Viola pendulipes (Violaceae), a new species from Guangdong Province, China

Abstract

Viola pendulipes (Violaceae), a new myrmecochous species from Baiwan Nature Reserve of Guangdong Province in China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically the new species is most similar to V. nanlingensis, but it is easily distinguished by having truncate or cuneate leaf base (versus cordate leaf base), robust rhizome with short internodes (versus slender rhizome with long internodes), curved and drooping peduncles in fruit (versus erect peduncles in fruit), and oblong anterior petals (versus spatulate to rhombic anterior petals). Our phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms that the new species belongs to V. subsect. Diffusae, and is most closely related to V. yunnanensis.