Zhuxi hemipilia (Hemipilia zhuxiensis) closely related to H. henryi and H. crassicalcarata in section

NEWS - Zhuxi hemipilia (Hemipilia zhuxiensis sp. nov.) found in Shibali Long Canyon National Nature Reserve is morphologically similar to Hemipilia henryi Rolfe and Hemipilia crassicalcarata S.S.Chien, but differs in having an oval and simple labellum with a curved edge, a curved apex and a spur shorter than the ovary.

The genus Hemipilia Lindley sensu stricto includes about 13 species. In Hemipilia sect. Hemipilia, many species show morphological similarities, characterized by relatively small purplish-red flowers, a tongue-like rostellum and oval leaves with purple spots.

Many new species have been discovered in recent years. During a 2020 field investigation in the Wuling Mountains, Hubei, China, researchers found many small purple-flowered Hemipilia species. However, the literature does not show such characteristics in previously studied Hemipilia species.

The simple, oblong labellum with slightly volute margins and shorter spurs distinguish it from all known Hemipilia species. The researchers used H. henryi and H. crassicalcarata for morphological comparison, as they share common attributes and are the closest phylogenetically related.

However, the new species shows certain differences as it has oblong leaves with purple spots; 10 × 3–5 mm, single, oblong labellum; slightly volute labellum margin; upwardly curved labellum apex; and much shorter spurs compared to the ovary.

Nuclear (nrITS) and plastid (matK, psaB, psbA-trnH, rbcL and trnL-F concatenation) DNA sequence analyses confirmed H. zhuxiensis to be closely related to H. henryi and H. crassicalcarata supporting its recognition as a new species within H. sect. Hemipilia.

H. zhuxiensis is known to have two populations in the Shibali Long Canyon National Nature Reserve. The two populations are about 500 meters apart along the rock wall of the canyon. The new species grows on the rock wall together with H. henryi.

The canyon is a barren valley and many shrubs and mosses grow on the rock walls on both sides. The species flowers in June. The specific epithet refers to the name of the type locality in Zhuxi County. The Chinese name is “竹溪舌喙兰“.

Original research

Shen C-q, Lu G-H, Chen X-T, Yi L-S, Lan D-Q, Qin R, Liu H (2024). Hemipilia zhuxiensis (Orchideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Hubei Province, China. PhytoKeys 247: 203-217, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.247.131618

Dlium theDlium

Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil)

Japanese morning glory ( Ipomoea nil ) is a species of plant in the Convolvulaceae family, a climber with twining stems that grow up to 5 meters long. The green, finely hairy leaves are 14 cm long, heart-shaped at the base, entire or 3-5-lobed, tapering at the edges. The flowers are funnel-shaped, blue to reddish-purple with a whitish tube, 5 cm wide and up to 7 cm long. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae Subfamily: Convolvuloideae Tribe: Ipomoeeae Genus: Ipomoea L. in Sp. Pl.: 159 (1753) Species: Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth in Catal. Bot. 1: 36 (1797) HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS Convolvuloides triloba Moench in Methodus: 452 (1794) Convolvulus nil L. in Sp. Pl., ed. 2.: 219 (1762) Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy in Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 6: 439 (1833 publ. 1834) HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS Convolvulus caeruleus (Roxb. ex Ker-Gawl.) Spreng. in Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 1: 593 (1824) Convolvulus coelestis G.Forst. in Fl. Ins...

Moist pimpernel (Lindernia dubia)

Moist pimpernel ( Lindernia dubia ) is a species of plant in the Linderniaceae. It is a herbaceous, ground-growing, erect, cylindrical stem with red to light brown color. The leaves are green, oval, up to 10 mm long, up to 7 mm wide, with rounded tips and reddish veins. The flowers are funnel-shaped, bluish-white, with yellow veins. TAXON Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Linderniaceae Genus: Lindernia All. in Auct. Syn. Meth. Stirp. Hort. Regii Taur. 3: 178 (1766) Species: Lindernia dubia (L.) Pennell in Monogr. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1: 141 (1935) Variety: Lindernia dubia var. dubia, Lindernia dubia var. rhizomatosa Pennell ex D.Q.Lewis HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS Ilysanthes dubia (L.) Barnhart in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 26: 376 (1899) Ilysanthes gratioloides Benth. in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 10: 419 (1846) Gratiola dubia L. in Sp. Pl.: 17 (1753) Limnophila dubia (L.) M.R.Almeida in Fl. Maharashtra 3B: 393 (2001)...

Mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens)

Carica or Dieng papaya or mountain papaya or mountain pawpaw or Carica pubescens or Carica candamarcensis or Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis ( Vasconcellea pubescens ) is a species of plant in the Caricaceae, a small tree, not woody, 1-10 meters high and with many branches. V. pubescens has palmate leaves with 5-7 lobes, thick pubescence on the underside of the leaf, 35 cm wide, peduncle 33 cm long. Male flowers have stalks up to 15 cm long, female flowers are larger with short, hard stalks. The fruit is arranged in a spiral along the stem and one tree can produce 50-60 fruits per year. Fruit is 6-15 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, five corners extending from base to top, green or yellow to orange. The fruit has a sour taste but is fragrant and around the cavity the seeds appear which are encased in a white and watery sarcotesta. The pulp can be eaten raw and is usually cooked as a vegetable. This species grows at an elevation of 1500-3000 meters, temperature 10-28C, soil with good drainage,...

Dlium