Sunday, April 23, 2017

[Botany • 2016] Rhododendron longipedicellatum • A New Species (Ericaceae) from southeastern Yunnan, China


Rhododendron longipedicellatum Lei Cai & Y.P. Ma


Abstract

A new species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) in sect. Vireya subsect. Pseudovireya from Malipo County, Southeast Yunnan, China, Rhododendron longipedicellatum, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to R. rushforthii but differs in its arrangement of leaves, the shape and color of the lamina, length of the petiole and the size of the calyx lobes. It also resembles R. trancongii and R. datiandingense, but differs in its color and shape of the lamina, the leaf apex, lengths of the petiole, pedicel and stamens, and the indumentum of the ovary.

Keywords: Ericaceae, Rhododendron, new species, China, Eudicots

FIGURE 2. Rhododendron longipedicellatum Lei Cai & Y.P. Ma. (A, C, E-J) and R. rushforthii (B & D)
A & B. Pressed branch with leaves and flowers; C. Branch with young fruits and flower; D. Flowering branch; E. Habitat and habit; F-G. Flowers; H. Lateral view of flowers showing corollas and pedicels; I-J. Fruiting branches. 


Etymology:— The epithet “longipedicellatum” refers to the relatively long pedicels of the new species. This species has almost the longest pedicels in R. subsect. Pseudovireya (Clarke) Sleumer. The Chinese name in Pinyin is “chang geng du juan”.  


 Lei Cai, Jens Neilsen, Zhi-Ling Dao and Yong-Peng Ma. 2016. Rhododendron longipedicellatum (Ericaceae), A New Species from southeastern Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa. 282(4); 296–300. DOI:  10.11646/phytotaxa.282.4.7