Lithocarpus vuquangensis (Fagaceae), a new species from Vu Quang National Park, Vietnam

Abstract

Lithocarpus vuquangensis Ngoc & Hung is described from Vu Quang National Park, North Central Vietnam. The morphological comparison and phylogenetic analysis based on rbcL, matK and ITS provided evidence that the new species was not assignable to any of the previously known taxa in Vietnam and its surrounding countries. The description, photographs, preliminary conservation status and DNA barcode sequences are also provided for the new species.

Morphological and molecular evidence reveals three new species of Lithocarpus (Fagaceae) from Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Vietnam

“… Fagaceae are highly diversified in Vietnam and 216 species of 6 genera have been reported in various forest types, from dry evergreen forest at lowlands to montane evergreen forest in the higher elevation ( Ho 2003 ; Ban 2005 ; Ngoc et al 2016 ). Recently, 10 species of Fagaceae were newly described from Vietnam: Castanopsis grandicicatricata N.H.Xia & D.H.Vuong, C. multiporcata N.H.Xia & D.H.Vuong ( Vuong and Xia 2014 ), Lithocarpus dahuoaiensis Ngoc & L.V.Dung ( Ngoc et al 2016 ), L. vuquangensis Ngoc & V.H.Nguyen ( Ngoc et al 2018 ), Quercus baolamensis H.T.Binh & Ngoc ( Binh et al 2018a ), Q. bidoupensis H.T.Binh & Ngoc ( Binh et al 2018a ), Q.…”

“… Lithocarpus Blume is the largest genus of the family Fagaceae in Vietnam, including 119 species and two varieties, among which 44 species are endemic ( Ho 2003 ; Ban 2005 ; Linh et al 2013 ; Ngoc et al 2016 , 2018 ). The previous taxonomic treatments of Lithocarpus in Vietnam were mostly based on Camus’ studies using the specimens collected by French botanists, the results of which were documented in the part of Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine ( Hickel and Camus 1930 ) or Chênes Atlas ( Camus 1948 ).…”

“…The phylogenetic approach has become a widespread and efficient way to identify and delimit species, but there is only one study for Lithocarpus in Vietnam ( Ngoc et al 2018 ). The MIG-seq is a PCR-based method used to identify large numbers of genetic markers throughout the genome ( Suyama and Matsuki 2015 ) that is highly applicable for use in phylogenetic studies ( Binh et al 2018a ; Okabe et al 2021 ).…”

“…The MIG-seq is a PCR-based method used to identify large numbers of genetic markers throughout the genome ( Suyama and Matsuki 2015 ) that is highly applicable for use in phylogenetic studies ( Binh et al 2018a ; Okabe et al 2021 ). Recently, a growing number of taxonomic studies of Lithocarpus have yielded new species ( Ngoc et al 2016 , 2018 ), but we often find Lithocarpus material that is difficult to identify to species level. Here we applied MIG-seq for phylogenetic reconstruction to accurately assess the diversity and taxonomy of Lithocarpus species.…”