Aristolochia xuanlienensis, a new species of Aristolochiaceae from Vietnam

Abstract

Aristolochia Linneaus (1753: 960), the largest genus of Aristolochiaceae, consists of about 400 species (Hwang, 1988, Ma, 1989) but most of them are in the New World (Hou, 1984: 53; Huang et al. 2003: 246). It is widely distributed throughout tropics and subtropics but also extends into warm temperate regions. However, the genus is also rich in Asia, particularly in eastern and southern Asia, with more than 70 species (Ma, 1989). In Vietnam, there are 13 species and 1 variety (Ban, 2003, Lecomte, 1910, Ho, 2000, Do et al. 2014). During a field expedition to Thanh Hoa Province, Xuan Lien Nature Reserve, an unknown species of Aristolochia was collected and studied in the Vietnamese Herbaria; in comparison with other species of the genus, particularly the floral and fruit characteristics of those in the nearby area, it became obvious that it indeed represented a species new to science, which we described here.

Aristolochia sinoburmanica (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from north Myanmar

“…A. sinoburmanica , with a horseshoe-shaped perianth of 3 lobes which are valvate in preanthesis, annulated perianth throat and gynostemium with trilobed stigma on top, each lobe consisting of one pair of stamens, belongs to the Aristolochia subgenus Siphisia (Wanke et al 2006, Do et al 2015a). This new discovery, along with several new species recently described from Vietnam (Huong et al 2014, Do et al 2014, 2015a, 2015b), Guangxi and Hainan Island, China (Xu et al 2011, Huang et al 2013, Wu et al 2013) and Peninsular Malaysia (Yao 2012), provide evidence that the genus Aristolochia and, in particular, Aristolochia subgenus Siphisia is very diverse in South-East Asia. Currently there are only 12 Aristolochia species recorded in Myanmar (Kress et al 2003), indicating that the species diversity of Aristolochia in Myanmar is still open to discovery.…”

“…This new species was compared with the morphologically similar species A. hainanensis Merrill, A. saccata Wallich and also the recently published new species A. xuanlienensis (Huong et al 2014), A. faviogonzalezii T. V. Do, S. Wanke & C. Neinhuis and A. tonkinensis T.V. Do & S. Wanke from Vietnam (Do et al2015a), according to the descriptions from type specimens and dried herbarium specimens and also literature descriptions (Hwang1988, Hwang et al 2003, Huong et al 2014, Ma 1989, Do et al 2015a, 2015b). Protologues and images of type specimens and dried herbarium specimens were gathered from JSTOR Global Plants (http://plants.jstor.org) and the KUN website (http://db.kun.ac.cn/).…”

“…Aristolochia sinoburmanica is morphologically similar to A. hainanensis Merrill, A. saccata Wallich, A. xuanlienensis (Huong et al 2014), A. faviogonzalezii T. V. Do, S. Wanke & C. Neinhuis and A. tonkinensis T.V. Do & S. Wanke from Vietnam (Do et al 2015a), but is distinguishable from these species by the following diagnostic characters: leaf blade ovate or ovate-lanceolate to narrowly ovate, subcoriaceous, base rounded to slightly cordate; cyme solitary on old woody stems and young branches, each cyme with 1–2 flowers; perianth claret (deep purple red), outside densely brown hirsute with parallel dark purple veins, 6.5–7.5 cm high; tube horseshoe-shaped, 8.3–8.5 cm, uniformly claret (deep purple red), with visible dark purple veins, limb trumpet-shaped, 4.2–4.8 cm high, 4–4.4 cm wide, 3-lobed, lobes subequal; throat deep purple red, glabrous.…”

Three New Species and Three New Records of <I>Aristolochia</I> Subgenus <I>Siphisia</I> from Vietnam Including a Key to the Asian Species

“…Furthermore, an identification key to the Asian species of Siphisia is provided. After acceptance and during proof stage of this manuscript two additional new species were published (Huong et al 2014, Do et al 2015 that are not included in this manuscript.…”

Aristolochia bidoupensis sp. nov. from southern Vietnam

“…After thorough investigation and comparison with previously described southeast Asian species of A. subgen. Siphisia (Liu and Lai 1976, Hou 1984, Phuphathanaphong 1987, Hansen and Phuphathanaphong 1999, Samanta et al 1999, Hwang et al 2003, Liu and Deng 2009, Xu et al 2011, Yao 2012, Huang et al 2013, Wu et al 2013, Do et al 2014, Huong et al 2014 we conclude that these specimens match neither the protologues nor the type specimens of any known species. Hence, we here describe a new species of A. subgen.…”