A new lithophilous species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodonrubrostriatus, from the karst area of South Yunnan, China

PhytoKeys. 2023 Aug 18:230:289-299. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.230.106358. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

A new lithophytic species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodonrubrostriatus K.Tan, X.Q.Song & M.X.Ren, sp. nov. from Lvchun County, South Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It closest resembles P.mollifolius (W.T.Wang) A.Weber & Mich.Möller, but the new species is differentiated from it by red to brownish-red stripes in the yellow corolla throat and 4.5 mm long bract lobes, a ca. 10 mm long style, and staminodes inserted at 2.5-3 mm from the corolla base. The species is preliminarily assessed as 'Critically Endangered' (CR) according to IUCN criteria, since currently only one single locality is known with a few subpopulations on a fragmented limestone cliff, with fewer than 300 individuals.

Keywords: Didymocarpoideae; flora of Yunnan; limestone; new taxon.

Grants and funding

Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (321QN185 & 422RC594)