Cyrtomiumadenotrichum (Dryopteridaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China

Abstract

Cyrtomiumadenotrichum Y. Nong & R.H. Jiang (Dryopteridaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to C.nephrolepioides (Christ) Copel., C.obliquum Ching & K. H. Shing ex K. H. Shing, C.sinningense Ching & K. H. Shing ex K. H. Shing and C.calcis Liang Zhang, N.T.Lu & Li Bing Zhang in having erect rhizomes, dense, leathery lamina and rounded sori, but it can be easily distinguishable by its stipe sparsely glandular, base obvious oblique, basiscopic base truncate, acroscopic base auriculate or ovate.

Introduction

Cyrtomium (Presl 1836) was founded upon the basis of Polypodiumfalcatum (Linnaeus 1781), originating from Japan. It comprises approximately 40 recognized species, the majority of which are found in East Asia, with a particular concentration of diversity centered in Southwest China. Within this group, 31 species are native to China (Zhang and Barrington 2013). Cyrtomiumser.Falcata Ching & Shing (Shing 1965), which was not confirmed as monophyletic in an earlier molecular study conducted (Lu et al. 2005), is distinguished by its leathery leaves and pinnae, which possess intact (occasionally repand) and thickened margins. Notably, all species belonging to this series can be located in China, except for C.elongatum S.K.Wu & P.K.Lôc (Wu et al 2005) and most of them are naturally distributed in limestone regions. Within the past decade, more new species of Cyrtomium have been discovered in Vietnam and China (Lu et al 2023; Nong et al. 2023).

During our field surveys conducted in Nandan County, Guangxi, in March 2024, we encountered a unique population of Cyrtomium that exhibited morphological similarities to the species C.nephrolepioides (Christ) Copel.(Copeland 1929), C.obliquum Ching & K. H. Shing ex K. H. Shing (Shing 1965), C.sinningense Ching & K. H. Shing ex K. H. Shing (Shing 1965) and C.calcis Liang Zhang, N.T.Lu & Li Bing Zhang (Lu et al 2023) in having erect rhizomes, dense, leathery lamina, and rounded sori, but it can be easily distinguished by its stipe sparsely glandular, base obvious oblique, basiscopic base truncate, acroscopic base auriculate or ovate. We hypothesize that this unique population may represent a previously unrecognized species due to these distinct morphological characteristics. To further validate our findings, we conducted additional observations and examined numerous specimens of Cyrtomium housed in various herbaria. We also consulted relevant literature to ensure the accuracy of our identification and to gain a deeper understanding of the taxonomic status of this potential new species (Lu et al 2023; Nong et al. 2023). We describe this population as a new morphologically distinct species.

Materials and methods

The new species was described based on field observations made in March and examination of herbarium specimens at GXMI. Other related Cyrtomium species were examined based on online images from Kew Herbarium Catalogue (http://apps.kew.org/herbcat/gotoHomePage.do) and JSTOR Global Plants (http://plants.jstor.org/) and PE, IBK and KUN. Morphological characters that distinguish it from all other species in the genus of Cyrtomium are used. We also observed living plants of the new species. We observed characters of rhizome, leaves, pedicels, stipe, lamina, scales, sori, indusia.

Descriptions were written from herbarium specimens. Measurements were made with a tape–measure and callipers. The structure of the indumentum and its distribution was observed and described under a dissecting microscope at magnifications of more than 20×. Additional information on locality, habitat, ecology, plant form and fruits were collected in the field and taken from herbarium labels. Conservation threat assessment followed IUCN Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2022).

Results and discussion

Taxonomy

. Cyrtomium adenotrichum

Y.Nong & R.H.Jiang sp. nov.

3B59821A-2F1F-5B8F-B8B7-4F04C25EB799

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77344264-1

Figs 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

Figure 1.

Habitat of Cyrtomiumadenotrichum Y. Nong & R.H. Jiang on cliffs at a gully (Photographed by YN).

Figure 2.

Line drawing of Cyrtomiumadenotrichum Y. Nong & R.H. Jiang A plant B scale C indusium (Drawn by Xin–Cheng Qu).

Figure 3.

Cyrtomiumadenotrichum Y. Nong & R.H. Jiang A, B plant C, D lamina (adaxially and abaxially view) E, F sori and indusia G, H terminal pinna (adaxially and abaxially view) I lateral pinnae (abaxially view, showing: margins entire and often slightly reflexed) J stipe (sparsely glandular) K curled leaves L, M, N scales O curled leaves (sparsely glandular) (Photographed and edited by You Nong).

Figure 4.

Cyrtomium specimens of the new taxon and three morphologically related species A type specimen of CyrtomiumadenotrichumBC.nephrolepioidesC type specimen of C.obliquum, and D type specimen of C.sinningense.

Diagnosis.

Cyrtomiumadenotrichum is similar to C.nephrolepioides, C.obliquum, C.sinningense and C.calcis, but differs in its stipe sparsely glandular (vs. glabrous). In addition, it can be distinguished from C.sinningense by its scale margins fimbriate (vs. dentate), lateral pinnae 5–10 pairs (vs. 1–4 pairs), indusia margins dentate (vs. subentire); it can also be distinguished from C.nephrolepioides by its lateral pinnae 5–10 pairs (vs. 10–26 pairs), base obvious oblique (vs. cordate or sometimes obliquely cordate). It differs from C.obliquum by its scale margins fimbriate (vs. dentate), lateral pinnae 5–10 pairs (vs. 12–21 pairs), indusia margins dentate (vs. entire). It can be distinguished from C.calcis by its base obvious oblique (vs. cordate to hastate), lateral pinnae thin leathery (vs. thick leathery). Comparative morphological differences among all five species are presented in Table 1.

Table 1.

Main morphological differences amongst Cyrtomiumadenotrichum and C.nephrolepioides, C.obliquum, C.sinningense and C.calcis.

Morphological traits	C.adenotrichum	C.nephrolepioides	C.obliquum	C.sinningense	C.calcis
Plant height	5–15 cm	12–28 cm	20–35 cm	8–12 cm	13–23 cm
Stipe	3–10 cm, 1 mm in diam., sparsely glandular	3–10 cm, 1–2 mm in diam., glabrous	6–10 cm, 1–2 mm in diam., glabrous	5–7 cm, 1 mm in diam., glabrous	15 cm, 1–3 mm in diam., glabrous
Scales margins	fimbriate	fimbriate	dentate	Dentate	fimbriate-dentate
Lamina	linear-lanceolate, 5–10 × 1.5–2 cm	linear-lanceolate, 10–25 × 2–5 cm	lanceolate, 13–35 × 3–5 cm	ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 3–7 × 2.5–3 cm	lanceolate-oblong, 13–23 × 1.9 cm
Lateral pinnae	5–10 pairs	10–26 pairs	12–21 pairs	1–4 pairs	9–14 pairs
Pinnae	0.8–1 × 0.4–0.6 cm	1–2.5 × 0.6–1.2 cm	2–3 × 1–1.5 cm	1.2–1.6 × 1–1.2 cm	1.5–3.5 × 1.2–1.9 cm
Base	obvious oblique	cordate or sometimes obliquely cordate	oblique	broadly cuneate	cordate to hastate
Texture	thin leathery	thick- leathery	leathery	Leathery	thick leathery
Venation	midrib flat or slightly concave on both surfaces	midrib concave on both surfaces	slightly raised abaxially, slightly concave adaxially	indistinct on both surfaces	obscure
Rows of areolae	1 or 2	2 or 3	2	2 or 3	2, 3, rarely to 4
Indusia margins	dentate	subentire	entire	subentire	dentate

Holotype.

China. Guangxi: Nandan, 24°48'47"N, 107°27'12"E, alt. 470 m, on the cliff at a gully; 17 March 2024; Y Nong NY2024031701 (GXMI!). (holotype: GXMI!; isotypes: IBK!).

Description.

Plants perennial, evergreen, 5–15 cm tall. Rhizome short and erect, together with basal stipe densely scaly. Scales brown, ovate; Leaves clustered, petiole 1–3 cm, stipe stramineous, 3–10 cm, 1 mm in diam, sparsely glandular, densely scaly; scales brown, ovate or lanceolate, margins fimbriate. scales on stipe base brown, ovate or lanceolate, membranous, ca. 8–12 × 1–3 mm, margin minutely denticulate and slightly long ciliate, upword gradually narrowed, subulate, linear-lanceolate. Lamina linear-lanceolate, 5–10 × 1.5–2 cm, base not contracted, 1-imparipinnate; Lateral pinnae 5–10 pairs, crowded, alternate, spreading or slightly ascendant, shortly stalked, ovate or rarely deltoid-lanceolate; lower and middle pinnae 8–10 × 4–6 mm, respectively, subopposite or alternate, apex rounded, base obvious oblique, basiscopic base truncate, acroscopic base auriculate or ovate, margins entire and often slightly reflexed, sparse hairlike scales adaxially and abaxially; terminal pinna ovate, with 1 or 2 connate lobes at base, 20–35 × 15–25 mm; rachis c. 1 mm in diam, sparsely glandular, grooved adaxially, scaly abaxially; scales on rachis brown, linear to subulate, margins sparsely toothed or fimbriate; frond texture thin leathery; venation pinnate, midrib flat or slightly concave on abaxially and adaxially, lateral vein connection, indistinct, lateral veins anastomosing to form 1 or 2 rows of areoles on each side of midrib. Sori 1 row on each side of midrib; indusia margins dentate.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the stipe sparsely glandular of the new species.

Distribution and habit.

Known only from the north of Guangxi, China (Fig. 5). It has been mainly found on cliffs at a gully at elevations of 470 m. We found only one population with 10 individuals, and the habitat of Cyrtomiumadenotrichum is fragile because it could be submerged during the rainy season.

Figure 5.

The distribution of Cyrtomiumadenotrichum (red circle) in Guangxi, China.

IUCN Red List Category.

Only one population with 10 individuals of Cyrtomiumadenotrichum is currently known from Nandan County, Guangxi China. Due to its rarity, the low number of individuals and habitat vulnerability, C.adenotrichum is considered to be Critically Endangered (CR), according to the IUCN (IUCN 2022).

Citation

Nong Y, Lei L-Q, Zhao Z-Y, Wei G-Y, Xu C-G, Feng B, Qu X-C, Jiang R-H (2024) Cyrtomium adenotrichum (Dryopteridaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys 243: 199–207. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.243.127579

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This work was supported by the Guangxi High-Level Key Disciplines Construction Pilot Project in Traditional Chinese Medicine—Authentication of Chinese Medicinal Materials (No. 27).), the Survey and Collection of Germplasm Resources of Woody & Herbaceous Plants in Guangxi, China (GXFS–2021–34).

Author contributions

Data curation: YN. Funding acquisition: YN, CGX. Investigation: YN, CGX, YGW. Methodology: YN, LQL, ZYZ, YGW. Project administration: YN, BF. Supervision: XCQ, RHJ. Visualization: YN, LQL, XCQ. Writing–original draft: YN. Writing–review and editing: YN.

Author ORCIDs

You Nong https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7004-0946

Li-Qun Lei https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7319-5439

Zi-Yi Zhao https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2513-0728

Gui-Yuan Wei https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0652-1213

Chuan-Gui Xu https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6263-3821

Bin Feng https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0387-3635

Xin-Cheng Qu https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9078-9976

Ri-Hong Jiang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4908-3487

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.