A new species of Bredia (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from Sichuan, China

By

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

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

152

Pages

1--14

Subjects

Bredia , Melastomataceae , Phylogeny , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.152.53512

 

Abstract

Bredia hispida(Sonerileae, Melastomataceae), a species occurring in southeastern Sichuan, China, is newly described based on morphological and molecular data. The generic placement ofB. hispidais well supported by phylogenetic analysis and morphological characters, including basally cordate, hairy leaf blade, cymose inflorescence, basally gibbous anthers and enlarged ovary crown enclosing an inverted frustum-shaped depression. Both molecular and morphological divergence showed thatB. hispidais well separated from its close relatives, justifying its recognition as a distinct species. The new species resemblesB. repens,B. changiiandB. guidongensisin the prostrate habit and isomorphic stamens but differs markedly in the unequal opposed leaves, the 2–4 mm long, stout bristles on the adaxial surface of leaf blade and acuminate leaf apex.Bredia hispidaco-occurs withB. esquiroliiin the wild. No morphologically putative hybrids between them were observed despite their overlap in flowering season. The isolating mechanism remains unclear, pending further investigation.