Skip to main content

Ke-Jian Yan spiradiclis (Spiradiclis yanii) is not Ophiorrhiza, new species from Guangxi, China

Ke-Jian Yan spiradiclis (Spiradiclis yanii) is not Ophiorrhiza, new species from Guangxi, China

NEWS - Ke-Jian Yan spiradiclis (Spiradiclis yanii), Rubiaceae, a new species known only from southeastern Guangxi, China, and mostly found on cliffs at the bottom of sinkholes at 320 m elevation with a flowering and fruiting season in February to March.

Spiradiclis Blume is most similar to Ophiorrhiza L. and both genera are within Ophiorrhizeae. More recent studies suggest that the situation may be more complex and raise questions about the separation of these genera.

However, Spiradiclis differs morphologically from Ophiorrhiza in that the capsule is oblong-linear or subglobose with four valves (vs. obchordate and compressed capsule with two valves) at maturity. Since the delimitation and relationships of the two genera still require further study, this study prefers to accept the traditional concept of Spiradiclis.

During a field survey in Longan, Guangxi, in March 2024, researchers found a special Spiradiclis population in flowers and fruits that was morphologically similar to S. tomentosa D. Fang & D. H. Qin. However, this special population was clearly different from S. tomentosa.

This special population might represent a new species after further observations and checking many Spiradiclis specimens from Herbaria and consulting relevant literature. Finally, the researchers conducted one more field survey to confirm the unusual plant was a new Spiradiclis to science.

S. yanii is most similar to S. tomentosa, but differs in that the villi are dense without nodes (vs. densely thick gray multicellular tomentose), narrow elliptic or lanceolate leaves (vs. lanceolate, obovate or rarely elliptic), acuminate or slightly acuminate apex (vs. acupoint canine to rounded), flat midvein adaxial and convex abaxial (vs. midvein and lateral veins almost flat on both sides).

Stipules 2-4, linear or linear-lanceolate, 4-8 mm, densely villous (vs. persistent stipules, triangular, 8-22 mm, tomentose), corolla tube 3 mm, sparsely pubescent inside (vs. 6-8 mm, glabrous inside), lobes 3-5 (vs. 5), stamens present at base of tube (vs. located in corolla throat), pistil 2-lobed, lobes ovate, slightly swollen, 0.2 mm (vs. deeply branched pistil with linear lobes, 1-1.5 mm).

At first glance, it is also similar to S. villosa X. X. Chen & W. L. Sha, but differs in narrow elliptical or lanceolate leaf shape, 5-10 × 2-2.5 cm, dense villi on adaxial and abaxial sides (vs. oblong-elliptical or oblong-elliptical leaves, 10-25 × 3-8 cm, dark brown pubescent on adaxial side, dense brown villi on abaxial side), petiole 0.5-1 cm (vs. 3.5-7 cm), stipules 2-4, linear or linear-lanceolate, 4-8 mm, dense villi (vs. stipules 2 lobes, dense dark brown villi, lobes laciniate, 15-30 mm).

The new species was named after Mr. Ke-Jian Yan who worked at Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science and made many contributions especially in the field of Rubiaceae and Lamiaceae.

Although the new species is currently growing well, further collection and monitoring are needed for a more confident estimate of the species' rarity and vulnerability. The available data are still insufficient to assess its conservation status. According to the IUCN Criteria (IUCN 2022), the species is considered Data Deficient (DD) until further information is available.

Original research

Nong Y, Lei L-Q, Wei G-Y, Qu X-C, Zhao Z-Y, Feng B, Xu C-G, Wu L (2024). Spiradiclis yanii (Rubiaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys 247: 173-181, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.247.123867

Dlium theDlium
Labels:

Popular Posts

Sandbox tree (Hura crepitans)

Sandbox tree ( Hura crepitans ) is species in Euphorbiaceae, a tropical tree, growing up to 60 meters tall and with a trunk circumference of up to 13.2 meters, the trunk is covered with long and sharp thorns and exudes a poisonous sap. H. crepitans has large, oval leaves, 15 cm wide and 20 cm long. The petioles are 22 cm long. The flowers are red and lack petals. Male flowers grow on long stalks, while female flowers grow singly in leaf axils. The fruit is a large, flask-shaped capsule, up to 10 cm in diameter, with 12-16 radially arranged carpels. The seeds are flat and about 2 cm in diameter. The capsule bursts when ripe, dividing into segments and ejecting the seeds at a speed of 70 m/s, a distance of 30-100 meters. This tree prefers moist soil and partial shade or partial to full sun, a warm, humid environment. It is often cultivated for shade. The wood is light and used to make canoes. The sap is used to poison fish. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiosperma...
Read more

Telotaun (Manihot carthagenensis)

Telotaun ( Manihot carthagenensis ) is a plant species in Euphorbiaceae, trees or shrubs 2-10 m tall, erect and fibrous, white latex, leaves varying with the subspecies noted are Manihot carthagenensis ssp. carthagenensis , Manihot carthagenensis ssp. glaziovii and Manihot carthagenensis ssp. hahnii . M. carthagenensis has an erect stem, a tubular shape, a young stem which is bright green and covered in white wax, an old stem that has a thin layer of brown skin. Long leaf stems and white waxy, arranged alternately, growing in all directions, green on the bottom and redish on the top. Leaves have 3-7 fingers each up to 25 cm long and up to 15 cm wide, ellipses become obovoid, sometimes pandurate and apex acute. Each leaf finger has a bone in the middle that moves linearly with some pinnate bones. The upper surface is green and slightly shiny, the lower surface is whitish green. The base of the leaf is centered at the end of the stalk, the pointed end which ends at the head of the sp...
Read more

Giant green leech (Raksasa hijau)

Lintah raksasa or giant green leech ( Raksasa hijau ) is a species of animal in Salifidae, large green leeches, carnivores, not hematophagic, can grow to lengths of more than 50 cm, the front is perfectly tubular, but it is getting bigger, wider and flat backward. R. hijau has a front end that ends with a white mouth and has a width equal to the diameter of the front end of the body. The rear end ends with the anus and has a width equal to the diameter of the rear end of the body. The upper surface is whole dark green or leafy green, looks shiny and has no other additional color features. The bottom surface is lighter or brownish green. The skin is wrinkled like tight, elastic joints that make it possible to lengthen the body. Giant green leech moves forward by extending the tip of the front of the body to keep the new location farther away and this movement is then followed by the middle body and gradually the rear where the body moves completely. R. hijau does not suck blo...
Read more