Skip to main content

Jiangyou gentian (Metagentiana jiangyouensis) growing on cliff at elevation of 1160-1513 meters

Jiangyou gentian (Metagentiana jiangyouensis) growing on cliff at elevation of 1160-1513 meters

NEWS - Jiangyou gentian (Metagentiana jiangyouensis) in Gentianaceae is known only from the type locality in Hanzeng Town, Jiangyou, Mianyang, Sichuan, China, growing on a cliff at an elevation of 1160-1513 m, flowering and fruiting from December to April with the local name jiang you xia rui long (江油狭蕊龙胆).

Metagentiana T.N.Ho & S.W.Liu was separated from Gentiana L. based on morphology and cytology which included 14 species. The genus is monophyletic when excluding two yellow-flowered species, M. souliei (Franch.) T.N.Ho, S.W.Liu & Shi L.Chen and M. striata (Maxim.) T.N.Ho, S.W.Liu & Shi L.Chen which were transferred to the new genus Sinogentiana Adr.Favre & Y.M.Yuan.

Morphological and molecular evidence suggests that Metagentiana is closely related to Sinogentiana, Tripterospermum Blume and Crawfurdia Wall. Metagentiana contains 12 species of which 9 are in southwest China, one is widespread in northwest and central China, one is distributed in eastern Myanmar and one is endemic to Thailand.

M. jiangyouensis is similar to M. villifera and M. rhodantha in perennial habit, presence of basal rosette, leaves and flowers. These three are the only Chinese species of the genus to have a basal rosette and can therefore be easily distinguished from all other Chinese species.

M. jiangyouensis differs from these two in that it is entirely glabrous, the calyx lobes are angular to lanceolate 1.3-2(-3) mm long, the corolla tube has dark purple spots and the margins of the plicae are not fringed. The basal rosette and vegetative shoots are short and well developed.

M. villifera and M. rhodantha sometimes have basal rosette leaves or vegetative shoots, but these are usually poorly developed or the vegetative shoots will grow into longer stems later. The other species are annuals or biennials without rosettes.

M. jiangyouensis differs from M. rhodantha also by seeds with narrow wings along the edge (vs. M. rhodantha with broad wings). M. jiangyouensis and M. villifera grow on rock surfaces (vs. M. rhodantha grows in grasslands, alpine shrubs, forests and on rocks).

M. jiangyouensis grows in Jiangyou at elevations of 1160-1513 meters (vs. M. villifera in Junlian or more than 420 km from Jiangyou at elevations of 800 meters; M. rhodantha is widespread in southwest, northwest, central and southern China at elevations of 500-1800 meters). Flowering and fruiting phase of M. jiangyouensis December-April, (vs. M. villifera April-June; M. rhodantha October-February).

Original research

Cao H-F, Cai J, Zou Y, Sun H, Li F-F, Xiong A-d, Xu M-J (2024) Metagentiana jiangyouensis, a new species of Metagentiana (Gentianaceae) from Sichuan, China. PhytoKeys 247: 137-144, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.247.129934

Dlium theDlium
Labels:

Popular Posts

Dragon tongue (Phyllodium elegans)

Dragon tongue ( Phyllodium elegans ) is a plant species in Fabaceae, shrubs up to 3 meters high, stems erect or sloping and brown, leaves gathered in three strands and are elongated in shape, flowers grow in rows on long stalks. P. elegans has stems erect or sideways, cylindrical, woody, sturdy, slender, branching alternately, zigzagging, brown, the surface has white hair and the old stems have colored spots. The leaves grow in a stalk with three strands. The leaves are elongated, the base is rounded, the tip is slender, a bone in the middle with several lateral veins, the upper surface is brownish green and has white hair. The inflorescences grow in rows on long stalks. The flower buds are folded and wrapped in two circular leaves, flat, green and white-haired. The flower has a yellowish white color and the base is brown. Pod-shaped fruit, white hair, tip has a tail and 1-3 seeds but generally 2 seeds. Dragon tongue grows on the slopes of sandy, calcareous soils, karst, lots of sun...
Read more

Porang (Amorphophallus muelleri)

Porang or iles-iles ( Amorphophallus muelleri ) is a plant species in Araceae, the petiole is a pseudo stem with a height of 40-180 cm, 1-5 cm in diameter, round, green or purple with irregular white spots, each branching point grows brown bulbil and yellow bulb. A. muelleri has all leaves or stems or stems that are light green to dark green or gray and has greenish-white patches, smooth or smooth surface. The leaves are elliptical in shape with pointed leaf tips, smooth and wavy surface. When flushing has 3, 4-5, 5-6 and finally 6 minor leaves branching with 3 minor petioles. Young leaves have light purple or green edges and will end in yellow and 0.3-0.5 mm wide. The whole canopy is 50-150 cm wide. The stems grow above the tubers with a diameter of 25-50 mm and a height of 75-175 cm. Tubers have a brownish yellow or gray color on the outer surface and brownish yellow on the inside, are slightly oval in shape, fibrous roots, weigh 450-3350 grams, smooth tissue, 4-5 months of dormanc...
Read more

Golden-armed mantis (Hierodula venosa)

Golden-armed mantis ( Hierodula venosa ) is an animal species in the Mantidae, winged praying mantis with females 65-75 mm long and males 45-65 mm, large but not the largest in the genus Hierodula and generally bright yellow with green and chocolate variations. H. venosa has a fully rotating head. The head is dominated by a pair of very large and brownish yellow eyes. The jaw forms a triangle. The back is very wide with thickened margins. A pair of long antennas. Wide wings with rounded tips, striped surface, thick margins, two small white plots on the right and left. The belly is large and jointed, curved downward, the upper part is completely covered by the wings, but partially visible from the side. The pair of forelegs are large and have three segments. The upper segment has rows of spikes on the front and back. The middle segment has a row of many spines on the back and a black tip. The third segment has a row of many spines, long, black and tipped with a long palm. The middle ...
Read more