Microsoft Word - 02. New species of Polygonatum_Galley proof_approved 12.6.16.doc Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 23(1): 7-11, 2016 (June) © 2016 Bangladesh Association of Plant Taxonomists A NEW SPECIES OF POLYGONATUM MILL. (ASPARAGACEAE) FROM GUIZHOU, CHINA MING-TAI AN, YUN LIN1, 2, JIA-GUO WANG, JIANG-HUA WU3 AND MIN MENG4 Forestry College, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, Guizhou, P. R. China Keywords: Polygonatum sinopubescens; Asparagaceae; Yinjiang County; SW China. Abstract A new species Polygonatum sinopubescens from Yinjiang County, Guizhou Province, South-west China is described and illustrated. This species was found growing in evergreen broad-leaved forests or mixed needle-leaved and evergreen broad-leaved forests on slopes at altitudes of 870-930 m. It is related to Polygonatum filipes Merr. ex C. Jeffrey & Mc Ewan, but differs from the latter by pubescent stems, petiole, peduncle and pedicel, leaf blade shortly dense pubescent on abaxial surface, 2-3-flowered inflorescences and filaments 7-11 mm long. Introduction Polygonatum Mill. (Asparagaceae) comprises of ca. 60 species and distributed in temperate regions of the North hemisphere, mainly from the Himalayas to Japan having 39 species in China (Chen and Tamura, 2000). During our expeditions in Yinjiang County, northeast of Guizhou Province, southwest China in May 2014 and May 2015, we collected previously unknown specimens of Polygonatum from evergreen broad-leaved forests or mixed needle-leaved and evergreen broad-leaved forests on slopes at altitudes of 870-930 m above sea level, in latitude 27°36′50.6″-27°57′28″ N, and longitude 108°26′15″-108°36′31.9″ E. After critical examination of the specimens deposited at GZAC, HGAS, IBK, IBSC, KUN and PE, and carefully consulting relevant literature (Baker, 1875; Li, 1966; Tang, 1978; Chen and Liu, 1984; Tu, 1986; Liang, 1987; Wan and Gao, 1990; Zhu, 1992; Chen and Tamura, 2000; Fu et al., 2002), it was identified as a new species of Polygonatum. This paper describes and illustrates the new species as Polygonatum sinopubescens M. T. An, Yun Lin & J. G. Wang. Polygonatum sinopubescens M. T. An, Yun Lin & J. G. Wang, sp. nov. (Figs 1 & 2). Diagnosis: Polygonatum sinopubescens is morphologically similar to Polygonatum filipes Merr. ex C. Jeffrey & Mc Ewan based on moniliform or terete-moniliform rhizome, alternate leaves, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic leaf blade, very slender peduncle, 1.5-2.0 cm long perianth. However, it differs from the latter in stems pubescent, petiole pubescent, peduncle pubescent and pedicel pubescent (vs glabrous in P. filipes), leaf blade shortly dense pubescent on abaxial surface (vs shortly pubescent on abaxial veins in P. filipes), filaments 7-11 mm long (vs 4 mm long in P. filipes). 1Hunan Medication Vestibule School, Changsha 410208, Hunan, P. R. China. 2Corresponding author. Email: leoliny@foxmail.com 3Guizhou Normal College, Guiyang 550018, Guizhou, P. R. China. 4Yinjiang Forestry Bureau, Yinjiang 555200, Guizhou, P. R. China. 8 AN et al.   Type: China. Guizhou Province: Yinjiang County, Yangxi Nature Reserve, alt. 870-930 m in evergreen broad-leaved forests or mixed needle-leaved and evergreen broad-leaved forests on slopes, 16 May 2011, J.G. Wang & X.F. Li YJ 2014-0110 (Holotype: GZAC, GZAC Herb. Bar Code No. 0026320; Isotypes: HUFD, PE); same locality, 21 May 2015, M.T. An & J.G. Wang 2015-0627 (Paratypes: GZAC, HUFD). Rhizome moniliform or terete-moniliform, 1.0-1.8 cm thick, up to 30 cm long. Stem erect or ascending, 30-60 cm long, pubescent. Leaves 5-9, alternate; petiole short or indistinct, pubescent; leaf blade ovate-elliptic, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 8.0-11.5 cm long, 2.5-4.0 cm wide, base broadly cuneate to rounded, margin entire, apex obtuse to shortly acuminate, shortly dense pubescent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence axillary, 2-3-flowered; peduncle slender, 3.0-5.5 cm long, dense pubescent; bracts lanceolate, 2-4 mm long, greenish white, caducous. Flowers pendulous; pedicel 1-2 cm long, pubescent. Perianth yellowish green or greenish white, cylindric, 1.5-2.0 cm long; lobes 4-5 mm long. Stamens 6, 1.5-1.8 cm long; filaments 7-11 mm long, shortly cottony; anthers 3 mm long. Ovary obovoid, 4 mm long; style 1.3-1.5 cm long. Young berries obovoid, 4-5 mm long, 3-4 mm in diameter. Phenology: Flowering from May to June, and fruiting from July to September. Etymology: Polygonatum sinopubescens is named after shortly dense pubescent on abaxial surface of leaf blade, and this species is from China. Vernacular name: Roumao Huangjing Habitat: This species grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests or mixed needle-leaved and evergreen broad-leaved forests on slopes at altitudes of 870-930 m above sea level., latitude 27°36′50.6″-27°57′28″ N, longitude 108°26′15″-108°36′31.9″ E, comprises about 200 individuals growing in five populations within the nature reserve. Distribution: Polygonatum sinopubescens is only known from its type locality, Yangxi Nature Reserve, Yinjiang County, northeast Guizhou Province, southwest China. Pharmaceutical value: In traditional Chinese medicine the rhizome is used to moisten the lung, nourish the kidney and invigorate the spleen. A comparison between the new species Polygonatum sinopubescens and its closely related is appended in Table 1. Table 1. Comparison of morphological characteristics between Polygonatum sinopubescens sp. nov. and P. filipes. Characters P. sinopubescens sp. nov. P. filipes Stem pubescent glabrous Leaf petiole pubescent; leaf blade shortly dense pubescent on abaxial surface petiole glabrous; leaf blade shortly pubescent on abaxial veins Inflorescence 2-3-flowered; peduncle 3.0-5.5 cm long, pubescent 2-7-flowered; peduncle 3.0-8.0 cm long, glabrous Pedicel Filament pubescent 7-11 mm long glabrous c. 4 mm long Berry obovoid spherical Conservation status: Polygonatum sinopubescens is known only from the type locality, comprises about 200 individuals growing in five populations within the nature reserve, and is therefore given the assessment of Data Deficient (DD) according to IUCN (2001) criteria. A NEW SPECIES OF POLYGONATUM 9   Fig. 1. Polygonatum sinopubescens M.T. An, Yun Lin & J.G. Wang, sp. nov. A. Rhizome; B. Habitat of flowering plant; C. Branch with node; D. Leaf blade pubescence on abaxial surface; E. Inflorescence; F. Dissected flower; G. Stamen. (J. G. Wang & X. F. Li YJ-2014-0110). 10 AN et al.   Fig. 2. Polygonatum sinopubescens M.T. An, Yun Lin & J.G. Wang, sp. nov. A. Habitat; B. Rhizome; C. Stem with pubescent; D. Leaf blade, showing shortly dense pubescent on abaxial surface; E. Inflorescence; F. Berries with bracts. Acknowledgements Thanks are due to the curators of herbaria, namely GZAC, HGAS, IBK, IBSC, KUN and PE for permission to examine their specimens. This work was supported by Application Fundamentals Major Special Projects: Ecological restoration and its optimal regulation of eco- economic system in Karst Rocky Desert Area�grant number Qian-Ke-He JZ-NO. [2014] 2002,,Plant Specimen Digitization and Chinese Virtual Herbarium Establishment (grant number 2005DKA21401), and the Second Investigation on National Key Protected Wild Plant Resources in Guizhou Province (grant number Lin-Hu-Fa-No. [2012] 87 and Qian-Lin-Hu-Tong-No. [2013] 251). We also thank Mr. Hua Xie for the drawing. A NEW SPECIES OF POLYGONATUM 11   References Baker, J.G. 1875. Revision of the genera and species of Asparagaceae. J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 14: 508–630. Chen, S.C. and Liu, D.Q. 1984. Two new species of Liliaceae from China. Acta Phytotaxon. Sin. 22(5): 417–419. Chen, X.Q. and Tamura, M.N. 2000. Polygonatum (Liliaceae). In: Wu, Z.Y. and Raven, P.H. (Eds), Flora of China. Vol. 24. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp. 223–232. Fu, L.G., Chen, T.Q., Lang, K.Y., Hong, T., Lin, Q. and Li, R. 2002. Higher Plants of China. Vol. 13. Qingdao Publishing House, Qingdao, pp. 204–217. IUCN. 2001. 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