Carya luana C.‐Y. Deng et X.‐G. Xiang, sp. nov. (Juglandaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China, identified based on whole plastome phylogeny and morphometrics

Abstract

Carya luana sp. nov., a new species of Juglandaceae from Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is easily distinguished from other Carya species by having lanceolate leaflets and obovate fruits with a 4-6 mm thick husk, but is otherwise morphologically close to C. tonkinensis and C. kweichowensis. Based on phylogenetic reconstruction of whole plastomes, C. luana is the sister of C. tonkinensis, while formed a clade with C. tonkinensis and C. hunanensis on ITS. A morphometric analysis demonstrate that C. luana, C. tonkinensis and C. kweichowensis are morphologically distinct. The conservation status of C. luana is assessed as Endangered (EN) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. A new identification key to all Asian Carya species is provided.