Primulina hunanensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone area in southern Hunan, China

Abstract

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Primulina hunanensis , is described and illustrated from southern Hunnan, China. Morphologically, it is similar to P. cordata ( ϭ Chirita cordifolia ), but diff ers by having much larger leaves, broadly ovate or ovate bracts, 2 -12 ( -25)-fl owers, longer peduncle and purple corolla. It also resembles P. eburnea in the shape of the bracts and the colour of the corolla, but can be distinguished by longer petioles (9 -25 cm long), cordate, ovate-cordate or broadly ovate leaf lamina with rounded or obtuse apex, not entire leaf margin, and either cordate or deeply cordate leaf base. Detailed morphological description, diagnostic comparisons, habitat and micro-morphology of seeds and pollen under SEM are presented.

Gene flow, linked selection, and divergent sorting of ancient polymorphism shape genomic divergence landscape in a group of edaphic specialists

“…Compared with its sibling species, P. suichuanensis is restricted to Danxia landform, a habitat different from the Karst soils in terms of chemical and physical properties (Hao et al, 2015). Its flowering time (from September to November) is later than the other closely related lineages (from May to August) (Cai et al, 2015; Zhou et al, 2016), possibly linking ecological adaptation to phenological adaptation (Osborne et al, 2019). The differentiation in flowering time may be related to soil type pushing the development of late‐flowering phenotypes of P. suichuanensis in Danxia while earlier flowering time in Karst.…”

“…In this study, we focused on five closely related species ( P. hunanensis , P. polycephala , P. versicolor , P. alutacea and P. suichuanensis ) of this genus. These species can be distinguished from each other by flower characteristics (Cai et al, 2015; Pan et al, 2016; Zhou et al, 2016). The first four species grow only in Karst landforms and bloom from May to August.…”

Both temperature fluctuations and East Asian monsoons have driven plant diversification in the karst ecosystems from southern China

“…However, many karst environments are under significant threats (Oliver et al., ), particularly due to anthropogenic activity and elevated human population density. Karsts are receiving high research priority to understand the evolutionary processes responsible for the origin and diversification of their exceptional biodiversity (Cai, Tian, Xiao, Peng, & Liu, ; Chung et al., ; Grismer et al., ; Oliver et al., ).…”

Primulina gracilipes (Gesneriaceae), a new species from southern Hunan, China

“…Attracted by its leaf abaxial and unique flowers, specimens and molecular materials were collected and photos were taken as a means of recording relevant information. Following many different observations and comparisons (Wang et al 1998, Wei et al 2010, Li et al 2014, Cai et al 2015, Li and Yu 2015, Zhou et al 2016, Ding et al 1994), and phylogenetic analysis of ITS and trn L‐F sequences, it was confirmed to represent an undescribed species which is described and illustrated below.…”

“…These plants have a cordate leaf base and are quite similar to Primulina hunanensis K. M. Liu & X. Z. Cai (Cai et al 2015: 576) which has large bracts, but the collected material has much smaller bracts (3–6 × 2–5 cm). Attracted by its leaf abaxial and unique flowers, specimens and molecular materials were collected and photos were taken as a means of recording relevant information.…”