Ophiorrhiza guizhouensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from Guizhou Province, southwestern China.

Xuan-Ze He,Guang-Qian Gou,Chuan-Dong Yang

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.95.22506

Abstract

In this study, Ophiorrhiza guizhouensis, a new species of Rubiaceae from south-western China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to O. japonica, but differs from the latter by having terete stems which are densely hirtellous, usually persistent ciliate stipules with well-developed colleters inside the base of the stipule, shorter corolla tubes and shorter stamens and styles.

Highlights

Ophiorrhiza L. is a member of tribe Ophiorrhizeae, subfamily Rubioideae, Rubiaceae (Bremer and Eriksson 2009), including more than 300 species worldwide (WCSPF 2017)
In China, 68 species, including 47 endemics, are recorded (Chen and Taylor 2011, Deng and Huang 2012, Wu et al 2017a, b) and most of them are distributed in the region south of the Changjiang River, especially the provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi (Lo 1999)
Morphological observations and measurements of the new species were carried out based on living plants, dry specimens and preserved materials

Summary

Introduction

Ophiorrhiza L. is a member of tribe Ophiorrhizeae, subfamily Rubioideae, Rubiaceae (Bremer and Eriksson 2009), including more than 300 species worldwide (WCSPF 2017). In China, 68 species, including 47 endemics, are recorded (Chen and Taylor 2011, Deng and Huang 2012, Wu et al 2017a, b) and most of them are distributed in the region south of the Changjiang River, especially the provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi (Lo 1999). During field work in north-eastern Guizhou, China, some specimens of Ophiorrhiza were collected.

Results

Conclusion