Two new species and a new series of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from China

Two new species and a new series of Elatostema(Urticaceae) from China

QI LIN1* and LIN-DONG DUAN2

1State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academyof Sciences, Beijing 100093, China2Shaoyang University, Shaoyang 422004, Hunan, China

Received 16 March 2007; accepted for publication 12 May 2008

The new series Elatostema section Elatostema series Albopilosoides Q.Lin & L.D.Duan (Urticaceae) isdescribed, and two new species of Elatostema, namely Elatostema albopilosoides Q.Lin & L.D.Duan andElatostema purpureum Q.Lin & L.D.Duan. from south Guizhou province, south-west China are described andillustrated. Both species were found growing only at the base of a large limestone chamber at an altitude ofc. 800 m. Elatostema albopilosoides is morphologically similar to E. albopilosum W.T.Wang, but differs by havingfemale inflorescences with peduncles 10–60 mm long (0–1.5 mm long in E. albopilosum) and receptacles 7–27 mmlong, 7–24 mm wide (E. albopilosum: 1–4 mm long and 1–3 mm wide). Elatostema purpureum is also morphologi-cally similar to E. albopilosum, but has stipules 5–6 mm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide (4–7 mm long, 1.5–2.8 mm widein E. albopilosum) and leaf blades obliquely elliptical to obliquely oblong-obovate, 3.5–7.5 mm long and 1.5–2.5 mmwide (obliquely narrowly oblanceolate-oblong, 12–17 cm long, 3–5 cm wide in E. purpureum:). © 2008 TheLinnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 674–680.

ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Elatostema albopilosoides – Elatostema purpureum – series Albopilosoides –systematics – taxonomy.

INTRODUCTION

The genus Elatostema J.R.Forster & G.Forster belongsto the family Urticaceae, consists of c. 300 species andis distributed in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asiaand Oceania; 146 species occur in China (Lin, Friis &Wilmot-Dear, 2003). The newest infrageneric classifi-cation for Chinese taxa of Elatostema was proposed byWang (1980), with five sections and 20 series.

Libo County, south Guizhou province, south-westChina, lies between latitudes 25o7′N and 25o9′N andbetween longitudes 107o37′E and 108o18′E, and hasmany limestone hills and caves. During fieldwork inLibo County in July and October 2003, two previouslyunknown species, one belonging to Elatostema sectionElatostema series Albopilosa proposed by Wang(1980) and the other belonging to a previouslyunknown series in Elatostema section Elatostema,were collected at the base of a large limestone cave.These two new species were found to be distinct when

compared with known species, and they are describedand illustrated here. Taking the species belonging toa previously unknown series in Elatostema sectionElatostema as the type, a new series is also described.

DESCRIPTIONELATOSTEMA ALBOPILOSOIDES Q.LIN & L.D.DUAN,

SP. NOV. (FIGS 1, 2)

Type: China, Guizhou Province, Libo County, Sanceng-dong, 750–800 m, 15.vii.2003, L. D. Duan & Q. Lin2002124 (holotype: PE; isotypes: IBSC, PE), 2002125(paratypes: L, P, PE); the same locality, 26.x.2003, Q.Lin & L. D. Duan 1015 (paratypes: BM, E, K, PE).

Diagnosis: Habitu Elatostemati albopiloso W.T.Wangvalde simile, sed stipulis anguste lanceolatis vellanceolatis, 13–16 ¥ 2–4 mm, puberulentibus (nonlinearibus vel oblongis, 4–7 ¥ 1.5–2.8 mm, glabris),inflorescentiis femineis 20–30 mm (non 1.5–5 mm)diametro, pedunculis femineis 10–60 mm (non0–1.5 mm), receptaculis femineis 7–27 ¥ 7–24 mm(non 1–4 ¥ 1–3 mm) differt.*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 674–680. With 5 figures

© 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 674–680674

mailto:[email protected]

Description: Herbs perennial, monoecious, 50–120 cmtall. Stems erect, sharply angled, branched, puberu-lent. Leaves alternate; nanophylls absent; stipulesnarrowly lanceolate or lanceolate, 13–16 ¥ 2–4 mm,with cystoliths, puberulent; petiole absent or upto 5 mm; leaf blade obliquely oblanceolate-oblong,(5–)12–17 ¥ (1.5–)3.5–6.0 cm, herbaceous, venationpinnate, major basal lateral (secondary) veins absent;abaxial surface puberulent; adaxial surface sparselystrigose, with cystoliths obscure, dense; base with

broader half rounded or auriculate; margin serrate;apex acuminate. Male inflorescences solitary, simple,20–30 mm in diameter; peduncle 40–95 mm long;receptacle broadly elliptical, 18–28 ¥ 15–20 mm;bracts 6, connate, ovate, unequal, two outer ones10–15 mm, four inner ones 8–12 mm; bracteolesobovate. Male flower 5-merous: perianth lobes red,connate at base; stamens 5; pistil rudimentary, small.Female inflorescences solitary, oblong, 8–28 ¥ 8–25 mm; peduncle 10–60 mm long; receptacle broadly

Figure 1. Elatostema albopilosoides sp. nov. (L. D. Duan & Q. Lin 2002124): A, male flowering branch; B, portionof stem, showing longitudinal angle (Q. Lin & L. D. Duan 1015); C, female inflorescences (dorsal view); D, achene. Drawnby Ying-Bao Sun.

NEW SPECIES AND SERIES OF ELATOSTEMA 675


oblong, 7–27 ¥ 7–24 mm; bracts 6–8, unequal; brac-teoles linear. Female flower 3-merous. Achenes ellip-soid, five- to seven-ribbed, tuberculate.

Distribution and habitat: Endemic to Libo County,south Guizhou, south-west China, occurring in darkdamp places, amongst rocks or on banks of under-ground streams at base of a large limestone cave(Sancengdong). The cave is c. 80 m in diameter, 100 min depth, occurring in limestone ranges at altitudes of750–800 m (Figs 2, 3).

Phenology: Flowers from July to August and fruitsfrom September to November.

Conservation status: Elatostema albopilosoides isknown only from the type locality in Sancengdong. Itis recommended that this species be classified as

Endangered (EN) according to the World Conserva-tion Union (IUCN) (2001) categorization, because ofits local distribution and rather small populationsize (five populations and five to ten plants perpopulation).

Relationship: This species appears to be closely relatedto Elatostema albopilosum W.T.Wang (Wang, 1980),but differs from the latter with regard to the followingfeatures: stipules narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate,13–16 ¥ 2–4 mm, puberulent (vs. linear or oblong,4–7 ¥ 1.5–2.8 mm, glabrous); female inflorescences20–30 mm in diameter (vs. 1.5–5 mm in diameter);female peduncle 10–60 mm (vs. 0–1.5 mm); femalereceptacle 7–27 ¥ 7–24 mm (vs. 1–4 ¥ 1–3 mm).

This species is a member of Elatostema sectionElatostema by having leaf venation pinnate andlacking major basal lateral (secondary) veins; maleinflorescences simple, involucrate; receptacle of maleflowers conspicuous, discoid; female inflorescencesmultiflorous, involucrate; receptacle of female flowersconspicuous, flat; and achenes small, ribbed. How-ever, this species does not belong to any previouslypublished series in this section. Therefore, thenew series Albopilosoides Q.Lin and L.D.Duan isdescribed here to accommodate E. albopilosoides.

ELATOSTEMA SECTION ELATOSTEMA SERIES

ALBOPILOSOIDES Q.LIN & L.D.DUAN SER. NOV.Diagnosis: Folia penninervia, margine dentata. Inflo-rescentiae masculinae longipedunculatae, femineaelongipedunculatae. Typus seriei: Elatostema albopi-losoides Q.Lin & L.D.Duan.

Relationship: This new series appears to be closelyrelated to series Albopilosa W.T.Wang (Wang, 1980) insection Elatostema, but the new series differs fromseries Albopilosa with regard to the following fea-tures: female peduncle long, 10–60 mm (absent or upto 1.5 mm in series Albopilosa).

ELATOSTEMA PURPUREUM Q.LIN & L.D.DUAN,SP. NOV. (FIGS 4, 5)

Type: China, Guizhou Province, Libo County, San-cengdong, 750–800 m, 15.vii.2003, L. D. Duan &Q. Lin 2002126 (holotype: PE; isotypes: IBSC, PE),2002127 (paratype: PE), 2002164 (paratype: PE),2002165 (paratype: PE), 2002166 (paratype: PE),2002167 (paratype: PE), 2002168 (paratype: PE); thesame locality, 26.x.2003, Q. Lin & L. D. Duan 1018(paratypes: BM, E, K, L, P, PE).

Figure 2. Elatostema albopilosoides sp. nov.: habitatof paratype in dark damp places at base of large cave(Sancengdong). Photographed by Q. Lin.

676 Q. LIN and L.-D. DUAN


Figure 3. Distribution map of Elatostema albopilosoides sp. nov. (�), Elatostema purpureum sp. nov. (�) andtheir relatives [= Elatostema albopilosum (�)].

Table 1. Comparison of the morphological characteristics of Elatostema purpureum sp. nov. with those of the otherspecies in Elatostema section Elatostema series Albopilosa

CharacterHairs

E. purpureumPuberulent

E. albopilosumPilose

E. subpenninerveGlabrous

E. wenxienenseGlabrous

Stipules Lanceolate,5–6 ¥ 0.8–1.5 mm

Linear or oblong,4–7 ¥ 1.5–2.8 mm

Narrowly linear,3–5 ¥ 0.8–1 mm

Lanceolate-subulate,2–2.8 ¥ 0.4 mm

Leaf blade Obliquely ellipticalto obliquelyoblong-obovate,(1.5–)3.5–7.5(–10) ¥(0.5–)1.5–2.5 cm

Obliquely narrowlyoblanceolate-oblong,12–17 ¥ 3–5 cm

Obliquely oblong,7–11 ¥ 2–4 cm

Obliquely oblong,4.5–11.5 ¥ 1–3.5 cm

Maleinflorescences

14–20 mm in diameter;peduncle 70–215 mm;receptacle 12–18 ¥10–16 mm

13–28 mm in diameter;peduncle80–150(-330) mm;receptacle12–22 ¥ 10–18 mm

Peduncle 90–100 mm;others unknown

10–13 mm in diameter;peduncle 14–18 mm;receptacle 9–12 mmin diameter

Femaleinflorescences

3–8 ¥ 2–6 mm;receptacle2–7 ¥ 1–5 mm

1.5–5 mm in diameter;receptacle 1–4 mm indiameter

Unknown 2–2.5 mm in diameter,receptacle 2 ¥ 3 mm

Achenes Four- or five-ribbed Five-ribbed Unknown Five-ribbed



Diagnosis: Inflorescentia E. albopiloso W.T.Wangvalde simile, sed stipulis lanceolatis, 5–6 ¥ 0.8–1.5 mm (non linearibus vel oblongis, 4–7 ¥ 1.5–2.8 mm), foliorum laminis oblique ellipticis veloblique oblongobovatis, (1.5–)3.5–7.5(–10) ¥ (0.5–)1.5–2.5 cm (non oblique anguste oblanceolatoblongis,12–17 ¥ 3–5 cm), differt.

Description: Herbs perennial, monoecious, 15–35 cmtall. Stems ascending or erect, sharply angled,branched, puberulent. Leaves alternate; nanophyllsabsent; stipules lanceolate, 5–6 ¥ 0.8–1.5 mm, withcystoliths; petiole absent or up to 2.5 mm; leaf bladeobliquely elliptical to obliquely oblong-obovate, (1.5–)3.5–7.5(–10) ¥ (0.5–)1.5–2.5 cm, herbaceous, venationpinnate, major basal lateral (secondary) veins absent,abaxial surface puberulent along veins, adaxialsurface sparsely strigillose, cystoliths conspicuous,dense; base with broader half cuneate or nearlyrounded, margin serrate, apex acuminate. Male inflo-rescences solitary, simple, 14–20 mm in diameter;peduncle 70–215 mm long; receptacle broadly ellipti-cal to elliptical, 12–18 ¥ 10–16 mm; bracts 6, connate,ovate, unequal, two outer ones 8–10 mm long, four

inner ones 6–8 mm long; bracteoles ovate, obovate-lanceolate or linear. Male flower 5-merous: perianthlobes purple, connate at base; stamens 5; pistil rudi-mentary, very small. Female inflorescences solitary orin pairs, oblong, 3–8 ¥ 2–6 mm; peduncle absent or upto 1.5 mm; receptacle nearly oblong, 2–7 ¥ 1–5 mm;bracts 6, unequal; bracteoles obovate to oblanceolate.Female flower 3- or 4-merous. Achenes ellipsoid, four-or five-ribbed, tuberculate.

Distribution and habitat: Endemic to Libo County,south Guizhou, south-west China, occurring in darkdamp places, amongst rocks or on banks of under-ground streams at base of a large limestone cave(Sancengdong). The cave is c. 80 m in diameter, 100 min depth, occurring in limestone ranges at altitudes of750–800 m (Figs 3, 4).

Phenology: Flowers from late June to early Augustand fruits from September to early November.

Conservation status: Similar to E. albopilosoides, E.purpureum is also only known from the type localityin Sancengdong. It is recommended that it be classi-fied as Endangered (EN) according to the IUCN(2001) categorization, because of its local distributionand rather small population size (seven populationsand three to five plants per population).

Relationship: This species is a member of Elatostemasection Elatostema series Albopilosa, because leafblades have venation pinnate but lack major basallateral (secondary) veins; leaf margin dentate; maleinflorescences simple, pedunculate, involucrate; maleflowers with receptacle conspicuous, discoid; femaleinflorescences multiflorous, involucrate; femaleflowers with receptacle conspicuous, sessile or nearlyso, flat; achenes small, ribbed (see Table 1). Until now,series Albopilosa has comprised three species, namelyE. albopilosum, E. subpenninerve W.T.Wang and E.wenxienense W.T.Wang (Wang, 1995), and all threeare endemic to China. Elatostema albopilosum isdistributed in north-west Guangxi, south Sichuanand south Yunnan (Fig. 3), E. subpenninerve in southSichuan and E. wenxienense in south Gansu.

This new species is presumed to be closely relatedto E. albopilosum in this series, but differs from thelatter with regard to the following features: stipuleslanceolate, 5–6 ¥ 0.8–1.5 mm (vs. linear or oblong,4–7 ¥ 1.5–2.8 mm); leaf blade obliquely elliptical toobliquely oblong-obovate, (1.5–)3.5–7.5(–10) ¥ (0.5–)1.5–2.5 cm (vs. obliquely narrowly oblanceolate-oblong, 12–17 ¥ 3–5 cm). More detailed morphologicaldifferences between this species and its relatives aregiven in Table 1.

Figure 4. Elatostema purpureum sp. nov.: habitat ofparatype on rocks at base of large cave (Sancengdong).Photographed by Q. Lin.



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ELATOSTEMA SECTION ELATOSTEMA SERIES ALBOPILOSA

1. Male peduncle 14–18 mm long...........................................................................................E. wenxienense1. Male peduncle 70–330 mm long

2. Stems glabrous ........................................................................................................E. subpenninerve2. Stems pilose or puberulent

4. Leaf blade obliquely narrowly oblanceolate-oblong, 12–17 cm long, 3–5 cm wide.................E. albopilosum4. Leaf blade obliquely elliptical to obliquely oblong-obovate, 1.5–10 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm wide......................

.............................................................................................................................E. purpureum

Figure 5. Elatostema purpureum sp. nov. (L. D. Duan & Q. Lin 2002126): A, flowering plant; B, male inflorescences;C, male flower (Q. Lin & L. D. Duan 1018); D, fruiting inflorescence (dorsal view); E, achene. Drawn by Ying-Bao Sun.



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Mr Bing-Fan Yao of Libo Forestry Bureaufor his help in the collection of the specimens andMr Ying-Bao Sun for the illustrations.

REFERENCES

IUCN. 2001. IUCN red list categories, v3.1. Gland/Cambridge:IUCN Species Survival Commission.

Lin Q, Friis I, Wilmot-Dear CM. 2003. Elatostema(Urticaceae). In: Wu ZY, Raven PH, eds. Flora of China, Vol.5. Beijing: Science Press. St. Louis, MO: Missouri BotanicalGarden Press, 127–163.

Wang WT. 1980. Classificatio specierum sinicarum elatostem-atis (Urticaceae). Bulletin of Botanical Laboratory of North-Eastern Forestry Institute 7: 1–96.

Wang WT. 1995. Elatostema (Urticaceae). In: Wang WT, ChenCJ, eds. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae. Beijing: SciencePress.



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Two new species and a new series of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from China