Balanophora xinfeniae C. L. Fu, M. Li & B. Xu, 2025

Fu, Chen-Long, Zhou, Jia-Ning, Liao, Wei-Hua, Zhang, Tong, Xu, Bo & Li, Meng, 2025, Balanophora xinfeniae (Balanophoraceae), a new species from Xizang, China, PhytoKeys 266, pp. 241-252 : 241-252

Balanophora xinfeniae C. L. Fu, M. Li & B. Xu sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 4

Type.

China • Xizang Autonomous Region: Motuo County (Mêdog), Gelin Village , 29.210161, 95.191856, alt. 1650 m, 29 Apr 2024 (fl.), Meng Li, C. L. Fu & J. N. Zhou YLZB 11691 - A ( holotype: CDBI! Barcode number: CDBI 0298364 , ♀; isotypes: NAS! Barcode number: NAS 00708465 ; NF!) .

Diagnosis.

Balanophora xinfeniae is morphologically similar to B. henryi , but the two species can be distinguished by several features. The tuber branching shape of B. xinfeniae is characterized as flat spheroid or subglobose, whereas that of B. henryi is irregularly spherical or oblate. The scapes of B. xinfeniae are yellow, in contrast to the red or red-to-yellow scapes of B. henryi . In B. xinfeniae , the apical margins of the leaves are prominently serrate, whereas those of B. henryi are entire. The female inflorescence of B. xinfeniae is nearly spherical or ovoid-ellipsoid, while that of B. henryi is broadly ovoid. The flowering period of B. xinfeniae is from April to May, compared to September to November for B. henryi (Table 2 ; Fig. 2 ).

Description.

Plants dioecious. Tuber yellowish brown, branched or unbranched, surface scabrous, densely covered with granular warts; tuber branches flat spheroid or subglobose, 0.8–2.0 cm in diam. Scapes yellow, 2–12 × 0.5–1.2 cm. Leaves 6–10, yellow to reddish, opposite, scaly, oblong-ovate, apical margins prominently and irregularly serrate, with serrations arranged approximately parallel to the leaf margin, 1.2–3.5 × 0.3–1.8 cm. Male inflorescences subspheroid to ovoid-ellipsoid, 1.8–2.5 × 1.5–2.0 cm. Bracts truncate with expanded liplike margin, fused side by side into a hexagonal alveolus. Male flowers: pedicellate, inserted basally in alveolus, 3 - merous, 2–4 mm in diam. Perianth lobes broadly deltoid. Synandria subdiscoid; anthers 3, transversely dehiscent. Female inflorescence nearly spherical or ovoid-ellipsoid. Claviform bodies obovoid, shortly stiped, apically truncate; cuticular ridges of apical cells labyrinth-like. Female flowers: both in the lower parts of the claviform bodies and on the main axis of the inflorescence.

Distribution and habitat.

The new species is currently known only from the type locality in Gelin Village, Motuo County, Xizang Autonomous Region (Fig. 5 ). It grows in shaded forest habitats on moist mountain slopes. The hosts are usually species of Fagaceae , such as Quercus lamellosa and Castanopsis indica .

Phenology.

The species has been observed flowering from April to May.

Etymology. The species epithet xinfeniae honors Prof. Xin-Fen Gao (former curator of the CDBI Herbarium), a distinguished botanist who made significant contributions to the taxonomy of seed plants, lycopods, and pteridophytes.

Vernacular name.

Chinese Mandarin: Xìn fēn shé gū (信芬蛇菰).

Additional specimens examined.

China • Xizang Autonomous Region: Motuo County, Gelin Village , 29.210161°N, 95.191856°E, alt. 1650 m, 29 Apr 2024 (fl.), Meng Li, C. L. Fu & J. N. Zhou YLZB 11691 - B ( paratype: CDBI! Barcode number: CDBI 0298363 , ♂; NAS! Barcode number: NAS 00708510 , ♂; NF!, ♂) ; • Gelin Village , 29.220615°N, 95.189094°E, alt. 1602 m, 1 May 2024 (fl.), Meng Li MD 2405013 - B ( paratype: CDBI! Barcode number: CDBI 0298362 , ♂) ; • Gelin Village , alt. 1700 m, 24 May 1983 (fl.), B. S. Li, S. Z. Cheng & Z. C. Nie 03761 ( PE! Barcode number: PE 01491372 ; PE 01801408 ) ; • Beibeng Township , alt. 1650 m, 11 May 1983 (fl.), S. Z. Cheng, Z. C. Nie & B. S. Li 04844 ( PE! Barcode number: PE 01491371 ) .

Figures

Figure 2. Morphology of Balanophora xinfeniae (A – C), B. henryi (D – F), B. involucrata (G – I), and B. flava (J – M). A, D, G, J, K. Male and female individuals; B, E, H, L. Leaves; C, F, I, M. Tubers. Photos by Meng Li and Wei-Hua Liao.

Figure 3. Balanophora xinfeniae C. L. Fu, M. Li & B. Xu. A, B. Habitats (both male and female; arrows point to female individuals); C. Female individual (upper) and male individual (lower); D. Male individual; E. Female individual; F. Leaves and scape; G. Leaves; H. Tuber; I. Male inflorescence; J. Female inflorescence; K. Female flower and claviform body. Photos by Meng Li and Chen-Long Fu.

Figure 4. Line illustration of Balanophora xinfeniae. A. Male individual; B. Male flower; C. Female individual; D. Female flowers surrounding one claviform body. Drawn by Zi-Heng Yu based on YLZB 11691 - A and YLZB 11691 - B specimens stored in CDBI.

Figure 5. Distribution of Balanophora xinfeniae (Balanophoraceae).