Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)
2017-08-19 GCCC News

Recently, headed by Dr. Wen Fang and Dr. Hong Xin, members of GCCC, accompanied by an engineer of the management office of Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve, Mr. He De-Ming, the Field expeditions for Gesneriaceae made the field investigation in Wenshan Prefecture, Southeastern Yunnan Province, China. GCCC will subsequently report the highlights of this field investigation.

It is very exciting that we found a new distribution of Petrocosmea grandiflora, which disappeared almost one century. Petrocosmea grandiflora was formally published by Hemsley in 1895. Because of the small size of plant and relatively big flower, it was to be named “grandiflora”. The type specimen (#115) was collected in 1893 by Hancock from Mengzi (Mongste), Yunnan Province, China, is being stored in K (Figs. 1, cited from http://plantillustrations.org/species.php?id_species=772271&size=0&mobile=1).

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 1  Hand drawing of Petrocosmea grandiflora

However, no many collections for this species were recorded. Only two collections were recorded by anonymous in September, 1919 (No Number) (Figs. 2) and Wang Qi-Wu (84475) in October, 1939 (Figs. 3). We compared the type specimen, we found there area lot of living collections and specimens have been incorrectly identified in different botanical gardens and herbaria, including articles and monographs. Obviously, if we can correctly identify the species in question, or try to find populations of some species which are not discovered for many years in the field, we can start todiscover the charm of taxonomy of Gesneriaceae!

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 2  One of specimens of Petrocosmea grandiflora, storing in IBSC

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 3  One of specimens of Petrocosmea grandiflora, storing in KUN

        Another question. This wonderful species, Petrocosmea grandiflora, was showed in the annual convention of the Gesneriad Society. Who knows how to spread from China to abroad?

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 4  The cultivated Petrocosmea grandiflora in abroad (cited from http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/image_files/plantportrait/sizedPet%20grandiflora8615.JPG)

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 5  The cultivated Petrocosmea grandiflora in abroad (cited from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUGwHJgWsAE9R3s.jpg)

The engineer, Mr. He De-Ming, firstly found this tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora in a limestone hill of Wenshan, Yunnan Province. He took many plant and flower photographs, and sent those pictures to Dr. Hong Xin, GCCC. We considered it looks very similar to Petrocosmea grandiflora! After the observation in the field, IT IS THE SPECIES, P. grandiflora!

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 6  Petrocosmea grandiflora (I)

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 7  Petrocosmea grandiflora (II)

Concealed did not have 78 years, the tiny population of Petrocosmea grandiflora was re-discovered in Wenshan, Yunnan by GCCC and Management Bureau of Wenshan Nature Reserve (Laojunshan)

Figs. 8  Petrocosmea grandiflora (III)

Only one population, within only seven individuals, wasvalidated in Wenshan city. The engineer, Mr. He De-Ming and members of GCCC carefully investigated three limestone hills of the location, NO Others populations! Based on the IUCN standard, it was assessed as Critically Endangered, CR! GCCC collected some leaves from different individuals to make the leaf-cutting in the greenhouse of GCCC, and try to keep the genetic diversity of this Petrocosmea grandiflora population.

From 1939 to 2017, concealed did not have 78 years, Petrocosmea grandiflora, appear in front of us!

Appendix: Description of Petrocosmea grandiflora

Petiole 0.2-8.5 cm, pilose; leaf blade elliptic or lanceolate to broadly ovate, 1.2-6.5 X 0.8-2.4 cm, adaxially sericeous, abaxially sparsely sericeous, hirsute along veins, base sometimes oblique, 1 side cuneate to broadly cuneate, other cordate to rounded or cuneate, sometimes peltate, margin shallowly crenate, apex acute to broadly acute; lateral veins conspicuous. Cymes 1-3-flowered; peduncle 2.5-5 cm, pilose; bracts linear, ca. 5 mm. Pedicel 1-1.4 cm. Calyx actinomorphic, 5-sect from base; segments equal, lanceolate, ca. 6 X 1.1 mm, outside appressed puberulent. Corolla blue, outside puberulent near base, inside glabrous; tube ca. 6 mm; adaxial lip 0.9-1.2 cm, distinctly 2-lobed; abaxial lip 1.3-1.5 cm. Filaments ca. 4 mm, puberulent; anthers oblong, ca. 2 mm, beakless; staminodes 3. Pistil 9-10 mm; ovary ca. 2 mm, pilose. Style pilose near base, glabrous above. Fruit unknown. Fl. Dec.(Cited from FOC)