Dysosmavillosa (Berberidaceae), a new species from Guizhou, Southwestern China.

Abstract

A new species, Dysosmavillosa Z.W.Wang & H.C.Xi, is described and illustrated based on collections from the Yueliang Mountains in Congjiang County of Guizhou, Southwestern China. It is morphologically similar to D.difformis (Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson) T.H.Wang ex T.S.Ying, but can be easily distinguished from D.difformis by its inflorescences bearing a greater number of flowers (5–13 vs. 2–5), white-villous stems, petioles, and abaxial leaf blade, and stigma dark purple-red. In addition, we also compare this new species to the three species of Podophyllum (i.e., P.glaucescens J.M.H.Shaw, P.hemsleyi J.M.H.Shaw & Stearn, and P.trilobulum J.M.H.Shaw) which are insufficiently known and listed as putative members of Dysosma in Flora of China. Dysosmavillosa can also be easily distinguished from P.glaucescens (7-flowered; to 40 cm tall) and P.hemsleyi (4-flowered; to 40 cm tall) by its inflorescences bearing a greater number of flowers, relatively smaller stature (9–23 cm tall), stems, petioles and abaxial leaf blade densely white-villose. Although the stems and petioles of P.trilobulum also possess fine short hairs, it can be easily distinguished from D.villosa by its trilobulate leaves, inflorescence with fewer flowers (2–5), and the position of inflorescence (inserted at or above midpoint on petiole of upper leaf).