Capparis macrantha sp. nov. (Capparaceae, Brassicales), a new shrub species from a deciduous forest of the Nam Kading National Protected Area (central Lao PDR)

Abstract

Capparis macrantha Souvannakhoummane, Fici & Lanorsavanh sp. nov., a new shrub species characterized by erect or ascending habit, stipular thorns, large lanceolate-elliptic leaves and large flowers in supra-axillary rows, is described and illustrated from the deciduous forest in Nam Kading National Protected Area (central Lao PDR). The new species belongs to Capparis sect. Monostichocalyx Radlk. and is morphologically similar to C. radula Gagnep., a shrub widespread in the Indochinese area, differing in the shorter, straight stipular thorns, larger leaves, larger sepals and petals, higher number of stamens with longer filaments and longer gynophore and ovary. Its affinities with related taxa are discussed and a key is provided for the species of Capparis L. known from Lao PDR. The conservation status of the new species is provisionally assessed as Vulnerable (VU D1).

An Updated Checklist of the Genus Capparis L. (Capparaceae) in Vietnam, including a New Species from Hon Tre Island

“…The genus Capparis L. includes about 150 species [ 1 ], occurring in a wide range of habitats in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, with outliers in the Mediterranean region and central Asia [ 2 ]. Jacobs [ 3 ] regarded the Indochinese Peninsula as a main center of speciation of the genus, reporting in this area 31 species, 7 of which are endemic.…”

Studies on the genus Capparis L. (Capparaceae) in Lao PDR. VI: a new species from the Bolikhamxai Province

“…The genus Capparis L. comprises about 150 species (POWO 2022), widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World and occurring in a wide range of habitats from sea level to c. 3600 m (Souvannakhoummane et al 2020). Jacobs (1965) recorded in the Indo-Pacific area 82 species, but recently several new taxa were described from various areas of southern Asia and New Caledonia (Viswanathan 2000;Srisanga and Chayamarit 2004;Sy et al 2013Sy et al , 2015Sy et al , 2018Sy et al , 2020Fici 2012Fici , 2016aFici , 2016bFici , 2017aFici , 2017bFici , 2021Murugan et al 2020;Julius 2022).…”

“…Jacobs (1965) recorded in the Indo-Pacific area 82 species, but recently several new taxa were described from various areas of southern Asia and New Caledonia (Viswanathan 2000;Srisanga and Chayamarit 2004;Sy et al 2013Sy et al , 2015Sy et al , 2018Sy et al , 2020Fici 2012Fici , 2016aFici , 2016bFici , 2017aFici , 2017bFici , 2021Murugan et al 2020;Julius 2022). With regard to Lao PDR, floristic surveys carried out during the last years in poorly investigated areas allowed the description of a few new species (Souvannakhoummane et al 2018(Souvannakhoummane et al , 2020Fici et al 2018, while two species were recorded for the first time from the country (Fici 2016a;Tagane et al 2020). Based on the available data, the genus Capparis includes in Lao PDR 22 species, all belonging to Capparis sect.…”