Taxonomy Treatment
SaxifragacataphractaX.J. Zhang, T. Deng et H. Sun sp. nov. Figs. 1
Type: CHINA. Yunnan. Zhaotong City, Yiliang County, Wumengshan National Nature Reserve, Xiaocaoba Town, Chaotianma, 104°21′49″E, 27°49′23″N, 1775 m alt., 30 May 2022, C. Zhang Zhang1388 (Holotype: KUN!; Isotypes: BNU!, KUN!).
Diagnosis: Saxifraga cataphracta resembles S. geifolia and S. mengtzeana , but is distinct from the latter two in its leaf blade abaxially with white or virescent streaks, involucre and bracts conspicuous, capsule beaks winged when mature.
Description: Perennial herbs, 15−30 cm tall. Stolons absent. Rhizomes short. Leaves all basal; petiole 3–9 cm long, crisped glandular hairy purple, barely sheathing at the base; leaf blade rotund to reniform, leathery, 1.6−3.6 cm long × 1.8−3.8 cm wide, both surfaces glandular hispid or nearly glabrous, abaxially greenish or red to dark-purple, with white or virescent interveinal streaks, base cordate, occasionally with a foliar embryo in sinus, margin coarsely dentate, apex acute. Involucral bracts several, triangular-lanceolate, 5.0–7.0 mm long × 2.0–3.0 mm wide, both surfaces nearly glabrous, margin crisped glandular hairy; bracts linear-lanceolate, 4.0–6.0 mm long × 1.5–2.0 mm wide, both surfaces nearly glabrous, margin glandular hairy. Inflorescence paniculate, ca. 20 cm long. 10−20-flowered; branches 3.0−11.0 cm long, glandular pubescent, 3−5-flowered; pedicels slender, 1.4−2.5 cm long, glandular pubescent. Flowers zygomorphic; sepals 5, spreading, oblong to narrowly lanceolate, 2.0−3.8 mm long × 1.5−2.0 mm wide, adaxially glabrous, abaxially sparsely glandular hairy or glabrous, marginally glandular hairy. Petals 5, white, margin entire; shortest 3 petals ovate, 2.0-3.5 mm long × 1.2-1.8 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate, base with yellow spots; longer petal narrowly lanceolate, 6.0-15.0 mm long × 1.0-2.0 mm wide; longest petal linear-lanceolate, 20.0-25.0 mm long × 1.2-2.2 mm wide. Stamens 10, 2.5−4.5 mm long. Ovary ovoid, 1.5−2.5 mm long, with a semiannular nectary disc; styles divergent ca. 1.5−1.8 mm long. Capsule beaks winged when mature, carpels 4.0−5.0 mm long × 5.0−7.0 mm wide.
Phenology: Flowering and fruiting were observed from April to July.
Etymology: The specific epithet cataphracta , meaning chain mail or breast-plate, refers to the cataphract-like streaks on abaxial leaf surface of this new species, differing from all other known Saxifraga sect. Irregularesspecies. The Chinese name is given as “铁甲虎耳草” (tiě jiǎ hǔ ěr cǎo), referring to its cataphract-like streaks on abaxial leaf surface.
Distribution and ecology: The new species, Saxifraga cataphracta , is currently known from northeastern Yunnan, Chongqing and southern Sichuan. It was observed to grow on moist rocks under forest nearby valleys, alt. 1200–2400 m.
Paratypes: CHINA. Chongqing: Nanchuan District, Jinfo Mountain, 1900 m alt.,1 June 1957, J.H. Xiong No. 91132 (SZ). Sichuan:Leshan City, Mount Emei, 23 June 1957, G.H. Yang No. 55486 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 21 June 1952, J.H. Xiong, X.J. Jiang et X.S. Zhang No. 31215 (IBK); Yunnan: Zhaotong City, Yiliang County, Wumengshan National Nature Reserve, Chaotianma, 1700 m alt., 19 May 2016, H.J. Dong & F. Zhao WM-0516 (KUN).
Additional specimens examined: China. Chongqing: Nanchuan District, 29 May 1957, J.H. Xiong , Z.L. Zhou No. 91056(IBSC, SZ); Nanchuan District, 29 May 1957, G.F. Li No. 61621(SZ); Nanchuan District, 24 July 1957, No. 95341 (SM); Nanchuan District, 26 June 1981, S.X. Tan No. 1804 (IMC); Nanchuan District, 17 May 1986, Z.Y. Liu No. 8403 (PE); WanZhou District, Longju Town, 13 May 1998, Z.Y. Liu No. 973275 (IMC). Sichuan:Leshan City, Mount Emei, 22 June 1952, X.J. Jiang & X.S. Zhang No. 31242 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 27 June 1956, L.C. Hu No. 50209 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 5 July 1956, L.C. Hu No. 0130 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 12 June 1957, G.H. Yang No. 55311 (IBSC); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 8 July 1957, P.Q. Duan & L.C. Hu No. 327 (SZ); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 7 June 1980, L.W. Wang & Z.Y. Zhang No. 874 (PE); Leshan City, Mount Emei, 4 May 2022, C. Zhang & J.L. Li Zhang1069 (KUN).
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.