Petrocodon mirus (Gesneriaceae), a new species from southwest Guangxi, China

Xi-Zuo Shi , Jia-Xin Fu , Xiu-Ling Huang, Min-Hang Huang, Ming Kang and Li-Hua Yang

Nordic Journal of Botany，2024: e04522

Abstract： Based on morphological observations, molecular phylogenetic analyses and literature consultations, a new species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodon mirus, is described and illustrated here. This new species exhibits morphological similarity with P. pulchriflorus and P. hechiensis, but is easily distinguished from the latter two by its slightly leathery leaf blade, liner to ligulate-oblong lip lobes, and shorter tube with constriction at middle. In addition, the new species differs from P. pulchriflorus by its reflexed adaxial lip lobes, and from P. hechiensis by its included stamen and pistil. However, the stigma of P. mirusis much similar to the chiritoid stigma diagnostic for Chirita Buch.-Ham. ex Don (now mostly included in Primulina); based on this observation a new hypothesis for the evolution of the chiritoid stigma is proposed.

Note: Less than half a year after the publication of Petrocodon mirus, another species, Petrocodon gracilis T.Ding & B.Pan, was described. However, it was later determined to be a later homonym of Petrocodon mirus. For more details, please refer to the article titled "Petrocodon gracilis (Gesneriaceae), a New Species From Southwestern Guangxi, China." This article is freely available for download at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.70670.

Keywords： flora of Guangxi, Karst, morphology, subfamily Didymocarpoideae, taxonomy

Original link:10.1111/njb.04522