Stellaria yabulaiensis L. Liu, 2025

Liu, Lei, Qiang, Xiao-Jing, Huang, Fan, Huang, Xiu-Zheng & Yu, Ya-Lin, 2025, Stellaria yabulaiensis (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Inner Mongolia, China, PhytoKeys 259, pp. 103-109 : 103-109

Stellaria yabulaiensis L. Liu sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2

Type.

China. Inner Mongolia: Alashan, Alashan Right Banner, Yabulai Town , 40°9'21"N, 104°0'12"E, 1367 m s. l. m., 8 August 2024, L. Liu GRI 2023102 (holotype: FGC!, isotype: FGC!) .

Diagnosis

(Table 1 ). Stellaria yabulaiensis is similar to S. bistyla from which differ in having a slender fibrous root (0.3–0.5 mm in diameter vs. ca. 5–8 mm taproot), occurrence of a rhizome (vs. without rhizome), quadrangular stem (vs. cylindrical stem), linear-lanceolate leaf, 30–65 × 4–6 mm (vs. ovate-lanceolate, 10–20 × 2–10 mm), longer pedicel, 14–40 mm (vs. 3–20 mm), 3 styles (vs. usually 2 styles), and 1–3 seeds per fruit (vs. 1–2 seeds).

Description.

Herbs perennial, 8–20 cm tall. Slender fibrous root. Rhizome quadrangular and slender (0.7–1.1 mm in diameter). Stems, quadrangular, slender with glandular hairs. Leaves sessile, smooth, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 3.0– 6.5 cm long, 4–6 mm wide, apex acuminate, base slightly narrowed, margin entire, mid-vein obviously raised. Flowers solitary in axillary cymes. Bracts foliate, oblong, 3–15 mm long, 3 mm wide, apex acuminate. Pedicel filiform, glandular hairs, 1.4–4.0 cm. Sepals 5, glandular hairs, oblong, 6 mm long, 2 mm wide, margin membranous. Petals 5, subequalling sepals, 2 - lobed cleft, lobes oblong. Stamens 10, almost equal with sepals, filament widened at base, succulent, anthers fuchsia. Ovary ellipsoid, styles 2 or 3. Capsule black-brown, ellipsoid, markedly shorter than sepals, ca. 2.5 mm long. Seeds 1–3, brown, reniform, 2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, regularly rugulose.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “ yabulaiensis ” refers to the Yabulai Mountain where the new species was collected.

Vernacular name

(Chinese). yǎ bù lài fán lǚ (雅布赖繁缕).

Distribution and habitat.

Stellaria yabulaiensis is known from Alashan Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, China. The plants grow in humid sand at 1370 m a. s. l. For the time being, S. yabulaiensis is only known from the type locality, comprising less than 50 individuals.

Phenology.

Flowering time June-July; fruiting time August-October.

Conservation status.

Stellaria yabulaiensis was found only in the type locality whose population are very small, but the whole distribution area is not clear; hence, we cannot conclude if it is a relatively common or rare species. In consideration of the dry area in western Inner Mongoilia, the new species needs further investigation in its distribution area and size of population to determine the current IUCN category.

Taxonomic notes.

Due to the large number of species within the genus Stellaria , it has been further classified into six sections: Sect. Leucostemma , Sect. Fimbripetalum , Sect. Adenonema , Sect. Stellaria , Sect. Oligosperma , and Sect. Schizothecium ; subsections and series occur within Sect. Stellaria . Stellaria yabulaiensis belongs to Sect. Oligosperma since it displays mainly 2 styles, 5 petals, 5 sepals, and 10 stamens.

Figures

Figure 1. Stellaria yabulaiensis L. Liu. A – D. Habitat; E. Plant; F Root; G. Rhizome; H. Branch; I. Stem (glandular hairs); J. Flower (style 2); K. Capsule; L. Leaf; M. Pedicel.

Figure 2. Stellaria yabulaiensis L. Liu. A. Inflorescence; B. Leaf; C. Stem (glandular hairs); D. Flower (glandular hairs); E. Sepal; F. Pistil; G. Ovary (styles 2, 3); H. Capsule; I. Seeds.