched,
3–9–flowered; peduncle 8–15 (–22) cm long, pubescent; bracts 2, opposite, lanceolate, 0.8–1.5 × 0.4–0.5 cm, margin
entire or 2–5 inconspicuous crenulate, apex acute, pubescent. Pedicel 2.2–4 cm long, pubescent. Calyx 5–lobed nearly
to the base, lanceolate or linear–lanceolate, 0.8–1.5 × 0.2–0.3 cm, margin entire or 2–3 inconspicuous crenulate,
pubescent. Corolla pale purple, with purple marks and purple stripes inside, 5–6.5 cm long, pubescent outside, sparsely
puberulent in purple marks and adnate position of stamen and staminodes inside; tube narrowly funnelform, 3–3.8cm
long, orifice 1.8–2 cm in diameter; adaxial lip 2–lobed to base, lobes broadly ovate or suborbicular, 1.3–1.8 × 1.5–2
cm, apex truncate or retuse; abaxial lip 3–lobed, 1/6 to 2/7of total corolla length, lobes obovate, 2–2.4 × 1.8–2 cm, apex

PRIMULINA FENGKAIENSIS SP. NOV. FROM CHINA Phytotaxa 000 (0) © 2015 Magnolia Press • 3
truncate or retuse. Fertile stamens 2, adnate to 1.2–1.5 cm above the base of the corolla tube, filaments geniculate near
the middle, 1.2–1.5 cm long, glabrous, anthers ca. 5 mm long, densely barbate on back side. Staminodes 2, 5–8 mm
long, sparsely glandular pubescent, slightly enlarged at apex, adnate to 0.8–1.2 cm above the base of the corolla tube.
Disc annular, ca. 1.5 mm high, glabrous, margin repand. Pistil 3–3.8 cm long; ovary slightly falcate, ca. 2 cm long, ca.
3 mm in diameter, densely villous; style 1–1.2 cm long, densely pubescent; stigma 4–5 mm long, 2–lobed, lobes ovate.
Capsule straight, linear, ca. 5.5 cm long, 3–4 mm in diameter, densely villous. Seeds elliptic, ca. 0.5 mm long.
FIGURE 2. Primulina fengkaiensis. A. Habit. B. Plant cultivated in SCBG. C. Leaf blade. D. Bracts. E. Calyx lobes. F. Flower face view.
G. Flower side view. H, I. Corolla opened showing stamens and staminodes. J. Pistil. K. Stigma. L. Capsule. M. Seeds.

NING ET AL.
4 • Phytotaxa 000 (0) © 2015 Magnolia Press
Distribution and habitat: —Primulina fengkaiensis is currently known from a few local populations in a nar-
row limestone area in Fengkai County and Huaiji County, Zhaoqing City, Guangdong, China. During field surveys in
Fengkai County, we found that it is locally abundant and grows mainly on moist rock faces. It is easy to breed. We in-
troduced some individuals from the field population into cultivation in the South China Botanical Garden, Guangzhou,
China in 2011. Now they have been blooming into colonies.
Phenology: —Flowering occurs in Mar.–May., and fruiting occurs in May. –Jun.
Relationships: —Primulina fengkaiensis is similar to P. baishouensis (Y.G. Wei, H.Q. Wen & S.H. Zhou) Y.Z.
Wang and P. gueilinensis (W.T. Wang) Y.Z. Wang, but differs by leaf blades being elliptic to elliptic–lanceolate, 10–21
× 4–8 cm, margin with serrate, leaf blade adaxially sparsely pubescent, petiole 0.8–1.5 cm wide, pedicel 2.2–4 (–7.5)
cm long, cymes 3–5–flowered, stigma 4–5 mm long, lobes ovate. A detailed morphological comparison of the three
species is shown in Table 1.
Etymology: —The specific epithet is derived from the name of the type locality, Fengkai County, Guangdong
Province, China.
TABLE 1. Morphological comparison of Primulina fengkaiensis, P. baishouensis and P. gueilinensis
Characters P. fengkaiensis P. baishouensis P. Gueilinensis
Leaf blade elliptic to elliptic–lanceolate, 10–21 ×
4–8 cm, asymmenty, leaf blade adaxially
sparsely pubescent, abaxially densely
appressed pubescent
elliptic or ovate–elliptic, 3–10 ×
1.5–4.8 cm, symmetry, appressed
pubescent on both sides
Narrowly elliptic to rhombic-
elliptic, 2.5–7.5 × 1.5–4 cm,
pubescent on both sides
Leave margin conspicuous serrate entire or rarely 3–4 inconspicuous
minute obtusely serrate
Shallowly crenate
Petiole 0.6–1.5 cm wide 1–2 mm wide 4-8 mm wide
Pedicel 2.2–4 (–7.5) cm long 1–2.5 cm long 2.5-10 mm long
Bracts lanceolate, entire or 2–5 inconspicuous
minute obtusely serrate
Narrowly lanceolate, entire, Linear or obelliptic, entire
Cymes 3–9–flowered 1–4–flowered 1-5-flowered
Corolla lobes adaxial lip 2–lobed, broadly ovate or
suborbicular, 1.3–1.8 × 1.5–2 cm; abaxial
lip 3–lobed, obovate, 2–2.4 × 1.8–2 cm,
apex truncate or retuse
adaxial lip 2–lobed, broadly
ovate, 0.8–1.3 cm long; abaxial
lip 3–lobed, 1.7–2.5 cm long,
broadly ovate or suborbicular,
apex rounded or truncate
adaxial lip 2–lobed, broadly
ovate, 0.9–1.2 cm long; abaxial
lip 3–lobed, 1.1–1.5 cm long,
oblong, apex rounded
Pistil ovary villous, style pubescent ovary appressed pubescent, style
glandular–pubescent
ovary and style densely pilose,
Stigma 4–5 mm long, 2-1obed, lobes ovate ca. 2 mm long, 2-cleft, lobes
narrowly triangular
2.5-4 mm long, 2-parted,
triangular
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (31270427), and the Foundation of Key
Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese
Academy of Sciences (211023). We thank Yun-Xiao Liu for the illustration.
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