Abstract
A new species of Rubiaceae, Spiradiclisdetianensis is described from a limestone karst area of southwestern China. This new species is morphologically similar to S.cordata and S.spathulata. All of them have rosetted habit and long peduncles, but it differs from the former by the cuneate leaf bases (vs. basally cordate) and much longer corolla tubes (1.8–2.2 cm long vs. ca. 5 mm long), and from the latter mainly by its tubular-funnel shaped corolla (vs. slenderly salver shaped), 4.5–6.8 (vs. 1.5–2) mm in diam, inside throat and corolla densely puberulent (vs. glabrous except a ring of long hairs at the middle). It also resembles to S.tubiflora, but differs clearly by its subrosulate habit (vs. procumbent to creeping), longer leaf blades (7.0–10.5 cm vs. 0.5–2.5 cm) and longer corolla tubes (18–22 mm vs. 14–16 mm). At same time, color photos, illustrations, detailed descriptions and conservation status of the new species are provided.
Highlights
Spiradiclis Blume is a morphological complex genus of Ophiorrhizeae (Rubiaceae)
After careful comparisons with relevant literatures and examining specimens in herbaria, we found that our plant is most similar to S. cordata H.S
The new species is similar to Spiradiclis cordata and S. tubiflora, but it differs from the former mainly by the cuneate leaf base and much longer corolla tubes (1.8–2.2 cm long vs. ca. 5 mm long), and from the latter by its subrosulate habit, longer and wider leaf blades (7.0–10.5 × 2.0– 3.5 cm vs. 0.5–2.5 × 0.4–1.5 cm), more secondary veins (7–10 pairs vs. 3–5 pairs) and longer corolla tubes (18–22 mm vs. 14–16 mm)
Summary
Spiradiclis Blume is a morphological complex genus of Ophiorrhizeae (Rubiaceae). It is usually distinguished from its relatives by the subglobose or linear-oblong capsules with two or four twisted or straight valves when matured (Lo et al 1983; Robbrecht 1988; Deb and Rout 1989; Lo 1999; Chen and Taylor 2011). After careful comparisons with relevant literatures and examining specimens in herbaria, we found that our plant is most similar to S. cordata H.S. Lo & W.L. Sha and S. spathulata X.X. Chen & C.C. Huang, two species of subgenus Sinospiradiclis, but it can be distinguished from the former by the cuneate leaf bases and much longer corolla tubes, and from the latter by its tubular-funnel shaped corolla and without a villous ring inside corolla. Two species of subgenus Sinospiradiclis, but it can be distinguished from the former by the cuneate leaf bases and much longer corolla tubes, and from the latter by its tubular-funnel shaped corolla and without a villous ring inside corolla We conclude that this population represents an undescribed species and formally treat it here
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