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Primulina diffusa (Gesneriaceae), a New Species Endemic to the Karst Limestone Area in Southwestern Guangxi, China

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Primulina diffusa Xin Hong, Fang Wen & S. B. Zhou (Gesneriaceae), a new species growing in rocky crevices at the foot of a limestone hill near the Sino-Vietnamese border in southwestern Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to P. hochiensis and P. hochiensis var. rosulata, but can be distinguished by having single-flowered cymes; short peduncle (1-1.5 cm long); narrowly elliptical to subulate bracts, 2-2.5 x ca. 0.6 mm; 1-2 cm long pedicel ; calyx lobes that are densely puberulent on both sides; and filaments that are geniculate near the middle.
... In June 2016, during field investigations in the limestone areas of Guangxi, we discovered an unknown Primulina species with small flowers (ca 1 cm long) and conical tube, with an only slightly shorter adaxial than abaxial lip, with sub-rounded lobes, as well as an ovoid ovary, which are typical characteristics of species of the former genus Chiritopsis (Wang 1981) and now synonymized under the genus Primulina (Weber et al. 2011(Weber et al. , 2013. There are more than 20 Chiritopsis-like Primulina species and three varieties described (Ning et al. 2014, Xu et al. 2019, Qin et al. 2020 (Wang 1981, 1982, Liu and Guo 1989, Shen et al. 2010 (Xu et al. 2009, Pan et al. 2010 (Wu et al. 2012, Pan and Wen 2014, Zhou et al. 2014, Lai et al. 2016), but they are very different from the undescribed species in floral features (for details, see the key below). ...
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Primulina fangdingii, a species of Gesneriaceae new to science from Guangxi, China, is corroborated by both morphological and molecular evidence. The new species is similar to P. longzhouensis in leaf shape and size, but is easily distinguished from the latter by its adaxially glabrous leaf blades, yellow corolla with reddish inner surface and yellow filaments. It is also similar to P. repanda in corolla color and corolla shape, but can be diagnosed by its fleshy small leaves with glabrous adaxial surface, glandular and eglandular pubescent pedicels, yellow filaments and annular disc. In addition, Primulina fangdingii is somewhat similar to nine other species of Primulina, including P. cordifolia, P. danxiaensis, P. xiuningensis, P. chingipengii, P. cordistigma, P. diffusa, P. jingxiensis, P. petrocosmeoides and P. sinovietnamica, in either floral or vegetative morphology. However, all these species differ from P. fangdingii by a series of morphological characters. Phylogenetic analyses with ITS and two chloroplast DNA regions (rpL32‐trnL, trnL‐F) revealed that P. fangdingii is sister to P. luochengensis and isolated from its morphological relatives. Primulina fangdingii is described and illustrated here, and a key to the new species and its morphological allies is provided.
... cm) and flowers with broadly infundibuliform (versus campanulate) corollas and purplish glandular-pubescent (versus villous) filaments (Wood 1972), and from P. diffusa by having 3 (versus 2) slightly purplish glandular-pubescent (versus glabrous) staminodes. Besides, Primulina elegans flowers in May to June, while the other two species flowers in October to December (Wood 1972, Zhou et al. 2014. A detailed comparison of the three species is summarized in Table 1. ...
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Primulina elegans (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Vietnam is described. This species is similar to P. gemella and P. diffusa in having stolons and papillose‐hispid leaves, but is easily distinguished from them by having 9–15 cymes and corollas with two brown stripes on the adaxial lip and nine purplish lines on the abaxial lip. Furthermore, Primulina elegans differs from P. gemmella by its broadly infundibuliform corollas with purplish glandular pubescent filaments, and from P. diffusa by having three slightly purplish glandular pubescent staminodes.
... In October 2013, during a field investigation in Jiangxi Province, we found some special plants of Primulina that are endemic to the Danxia landform and flower late in the season. After comparing with relevant literature (Wang 1981b, Wei et al. 2010, Weber et al. 2011, Li et al. 2012, Hong et al. 2014, Zhou et al. 2014, Li and Yu 2015, we confirmed that we had found an undescribed species, as described and illustrated below. Weber, but differs by entire leaf blade margin, narrowly ovate bracts, reddish-purple or bluish-purple corolla, 3.0-3.4 ...
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Primulina suichuanensis X. L. Yu & J. J. Zhou, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Jiangxi, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to P. roseoalba, but differs by entire leaf blade margin, narrowly ovate bracts, reddish–purple or bluish–purple corolla, 3.0–3.4 cm long corolla tube, white filaments, and 3.6 cm long pistil. It flowers from September to November.
... The shape of the corolla tube (inflated in the middle, contracted near the mouth) is unusual in this genus, which can be readily distinguished from other species in Northern and Northwestern Guangdong. After consulting the local Flora and relevant literature (Wang et al., 1990(Wang et al., ,1998Li and Wang, 2004;Wei et al., 2010;Hong et al., 2012;Chung et al., 2013;Liang et al., 2013;Lu et al., 2013;Ning et al., 2013;Xu et al., 2013;Zhao et al., 2013;Li et al., 2014;Wen and Wei, 2014;Zheng and Deng, 2014;Zhou et al., 2014) and herbarium specimens deposited at ANU, BJFU, CDBI, CTC, GH, HN, IBK, IBSC, KUN, NU, PH, PE, US and VMN, we identified the collected specimens as a new species, Primulina lechangensis. The new species is described and illustrated along with its distribution map. ...
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Primulina lechangensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from northern Guangdong province in southern China is described and illustrated. Its morphology suggests affinities to P. longicalyx, but can be distinguished from similar taxon by several distinct characters including: smaller leaf blade (2.0-3.5 × 1.0-1.2 cm), base cuneate-attenuate; smaller bracts (1.0-1.5 × c. 0.15 cm); shorter calyx lobes (0.8-0.9 cm long) tuberculate inside; smaller corolla tube (c. 2 cm long), inflated in the middle and contracted near the mouth; shorter glabrous filaments (0.3-0.4 cm long), inserted 1.3-1.5 cm from base of corolla; stamens and staminodes glabrous; pistil 1.4-1.5 cm long, and capsule c. 1.5 cm long. This species is further exemplified by photographs, and a distribution map is presented.
... As a result of further exploring and study, some of these special and unique habitats are now better understood (Xu 2007). Many new taxa of Primulina have been reported in recent years, such as P. bullata S. N. Lu & Fang Wen (Lu & al. 2013) Lü (Wen & al. 2014), P. crassirhizoma F. Wen, Bo Zhao & Xin Hong (Zhao & al. 2013), P. diffusa X. Hong, F. Wen, & S. B. Zhou ( Zhou & al. 2014), P. leprosa & al. 2010, under Chirita;), P. ningmingensis Wu & al. 2011, under Chirita; and P. sinovietnamica W. H. Wu & Q. Zhang (Wu & al. 2012). ...
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Wen F., Lai B.-D., Zhao Z.-G. He J.-Y. & Jiang B.-S.: Primulina heterochroa (Gesneriaceae), a new species from a tropical limestone area in Guangxi, China. — Willdenowia 45: 45–51. 2015. — Version of record first published online on 02 March 2015 ahead of inclusion in April 2015 issue; ISSN 1868-6397; © 2015 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.45.45104 Primulina heterochroa (Gesneriaceae) is described and illustrated here. This new species morphologically resembles P. pungentisepala and P. minutimaculata, but it is easily distinguished from congeners by some qualitative and quantitative characters in leaf, bract, calyx, indumentum, corolla and inflorescence. The conservation status of P. heterochroa is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) according to IUCN Red List categories and criteria.
... Based on comparisons with the relevant literature (Wang et al. 1990, 1998, Li and Wang 2004, Wei 2010, Weber et al . 2013) and descriptions of some recently published species (Cai et al. 2013, Chung et al. 2013, Jiang and Li 2013, Lu et al. 2013, Ning et al. 2013, Li et al. 2014, Liang et al. 2014, Wen and Wei 2014, Zheng et al. 2014, Zhou et al. 2014), we concluded that it was indeed an hitherto undescribed species. Xu & K.F. ...
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