Didymocarpus phuquocensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Phu Quoc Island, South-western Vietnam

Abstract

A new species of Gesneriaceae, Didymocarpus phuquocensis, is described and illustrated from Phu Quoc National Park, Kien Giang Province, South-western Vietnam. It is most similar to D. pulcher, D. hookeri and D. punduanus in having 3-verticillate petiolate leaves, morphologically similar calyx, corolla, stamens, pistil and fruit, but differs from all in the glandular-pubescent stems, petioles and leaf blades, 1(–2)-flowered cymes, longer corolla and fruit and longer and densely glandular-puberulent ovary. Data on distribution, ecology, phenology and provisional conservation assessment of the new species are given along with an illustration and a colour plate.

Biodiversity status of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

“…Phu My Grassland Nature Reserve (WDPA ID: nil). Phu My was declared a protected area by Kien Giang Province in January 2016, covering a core zone of 1,070 ha and a buffer zone of 1,700 ha (Tran et al 2019). The site is the last remaining unexploited area of the Ha Tien Plain important bird area (IBA) (Tordoff 2001) (that is no longer tended) and seasonally inundated grassland and swamp.…”

“…During recent decades, the Sarus crane population in Cambodia and Vietnam has experienced a rapid decline, going from 850 recorded in 2013 to just 358 cranes in 2017. Phu My and the nearby Anlung Pring Sarus Crane Sanctuary in Kam Pot Province Cambodia now host 40 to 50% of sarus cranes during the dry season months from January to April(Tran et al 2019).…”