Lysimachia speciosa Q. L. Gan, Z. Y. Li & S. Z. Xu, 2025

Xu, Song-Zhi, Xu, Han, Gan, Qi-Liang & Li, Zhen-Yu, 2025, Lysimachia speciosa (Primulaceae), a new species from Central China, PhytoKeys 263, pp. 209-214 : 209-214

Lysimachia speciosa Q. L. Gan, Z. Y. Li & S. Z. Xu sp. nov.

Fig. 1

Diagnosis.

Lysimachia speciosa is most similar to L. deltoidea var. cinerascens and L. grammica in having cespitose and ascending-erect stems, densely multicellular hairs on the plant, both opposite and alternate leaves, and solitary and axillary yellow flowers, but the new species can be easily distinguished from both by its recurved-pubescent indumentum on stems, petioles, and pedicels; shorter than subtending leaves pedicels; much longer calyx, corolla, filaments, and style; and pilose ovary and capsule. The diagnostic features between Lysimachia speciosa , L. deltoidea var. cinerascens , and L. grammica are summarised in Table 1 .

Type.

China: • Hubei Province, Zhuxi County, Jiangjiayan Town, Yaowangmiao Village , roadside grassland, flower yellow, alt. 580 m, 20 May 2023, Qi-Liang Gan PE 23-5 - 2 ( holotype, PE!, PE 02446668 ; isotype, PE!, PE 02446669 ; A, IBSC)

Description.

A perennial herb, 15–45 cm tall. Rhizomes creeping, with fibrous adventitious roots at nodes. Stems usually 3 to numerous, cespitose, ascending-erect, terete, with 8–20 nodes, distal internodes shorter, unbranched or shortly branched, sparsely transparent glandular spotted, densely recurved-pubescent. Leaves opposite on lower part, alternate on upper part; proximal and distal leaves smaller; petiole 5–15 mm long, narrowly winged, densely recurved-pubescent; leaf blade rhombic-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1–4 cm long, 0.6–2 cm wide, apex short-acuminate or acute, rarely obtuse, base cuneate and decurrent, margin entire, sparsely transparent glandular spotted, adaxially green, abaxially pale green, densely pubescent on both surfaces; lateral veins 2–3 on each side of midrib, alternate, inconspicuous. Flowers axillary in the middle and upper parts of the stem, solitary; pedicel 5–10 mm long, ascending to recurved, densely recurved-pubescent; calyx green, 9–10 mm long, 5 - lobed parted almost to the base, tube ca. 0.5 mm long, lobes linear-lanceolate, 8.5–9.5 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide in lower part, caudate at apex, sparsely transparent glandular spotted, densely pubescent outside, midrib green, convex abaxially; corolla yellow, tube ca. 2 mm long, 5 - lobed, lobes broadly ovate, 10–11 mm long, 6–7 mm wide, sparsely transparent glandular spotted, margin erose; stamens 5, erect, glabrous, filaments connate basely into a tube ca. 3 mm high, free parts 4–5 mm, anthers dorsifixed, oblong, ca. 2 mm long, opening by lateral slits; ovary ovoid, densely pilose, style filiform, ca. 6 mm long, spreading pilose basely, stigma capitate, slightly wider than style. Capsule pale brown, subglobose, ca. 3.5 mm in diam., pilose. Seeds numerous, brown, ovoid in outline and irregular, 1.2–1.8 mm long, 3–4 - angled, glabrous.

Phenology.

Flowering from May to June, fruiting from June to July.

Distribution and habitat.

The population of Lysimachia speciosa is known only from the type locality ( 32.322862 N, 109.532557 E), Yaowangmiao Village, Zhuzi County, Hubei Province, China. It grows in roadside grassland at an altitude of 580 m.

Etymology.

Lysimachia speciosa is a perennial herb with an attractive plant type and numerous cespitose, ascending-erect stems. Besides, the stem and petiole of the new species sometimes are flushed red. The flowers are yellow and showy. Thus, the specific epithet is derived from the aforementioned morphological characteristics.

Vernacular name.

Mei Li Guo Lu Huang (Chinese).

Provisional conservation assessment.

Lysimachia speciosa is currently known from a single population of approximately 30 individuals at its type locality in Yaowangmiao Village, Jiangjiayan Town, Zhuxi County, Hubei Province. Due to insufficient data on this species, its conservation status cannot be fully assessed at this time. Therefore, its provisional conservation status is temporarily classified as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN (2024).

Additional specimen examined.

l. c., fruit pale brown, 14 July 2023, Qi-Liang Gan PE 23-7 - 4 ( PE!, PE 02446670 )

Figures

Figure 1. Lysimachia speciosa sp. nov. A flowering plants B roots C stem and petioles D opposite leaves on lower stem E alternate leaves on mid- and distal stem F leaves G mid-vein and lateral veins H abaxial surface of leaf I adaxial view of corolla J dissected corolla showing stamens K pistil L capsule and persistent calyx M seeds.