New species, taxonomic renovations, and typifications in Gaultheria series Trichophyllae (Ericaceae)

Abstract

Expeditions to the Gaoligong Mountains and Biluo Snow Mountains in western Yunnan Province, China have uncovered new taxonomic information about the species of Gaultheria series Trichophyllae (Ericaceae) that are known to occur in these ranges. Based on these data, we describe two species as new to science (G. ciliisepala and G. stenophylla) and elevate four varieties (Chiogenes suborbicularis var. albiflorus, G. sinensis vars. crassifolia and major, and G. trichophylla var. obovata) to the species level (as G. albiflora, G. crassifolia, G. major, and G. obovata, respectively). We provide a lectotype and a revised description for G. eciliata because the type was discovered to also include individuals of G. albiflora. Similarly, we provide a lectotype and a revised description for G. sinensis because the type was discovered to also include an individual of G. crassifolia; moreover, the protologue of G. sinensis includes paratypes of three other species. Illustrations and photographic images of living plants in the field are included for all species. Our additions and changes raise the number of species recognized in G. series Trichophyllae from 10 to 16, with more to be expected as the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains are further surveyed for these plants.

Gaultheria gonggashanensis sp. nov. (Ericaceae) from Sichuan, China

“…Nonetheless, based on the available data from vegetative, fl oral, mature dried fruit, and immature living fruit characters, we are confi dent that the known collections represent an undescribed species; we thus describe and illustrate this species here as new to science. On the basis of the data in Fritsch et al (2015), this discovery raises the known number of species in G. ser. Trichophyllae to 17.…”

“…Although the 1941 and 1980 specimens were collected in fruit, there are still no data on the morphology of the mature fruit in the living state, knowledge about which is often important for Gaultheria delimiting species (Fritsch et al ). Nonetheless, based on the available data from vegetative, floral, mature dried fruit, and immature living fruit characters, we are confident that the known collections represent an undescribed species; we thus describe and illustrate this species here as new to science.…”

Leaf epidermal character variation and evolution in Gaultherieae (Ericaceae)

“…The infratribal classification of Gaultherieae follows Middleton (1991a, b), as modified by Fritsch et al (2011). Generic and species taxonomy generally follows Sleumer (1966-1967), Merrill (1941, Middleton (1991a), Luteyn (1995), Fang & Stevens (2005) and Fritsch et al (2011), as modified by Fritsch et al (2008Fritsch et al ( , 2015, Waselkov & Judd (2008), Lu et al (2010b), Judd et al (2012Judd et al ( , 2013, Williams & Telford (2012) and Teillier & Escobar (2013).…”

Gaultheria marronina sp. nov. (Ericaceae) from Sichuan, China

“…The series was recognized in the most recent global revised classification of Gaultheria (Middleton ) and is strongly supported as monophyletic in molecular phylogenetic studies (Bush et al , Lu et al , Fritsch et al ). Recent field expeditions to the mountains flanking the Salween (Nu) River in far western Yunnan Province by the first two authors and others have uncovered a number of new species in this series (Fritsch et al , , ). An expedition to western Sichuan Province was undertaken in September 2011 in an attempt to locate populations of possible new Gaultheria species based on the collections of S. Y. Hu made in the 1940's.…”

“…These populations are here described and illustrated as a new species. This discovery raises the number of species recognized in the section to 18 (Fritsch et al , ).…”