Polygonatumpraecox (Asparagaceae), a new species from mid-eastern China revealed by morphological and molecular evidence

Yingfeng Hu; Yujun Liu; Maroof Ali; Wei Wu; Xiaohong Li; Longsheng Chen; Jianwen Shao

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.211.90456

Polygonatumpraecox (Asparagaceae), a new species from mid-eastern China revealed by morphological and molecular evidence

PhytoKeys. 2022 Oct 21:211:125-138. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.211.90456. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yingfeng Hu¹, Yujun Liu², Maroof Ali¹, Wei Wu¹, Xiaohong Li¹, Longsheng Chen², Jianwen Shao^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China Anhui Normal University Wuhu China.
² Anhui Academy of Science and Technology, Hefei 230000, China Anhui Academy of Science and Technology Hefei China.
³ Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, China Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources Wuhu China.

Abstract

A new species, Polygonatumpraecox Y.F.Hu & J.W.Shao (Asparagaceae), is described and illustrated. This species is similar to P.cyrtonema, P.odoratum and P.caulialatum, but can be distinguished from P.cyrtonema by its racemose inflorescence, cylindrical hairless filaments and apex without a retrorse spur; from P.odoratum by its stout moniliform rhizome, straight stem and longer (1.7-2.2 cm long) floral tube; and from P.caulialatum by its upper part straight stem, yellowish-green corolla, lobes excurved and earlier flowering. The complete chloroplast genome of this new species is 155,115-155,256 bp in length. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that P.praecox is not genetically related to the above three morphological similar species, but is closely related to the two European species (P.multiforum and P.latifolium). This species is relatively common in mid-eastern China and has previously been confused with P.cyrtonema. As its wild resources have decreased in recent years due to over-exploitation for medicinal or edible purposes, we classify it as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List Criteria.

Keywords: P.cyrtonema; P.odoratum; Polygonatumcaulialatum; flowering phenology; medicinal plant.

Yingfeng Hu, Yujun Liu, Maroof Ali, Wei Wu, Xiaohong Li, Longsheng Chen, Jianwen Shao.

Grants and funding

China’s National Basic Science and Technology Program (2019FY101810); the science and technology key projects of Anhui Province, China (202204c06020010)