Ailaoshan loosestrife (Lysimachia ailaoshanensis), a new member of subgenus Palladia, section Chenopodiopsis

NEWS - A new species of Ailaoshan loosestrife (Lysimachia ailaoshanensis) related to subgen. Palladia sect. Chenopodiopsis and most similar to L. chenopodioides and L. remotiflora, but distinguished by narrower lanceolate leaf blades, longer petioles, narrower stamens and longer pistils.

L. ailaoshanensis was collected by Hai-Fei Yan of the South China Botanical Garden and colleagues at Mount Ailao, Yunnan, in August 2020. Subsequent field visits were conducted to confirm its presence and examination to describe and compare with all other Lysimachia species.

Based on the classification of Lysimachia by Handel-Mazzetti (1928), the new species is characterized by alternate leaves, racemes with sparse or solitary flowers in the upper leaf axils, free filaments, attached in the middle of the corolla, and pedicels usually shorter than the corolla.

About 8 species are known in southwest China and adjacent areas including Bhutan, India, Kashmir, northern Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and some outliers in Thailand, the Mediterranean coast and southeast Africa. The new species is only known from the type site in Yunnan Province, Jingdong Yi Autonomous County and grows on the edge of mixed-evergreen secondary forest.

Investigations over the past three years, only one population with five individuals was found in an area of 10 km2 in Jingdong Yi Autonomous County. In addition, the local habitat is threatened by road construction and tourism development. The researchers propose the status of Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria guidelines (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2024).

Original research

Yan H-F, Hao G (2024). Lysimachia ailaoshanensis (Primulaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys 246: 277-282, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.246.130838

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