Lycium amarum sp. nov. (Solanaceae) from Xizang, supported from morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract

Lycium amarum sp. nov. L. Q. Huang is described based on its general morphology and pollen micromorphology, which were compared with closely related Lycium species. The phylogenetic relationships among the new species and closely related Lycium species belonging to the tribe Lycieae were investigated based on the DNA sequence data of the granule‐bound starch synthase (GBSSI) gene. Morphologically, L. amarum is similar to L. chinense Mill. sharing lanceolate or linear‐oblanceolate leaves, three‐lobed calyx, villous ring slightly above the filament base, and adjacent corolla tube, however, L. amarum may be diagnosed by its prominent tubercles at the base of spines, thinly leathery leaves, and a two‐tine crack on the tip of calyx lobes. According to our results, the new species is close to L. barbarum L., L. chinense, L. dasystemum Pojark, and L. yunnanense Kuang & Lu.

Phylogenetic analysis and divergence time estimation of Lycium species in China based on the chloroplast genomes

“…Lycium is a crucial shrub genus in the Solanaceae family, consisting of approximately 70 species found globally across Southern Africa, Europe, Asia, America, and Australia [ 1 , 2 ]. However, China hosts 15 species, including subspecies, primarily growing in the arid and semi-arid regions of Ningxia, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and other areas [ 3 – 7 ]. These plants have been utilized as food and herbal medicine in China for millennia [ 8 , 9 ], with various parts like fruits, leaves, root bark, and young shoots used as local foods and/or medicines [ 10 ].…”