Taxonomy Treatment
SaxifragacataphractaX.J. Zhang, T. Deng et H. Sun sp. nov. Figs. 1
Type: CHINA. Yunnan. Zhaotong City, Yiliang County, Wumengshan
National Nature Reserve, Xiaocaoba Town, Chaotianma,
104°21′49″E, 27°49′23″N, 1775 m
alt., 30 May 2022, C. Zhang Zhang1388 (Holotype: KUN!; Isotypes:
BNU!, KUN!).
Diagnosis: Saxifraga cataphracta resembles S.
geifolia and S. mengtzeana , but is distinct from the latter two
in its leaf blade abaxially with white or virescent streaks,
involucre
and bracts conspicuous, capsule beaks winged when mature.
Description: Perennial herbs, 15−30 cm tall. Stolons absent.
Rhizomes short. Leaves all basal; petiole 3–9 cm long, crisped
glandular hairy purple, barely sheathing at the base; leaf blade rotund
to reniform, leathery, 1.6−3.6 cm long × 1.8−3.8 cm wide, both surfaces
glandular hispid or nearly glabrous, abaxially greenish or red to
dark-purple, with white or virescent interveinal streaks, base cordate,
occasionally with a foliar embryo in sinus, margin coarsely dentate,
apex acute. Involucral bracts several, triangular-lanceolate, 5.0–7.0
mm long × 2.0–3.0 mm wide, both surfaces nearly glabrous, margin
crisped glandular hairy; bracts linear-lanceolate, 4.0–6.0 mm long ×
1.5–2.0 mm wide, both surfaces nearly glabrous, margin glandular hairy.
Inflorescence paniculate, ca. 20 cm long. 10−20-flowered; branches
3.0−11.0 cm long, glandular pubescent, 3−5-flowered; pedicels slender,
1.4−2.5 cm long, glandular pubescent. Flowers zygomorphic; sepals 5,
spreading, oblong to narrowly lanceolate, 2.0−3.8 mm long × 1.5−2.0 mm
wide, adaxially glabrous, abaxially sparsely glandular hairy or
glabrous, marginally glandular
hairy.
Petals 5, white, margin entire; shortest 3 petals ovate, 2.0-3.5 mm long
× 1.2-1.8 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate, base with yellow spots;
longer petal narrowly lanceolate, 6.0-15.0 mm long × 1.0-2.0 mm wide;
longest petal linear-lanceolate, 20.0-25.0 mm long × 1.2-2.2 mm wide.
Stamens 10, 2.5−4.5 mm long. Ovary ovoid, 1.5−2.5 mm long, with a
semiannular nectary disc; styles divergent ca. 1.5−1.8 mm long. Capsule
beaks winged when mature, carpels 4.0−5.0 mm long × 5.0−7.0 mm wide.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting were observed from April to
July.
Etymology: The specific epithet cataphracta , meaning
chain mail or breast-plate, refers to
the
cataphract-like streaks on abaxial leaf surface of this new species,
differing from all other known Saxifraga sect. Irregularesspecies. The Chinese name is given as “铁甲虎耳草” (tiě jiǎ hǔ ěr
cǎo), referring to its cataphract-like streaks on abaxial leaf surface.
Distribution and ecology: The new species, Saxifraga
cataphracta , is currently known from northeastern Yunnan,
Chongqing
and southern Sichuan. It was observed to grow on moist rocks under
forest nearby valleys, alt. 1200–2400 m.
Paratypes: CHINA. Chongqing: Nanchuan District, Jinfo Mountain,
1900 m alt.,1 June 1957, J.H. Xiong No. 91132 (SZ). Sichuan:Leshan City, Mount Emei, 23 June 1957, G.H. Yang No. 55486 (SZ);
Leshan City, Mount Emei, 21 June 1952, J.H. Xiong, X.J. Jiang et X.S.
Zhang No. 31215 (IBK); Yunnan: Zhaotong City, Yiliang County,
Wumengshan National Nature Reserve, Chaotianma, 1700 m alt., 19 May
2016, H.J. Dong & F. Zhao WM-0516 (KUN).
Additional specimens examined: China. Chongqing: Nanchuan
District, 29 May 1957, J.H. Xiong , Z.L. Zhou No. 91056(IBSC, SZ); Nanchuan District, 29 May 1957, G.F. Li No. 61621(SZ); Nanchuan District, 24 July 1957, No. 95341 (SM); Nanchuan
District, 26 June 1981, S.X. Tan No. 1804 (IMC); Nanchuan
District, 17 May 1986, Z.Y. Liu No. 8403 (PE); WanZhou District,
Longju Town, 13 May 1998, Z.Y. Liu No. 973275 (IMC). Sichuan:Leshan City, Mount Emei, 22 June 1952, X.J. Jiang & X.S. Zhang
No. 31242 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 27 June 1956, L.C. Hu
No. 50209 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 5 July 1956, L.C. Hu No.
0130 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 12 June 1957, G.H. Yang No. 55311
(IBSC); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 8 July 1957, P.Q. Duan & L.C. Hu
No. 327 (SZ);
Leshan
City, Mount Emei, 7 June 1980, L.W. Wang & Z.Y. Zhang No. 874 (PE);
Leshan City, Mount Emei, 4 May 2022, C. Zhang & J.L. Li
Zhang1069 (KUN).
Conflict
of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.