Molecular systematics of Chiritopsis-like Primulina (Gesneriaceae): one new species, one new name, two new combinations, and new synonyms

Abstract

Background The Gesneriaceae genus Chiritopsis , confined almost exclusively to cave or cave-like microhabitats of limestone karsts of southern China, was described to distinguish it from Chirita by much smaller flowers and generally miniature plant sizes in the former genus. However, molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that Chiritopsis is polyphyletic and its species delimitation has been problematic. To understand how many times Chiritopsis-like species have evolved from within the recircumscribed Primulina and to further clarify their species identification, we sampled all but two recently described species of Chiritopsis-like Primulina and reconstructed their phylogenetic relationship based on DNA sequences of nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL - F and trnH - psbA . Results With 182 accessions of 165 taxa of Primulina sampled, our analyses placed the 40 accessions of 25 taxa of Chiritopsis-like Primulina in 17 unrelated positions, indicating at least 17 independent origins of the traits associated with caves or cave-like microhabitats. Of the 17 clades containing Chiritopsis-like Primulina , Clade 1 is composed of P. bipinnatifida , P. cangwuensis , P. jianghuaensis , P. lingchuanensis , and P. zhoui , as well as additional samples that show variable and overlapping morphology in leaf shapes. Clade 10 includes P. cordifolia , P. huangii , and P. repanda , while Primulina repanda var. guilinensis is not placed within Clade 10. Primulina glandulosa var. yangshuoensis is not placed in the same clade of P. glandulosa . Conclusions Based on our data, P. cangwuensis , P. jianghuaensis , and P. lingchuanensis are proposed to synonymize under P. bipinnatifida , with P. zhoui treated as a variety of P. bipinnatifida . Primulina repanda var. guilinensis is transferred as P. subulata var. guilinensis comb. nov. and Primulina pseudoglandulosa nom. nov. is proposed for P. glandulosa var. yangshuoensis . One new species is named ...

Plastomes of limestone karst gesneriad genera Petrocodon and Primulina, and the comparative plastid phylogenomics of Gesneriaceae

“…Species of Gesneriaceae inhabit a wide range of habitats and exhibit multifarious evolutionary adaptations 2,3 , resulting in numerous aesthetic plants with high horticultural values 4 . One of the most notable habitats that gesneriads thrive is the limestone karst 5,6 , a distinctive landscape and internal drainage system formed by the dissolution of the highly soluble and porous carbonate sedimentary rock 7,8 . Because of the high salinity and porosity, poorly developed soils, and fragmented landscapes, limestone karsts generally impose hardship on the survival of plants 8 , allowing only those that have evolved to adapt to the limestone bedrock 7,9 .…”

“…As one of the largest continuous karsts in the world 10 , SVLK are known for many celebrating tourist destinations and UNESCO World Heritages Sites 11 of international geomorphological significance. Additionally, SVLK are also major biodiversity hotspots 9,11 abounding with many species-rich and narrowly distributed endemic plants 9 such as the two sister gesneriad genera 3 Primulina Hance 6 and Petrocodon Hance 12 .…”

1036. PRIMULINA YUNGFUENSIS: Gesneriaceae

“…Xu et al . (2019) analyzed 165 taxa of Primulina and reconstructed their phylogenetic relationship based on DNA sequences of nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL ‐ F and trnH ‐ psbA . They included Primulina yungfuensis which lies in a clade with P. obtusidentata , P. pinnata and P. pinnatifida , from which it is readily distinguished by its beautifully marked, purple‐hairy, fleshy, entire leaves.…”

In memoriam Ching-I Peng (1950–2018)—an outstanding scientist and mentor with a remarkable legacy

“…Coelocentrum Irmsch. (Liu et al 2005;Peng et al 2005a;Chung et al 2014;Tseng et al 2019), one of the most characteristic groups of limestone plants in Guangxi (Xu et al 2019).…”