Description of a new natural Sonneratia hybrid from Hainan Island, China

Cairong Zhong; Donglin Li; Ying Zhang

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.154.53223

Description of a new natural Sonneratia hybrid from Hainan Island, China

PhytoKeys. 2020 Aug 3:154:1-9. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.154.53223. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Cairong Zhong^{1

2

3}, Donglin Li³, Ying Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ Life Science and Technology School, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524048, China Hainan Academy of Forestry, Hainan Mangrove Research Institute Haikou China.
² Hainan Academy of Forestry, Hainan Mangrove Research Institute. Haikou, Hainan, 571100, China Shaoguan University Shaoguan China.
³ College of Ying-Tong Agricultural Science and Engineering, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, Guangdong 512005, China Lingnan Normal University Zhanjiang China.

Abstract

Here, we describe, illustrate and compare a new natural hybrid, Sonneratia × zhongcairongii Y. S. Wang & S. H. Shi (Sonneratiaceae), with its possible parent species. Based on its morphological characteristics and habitat conditions, this taxon is considered to represent a sterile hybrid between S. alba and S. apetala. In China, the new hybrid is only reported in the mangrove forest in Dongzhai Harbour, Hainan Island. It has intermediate characteristics with its parents by elliptical leaf blades, peltate stigma, terminal or axillary inflorescence with 1-3 flower dichasia, cup - shaped calyx (4-6 calyx lobes) and no petals. We also provide a key for the identification of Sonneratia species.

Keywords: Sonneratia; Dongzhai Harbour; Hainan Island; new hybrid.

Cairong Zhong, Donglin Li, Ying Zhang.