Nordic Journal of Botany 34: 152–155, 2016 doi: 10.1111/njb.00989, ISSN 1756-1051 © 2016 The Authors. Nordic Journal of Botany © 2016 Nordic Society Oikos Subject Editor: John Parnell. Editor-in-Chief: Torbjörn Tyler. Accepted 25 November 2015 Disporum sinovietnamicum sp. nov. (Colchicaceae) from southwestern Guangxi, China Ren-Chuan Hu, Wei-Bin Xu and Yun-Feng Huang R.-C. Hu and Y.-F. Huang ([email protected]), Guangxi Inst. of Traditional Medical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, CN-530022 Nanning, P. R. China. – W.-B. Xu, Guangxi Inst. of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, CN-541006 Guilin, P. R. China. Disporum sinovietnamicum R. C. Hu & Y. Feng Huang sp. nov. is described and from southwestern Guangxi, China. It is morphologically closest to D. jinfoshanense X. Z. Li, D. M. Zhang & D. Y. Hong, but differs by having stems that are 35–90 cm tall, narrowly lanceolate and thinly leathery leaves, and ovate and glabrous tepals. The genus Disporum Salisb. comprises 22 species of peren- Etymology nial flowering plants, found in Asia from northern India to The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, which Japan, south to Indonesia and north into the Russian Far is located at the border between China and Vietnam. East. (Don 1825, Liu 1978, Hara 1988, Shinwari et al. 1994, Liang and Tamura 2000, Li et al. 2007, Nguyen Description 2007). Fifteen species (nine endemic) have been reported Perennial herb with short rhizomes; stolons 10–30 cm long. from China up to now (Liang and Tamura 2000, Li et al. Roots densely tufted, fleshy. Stems erect, simple, rarely 2007). In the APG III classification system, Disporum is branched, 35–90 cm tall, 3–5 mm in diameter, proximally placed in the family Colchicaceae (APG III 2009). During a with several sheaths. Leaves 5–7, concentrated in distal part floristic survey along the boundary between China and Viet- of stem, alternate; petioles short, ca 2 mm; blade narrowly nam, an unusual Disporum was spotted flowering in Daxin lanceolate, thinly leathery, 8–13 2.0–3.5 cm, sub-rounded County in April 2006. In the following nine years, the same and slightly conduplicate at base, acuminate at apex; species was documented flowering and fruiting regularly at cross veins sometimes distinct. Inflorescences terminal, the same sites. Based on detailed examination of morpho- non-pedunculate, 1–5-flowered. Pedicels 3.0–5.5 cm long, logical and anatomical features, as well as careful comparison diamond-shaped. Tepals 6(–7), spreading, white, glabrous, with all other heretofore known Disporum species in China ovate, 2.7–3.1 0.9–1.2 cm, slightly saccate at base, acute and neighboring countries, relevant literature and some and slightly recurved at apex, with conspicuous midvein. Disporum herbarium specimens from PE, IBK, GXMI, Stamens inserted at the base of tepals, included, 1.9–2.1 cm IBSC, KUN, Global Plants on Jstor and Tamura Virtual long. Ovary oval, fuchsia, ca 5 mm long. Berries black, oval, Herbarium (CVH) (Liu and Ying 1978, Liang and Tamura ca 8 mm long, 5 mm in diameter, 6-seeded. Flowering in 2000, Li et al. 2007, Nguyen 2007), we concluded that March to April, and fruiting in September to November. our plants comprise an undescribed Disporum species as described species below. Distribution and conservation status Disporum sinovietnamicum grows at limestone peaks in ever- green broad-leaved forest, between 600 and 700 m a.s.l., Disporum sinovietnamicum R. C. Hu & Y. Feng associated with Sinosideroxylon pedunculatum (Hemsl.) Huang sp. nov. (Fig. 1–2) H. Chuang, Schefflera pesavis R. Vig., Acer tonkinense H. Lec., Pittosporum kwangsiense H. T. Chang et S. Z. Yan, Lespedeza Type: China. Guangxi: Daxin County, Xialei Town, Xialei formosa (Vogel) Koehne, Oreocnide serrulata C. J. Chen, Nature Reserve, 22°53′57.41″N, 106°41′16.32″E, 710 m Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., Bonia saxatilis (L. C. Chia, a.s.l., 19 Mar 2015, growing in dense limestone evergreen H. L. Fang et Y. L. Yang) N. H. Xia, Epigeneium clemensiae broad-leaved forest, Y. Feng Huang and R. C. Hu, 34251 Gagnep., Pholidota leveilleana Schltr., Caobangia squamata (holotype: GXMI!, isotypes: GXMI!, IBK!). A. R. Smith et X. C. Zhang, Paphiopedilum helenae Aver. 152 Figure 1. Disporum sinovietnamicum sp. nov. (A) habit, (B) open flower, (C) ovary and stigma, (D) mature berries, (E) stolons. D. sinovietnamicum was found in Xialei Nature Reserve and A morphological comparison between the two species is Bangliang Nature Reserve, which both lie along the border presented in Table 1. between China and Vietnam. Similar species Additional specimens examined (paratypes) Disporum sinovietnamicum is most similar to D. jinfoshanense China. Guangxi: Daxin county, Xialei town, Xialei Nature because they share stolons 10–30 cm long, terminal Reserve, 22°53′39.33″N, 106°41′14.05″E, 698 m a.s.l., inflorescences and white spreading tepals with a slightly 14 Sep 2014, Y. Feng Huang 34252, fr. (GXMI); Jingxi saccate base, but D. sinovietnamicum is distinguished county, Renzhuang township, Bangliang Nature Reserve, by having 35–90 cm tall stems, narrowly lanceolate and 22°55′56.02″N, 106°29′37.82″E, 850 m a.s.l., 19 Sep thinly leathery leaves, and glabrous and ovate tepals. 2014, Y. Feng Huang and R. C. Hu 24235, fr. (GXMI). 153 Figure 2. Disporum sinovietnamicum sp. nov. (A) habitat, (B) underside of leaf, (C) inflorescences, (D) fruiting plant, (E) open flower, (F) apical view of flower. Table 1. Morphological comparison between Disporum sinovietnamicum sp. nov. and D. jinfoshanense. D. sinovietnamicum D. jinfoshanense Stems (cm) 35–90 15–20 Sheaths 6–10 3–5 Leaves 5–7, narrowly lanceolate, thinly 3–4, ovate to elliptic, chartaceous, 7–8 2.3–4.0 cm leathery, 8–13 2.0–3.5 cm Tepals 2.7–3.1 0.9–1.2 cm, ovate, glabrous 1.3–1.7 0.3–0.4 cm, broadly lanceolate, densely pubescent on the inner surface Stamens (mm) 19–21 8–11 Berries oval globose 154 Acknowledgements – The authors are grateful to Ai-Qun Hu (HKU) Don, D. 1825. Verbenaceae. Prodromus florae nepalensis. – Linn. and Qi Gao (IBK) for useful comments on the manuscript and Soc. Lond., pp. 102–105. Xin-Cheng Qu (GXMI) for the excellent illustrations. We also Hara, H. 1988. A revision of the Asiatic species of the thank Sheng-Xiang Yu (PE) and Yi Tong (IBSC) for help us to genus Disporum (Liliaceae). – Univ. Mus. Tokyo Bull. 31: check Disporum herbarium specimens. This study was supported by 163–209. Guangxi Scientific R & T Development Project (GKN14123006- Li, X. Z. et al. 2007. Disporum jinfoshanense X. Z. 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