A new species of Fordiophyton (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from Yunnan, China

By

Dai, Jin-Hong
Zhou, Qiu-Jie
Yu, Zhi-Yong
Zhou, Ren-Chao
Liu, Ying

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

122

Pages

15-28

Subjects

Fordiophyton , Melastomataceae , Phylogeny , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.122.35260

 

Abstract

Fordiophytonjinpingense(Melastomataceae; Sonerileae), a species occurring in south-eastern Yunnan, China, is described as new, based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses, based on nrITS sequence data, showed that, exceptF.breviscapum, all species sampled inFordiophytonformed a strongly supported clade in which two geographical lineages were recovered. The generic placement ofF.jinpingenseis well supported by phylogenetic analyses and a character combination of 4-merous flowers, distinctly dimorphic stamens and the connectives basally not calcarate. Molecular divergence and morphological evidence indicate thatF.jinpingenseis well separated from other members of the genus, thus justifying its recognition as a distinct species.Fordiophytonjinpingenseis phylogenetically closest toF.repens, but differs markedly from the latter in stem morphology (short, obtusely 4-sided vs. long, 4-angular), habit (erect vs. creeping), leaf size (6–16.5 × 4.5–13 cm vs. 4–7.5 × 4–6.5 cm) and flower number per inflorescence (5–13 vs. 3–6).