Skip to main content

Shrink teacost (Isodon attenuatus), Gongshan teacost (Isodon gongshanensis) and Su-Kung teacost (Isodon sukungii)

Shrink teacost (Isodon attenuatus), Gongshan teacost (Isodon gongshanensis) and Su-Kung teacost (Isodon sukungii)

NEWS - Three new species of Isodon (Schrad. ex Benth.) Spach (Ocimeae, Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) are reported based on the latest morphology and phylogenomics of shrink teacost (Isodon attenuatus), Gongshan teacost (Isodon gongshanensis) and Su-Kung teacost (Isodon sukungii) from Mount Fanjing and Hengdua Mountains in China.

Isodon is a genus with about 140 species and is mostly distributed in subtropical to tropical Asia with two separate species endemic to Africa. The genus is most diverse in southwest China especially in the dry valleys of the Hengduan Mountains.

The genus can be distinguished from other genera of the family Ocimeae by petioles and bracteolates, calyces slightly or very 2-lipped (3/2), very 2-lipped (4/1) corollas and free filaments inserted at the base of the corolla tube. DNA loci or plastome sequencing are difficult due to the rapid radiation of the genus.

Recently, researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany in Kunming and The Royal Botanic Gardens in Richmond reconstructed a robust phylogeny for 126 Isodon taxa using transcriptome and genome re-sequencing data.

Except for four clades (Clade I–Clade IV) found consistently in previous molecular phylogenetic studies, four subclades (Clade IVa–Clade IVd) were further recognized within the largest Clade IV that includes about 80% of the species of the genus. Meanwhile, three specimens collected during 2018–2020 are new species.

I. attenuatus is most closely related to I. villosus, but differs in having a subglabrous lamina (vs. densely to sparsely villous) with a descending base (vs. not descending), densely pubescent and glandularly pubescent inflorescences (vs. densely villous and glandularly pubescent), longer pedicels (4-6 mm vs. 2.5-4 mm), triangular calyx teeth (vs. oval) and a corolla tube that tapers towards the throat (vs. not tapers).

This species is known only from the Fanjing Mountains in Guizhou Province, China, and grows in evergreen broadleaf forests at elevations of 1600-2000 m. The specific epithet refers to the corolla tube that tapers towards the throat. The Chinese name is jiàn xiá xiāng chá cài (渐狭香茶菜).

I. gongshanensis is similar to I. rosthornii, but differs in having lanceolate (vs. triangular) and longer (c. 1 mm vs. c. 0.5 mm) teeth on the posterior petal lip, longer corolla (6-7 mm vs. c. 5 mm) with a pink posterior lip (vs. white), but without spots (vs. with reddish-purple spots) and an ovary without glands (vs. with glands).

This species is known only from Gongshan County in southwest China's Yunnan Province and occurs in mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests at elevations of 2700-2900 meters. The specific epithet is derived from the location of the new species, Gongshan County. The Chinese name is gòng shān xiāng chá cài (贡山香茶菜).

I. sukungii is similar to I. tenuifolius but differs by having longer laminae (1-4 cm vs. 0.5-1 cm long) with serrated margins (vs. entire), panicle-forming sympes (vs. single sympes not forming thirsus or panicles) and longer corollas (6-7 mm vs. 4 mm long) with straight anterior lip (vs. strongly folded).

This species is widely distributed in dry valleys along the Min River, a tributary of the Yangtze River, in Sichuan Province, southwest China and grows on dry open slopes with savanna vegetation at elevations of 1600-2700 meters. Specific name according to the late Prof. Su-Kung Wu. Chinese name is sù gōng xiāng chá cài (素功香茶菜).

Original research

Chen Y-P, Peng H, Paton AJ, Xiang C-L (2024). Three new species of Isodon (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) from China. PhytoKeys 246: 283-293, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.246.130432

Dlium theDlium
Labels:

Popular Posts

Dry Valleys on Antarctic continent is the driest place in the world

The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world, rainfall is very low, only stretches of sand and rocks without rivers and plants further strengthen the view of drought. However, it turns out that the place is not the driest place in the world. Dry Valleys in Antarctica, although the continent is covered in ice, but has one part that is completely dry. Although the average rainfall in most of the Sahara Desert is less than 20 millimeters per year, there are still drier places. Dry Valleys in Antarctica is much drier where the average rainfall is 0 millimeters per year and gets the title of the driest place in the world. The valleys have so low humidity that there is almost no ice. This is the largest ice free place on the Antarctic continent. The area is surrounded by mountains that block ice from flowing into the valley. Drought is also caused by strong katabalic gusts from mountain peaks where cold air blows down the hill due to gravity. The wind has speeds of up to 322 k...
Read more

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...
Read more

Tripa tiger moth (Nannoarctia tripartita)

Tripa tiger moth ( Nannoarctia tripartita ) is an animal species in the Erebidae, a moth with a forewing length of 14-18 mm, predominantly black or dark brown with white and orange hues, thick fur on the dorsal surface, long legs and antennae, living in forest scrub and agricultural land. N. tripartita in females has forewings 15-18 mm long, black or dark brown with slightly oblique transverse and few spots. The hind wings are yellow with large dark discal points and three other dots. Males have forewings 14-17 mm long, black or dark brown with transverse oblique postdiscal bands and several spots. The hind wings are yellow with brown costal margins, discal confluent points, wide ridges on the crest and angular points in the tornus. The head has a thin orange pattern and a pair of long black antennae. Long legs are black. Tripa tiger moths live in forest scrub, farmland and roadsides. More stationary by sticking to the leaf surface at the top. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropod...
Read more