Sinocrassula obliquifolia Jing Zhao, J. Guan Wang & X. M. Zhou, 2025

Li, Rong-Juan, Zhao, Jing, Fang, Shao-Li, Huang, Chuan-Jie, Luo, Miao, He, Zhao-Rong, Zhou, Xin-Mao & Wang, Jia-Guan, 2025, Sinocrassula obliquifolia (Crassulaceae), a new species from China, PhytoKeys 255, pp. 103-112 : 103-112

Sinocrassula obliquifolia Jing Zhao, J. Guan Wang & X. M. Zhou sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 3

Type.

China • Sichuan: Hanyuan County, Yaan City , elev. ca. 837 m, 29.333262°N, 102.571721°E, on the granite crevices, 6 July 2023, Jing Zhao et al. YUS 9064 (holotype YUKU!; isotype YUKU!) .

Diagnosis.

Sinocrassula obliquifolia is similar to S. indica in having rosette, ovoid carpels, and broadly triangular sepals. However, this new species has shorter flowering stem (10–18 cm) (vs. 5–60 cm in S. indica ), lanceolate stem leaves (vs. oblanceolate to ovate-orbicular stem leaves in S. indica ), triangular petals (vs. lanceolate to ovate petals in S. indica ), petals with a white base adorned with dense purple-red stripes and spots on the surfaces upward (vs. red, reddish, yellow, or greenish-yellow in S. indica ) and rectangle nectar scales (vs. quadrate in S. indica ). S. obliquifolia is also similar to S. diversifolia in having corymbiform inflorescences, petals, and stamens with purple spots. However, S. obliquifolia has a well-defined rosette (vs. less defined rosette in S. diversifolia ), monomorphic stem leaves (vs. dimorphic stem leaves in S. diversifolia ), triangular petals with dense purple-red stripes and spots on the surfaces upward (vs. lanceolate petals that are yellow with purple spots in S. diversifolia ) and rectangle nectar scales (vs. broadly quadrate in S. diversifolia ).

Description.

Perennial herbs, terrestrial or lithophytic, 5.0–20.0 cm tall, rosette 5.0–8.0 × 6.0–8.0 cm. Roots fibrous. Basal leaves rosette, spirally arranged, asymmetrically ovoid to lanceolate, apex with glands, 2.0–3.0 × 1.0–2.0 cm. Flowering stems terminal, 10.0–18.0 cm, glabrous with purple spots. Stem leaves alternate, lanceolate, many parts with purple spots. Bract resembling distal stem leaves but smaller, lanceolate, 3.0–3.5 × 0.5–1.0 cm. Inflorescences corymbiform, ca. 2.0–3.0 cm in diameter. Flowers small, ca. 3–6 mm in diameter. Sepals broadly triangular, purple with red spots, 1.5–2.0 × 0.5–1.2 mm. Petals triangular, base white, with dense purple-red stripes and spots on the surfaces upward, 2.0–4.0 × 1.0–2.0 mm. Stamens ca. 2–3 mm, white, anthers oblong-cordate, ca. 0.5 mm, pollen yellow. Nectar scales broadly rectangular, ca. 0.3–0.5 × 0.2–0.3 mm. Carpels 5, ovoid, clockwise rotation, 1.0–2.0 × 0.5–1 mm, styles 1.0– 1.5 mm. Flowering June – October which coincides with the rainy season and the shedding of the leaves and the emergence of new buds.

Distribution and habitat.

Sinocrassula obliquifolia is currently known in central Sichuan Province, China. Two populations were found in granite crevices, as well as on dry stony or gravelly slopes at elevations ranging from 837 to 1140 m.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes).

China • Sichuan: Shimian County, Yaan City , elev. ca. 1140 m, 29.258594°N, 102.371583°E, on the granite crevices, 12 May 2023, Chuan-Jie Huang et al. YUS 9366 ( YUKU!) .

Etymology.

The epithet obliquifolia refers to the asymmetrical leaves of the basal leaves, a unique characteristic for this species within Sinocrassula . Its Chinese name is suggested as ‘ 斜叶石莲 (xie ye shi lian) ’.

Figures

Figure 2. Sinocrassula obliquifolia A, B habit C, D flowers E stamen F, G petals H carpel I sepal J nectar scale K basal leaves L stem leaves M gland of basal leaf N leaves that abscise and bud during the flowering period, left: basal leaf, right: stem leaf.

Figure 3. Sinocrassula obliquifolia A habitat B, C habit.