PHYTOTAXA

ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)

ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press

Phytotaxa 159 (4): 291–294

www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/ Correspondence

http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.159.4.6

Buddleja jinsixiaensis (Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Shaanxi, China

RENBIN ZHU1, BING KANG2, JIMIN CHENG1,3*, BAOQUAN ZHANG1 & XINYU ZHAO3 1College of Resource and Environment, North West A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China;

e-mail: gyzcjm@ms.iswc.ac.cn2College of Life Sciences, North West A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China3Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water resources, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100,

P.R. China*Corresponding author

Buddleja Linnaeus (1753: 112) is a medium-sized genus within Scrophulariaceae comprising about 100 species,

distributed in tropics and subtropics of America, Africa, and Asia, with 21 species and 5 hybrids known to occur in

China (Li & Leeuwenberg 1996, Liu & Peng 2004, 2006).

During a field trip to Jinsixia Grand Canyon, Shangnan County, Shannxi Province, China, in May 11–15, 2013,

we found a new Buddleja which was morphologically different from any other. We collected specimens again

(May 27–28 and June 27–29) and undertook a morphological study. After literature survey (Marquand 1930, Li

1982, 1992, Bao 1983, Northwest Institute of Botany 1983, Li & Leeuwenberg 1996, Liu & Peng 2004, 2006) and

examination of many specimens (PE!, WUK!), we concluded that these plants represent a new species.

Buddleja jinsixiaensis R.B.Zhu, sp. nov. (Figs. 1–2)

Similar to B. delavayi, but leaf blade base rounded to obtuse, inflorescences terminal, corolla tube with long hairs inside

and stamens inserted slightly below the middle of corolla tube.

Type:—China. Shannxi Provence: Shangnan County, Jinsixia Grand Canyon, Rocky slope in valley, 33°20’24”N,

110°33’5”E, 1253 m, 27 May 2013, R. B. Zhu 0146 (holotype WUK!, isotypes WUK!).

Shrub 1–1.5 m high. Bark of old branches gray, coming off in strips; young twigs subterete, stellate-

tomentose, soon glabrescent. Stipules reduced to a transverse line. Leaves opposite; petiole 2–6 mm; leaf

blade papery, ovate to very narrowly elliptic, 6–12 × 2–4 cm, both surfaces green and glabrous; base rounded

to obtuse, apex acuminate, margin serrate; lateral veins 6–16 per side, depressed on upper surface,

conspicuous on lower surface; young leaves stellate-tomentose, soon glabrescent. Inflorescences terminal,

slightly drooping, paniculate cymes 10–12 × 2–3 cm, rather lax, each cyme bearing 3–11(–17) flowers;

peduncle slightly stellate-tomentose; bracts small and linear, 3–6 mm; bracteoles 2, lanceolate, ca. 1 mm.

Calyx campanulate, 2–3 mm, glabrous; lobes 4, ca. 0.5 mm, apex rounded. Corolla blue-purple, corolla mouth

white; tube 9–11 × 1.5–2 mm, outside glabrous, inside with long hairs except for base; lobes 4, suborbicular,

ca. 3 mm, glabrous; stamens inserted slightly below the middle of corolla tube; stamens subsessile;�anthers

ovate, ca. 1.5 mm; ovary ovoid, ca. 1 mm, stellate-tomentose; style and stigma ca. 1.2 mm; stigma clavate.

Capsule ellipsoid, 5–7 × 2–3 mm, stellate-tomentose. Seeds narrowly elliptic, ca. 2 mm, winged all around.

Phenology:—Flowering in May, fruiting in August.

Distribution and habitat:—Buddleja jinsixiaensis is known only from Jinsixia Grand Canyon (ca. 1200

m a.s.l.), China. A total of two plants only was observed. One was found in Quercus forest and the other one

on a rocky slope.

Accepted by Lorenzo Peruzzi: 20 Nov. 2013; published: 18 Feb. 2013 291

FIGURE 1. A. Leaf base. B. Flowering branches. C. Corolla lobes. D. Calyx and corolla tube. E. Inner portion of the corolla tube. F.

Capsule. G. Ripened fruit. H. Seeds.

Taxonomic relationships:—Buddleja jinsixiaensis is morphologically similar to B. delavayi Gagnepain

(1912: 190) in having lax paniculate cymes. However, B. delavayi has leaf blade base cuneate to decurrent,

inflorescences terminal and axillary, corolla tube inside with a few scattered glandular hairs, stamens inserted

slightly above the middle of corolla tube (Table 1).

Etymology:—Named after the type locality, Jinsixia Grand Canyon.

Other specimen examined (paratype):—China. Shannxi Provence: Shangnan County, Jinsixia Grand

Canyon, in Quercus forest, 33°20’30”N, 110°33’6”E, 1219 m, 28 June 2013, R. B. Zhu 0156 (WUK!).

TABLE 1. Comparison between Buddleja jinsixiaensis and B. delavayi.

Feture Buddleja jinsixiaensis B. delavayi

Plant height 1–1.5 m 1–6 m

Leaf base rounded to obtuse, lateral veins 6–16 per side cuneate to decurrent, lateral veins 4–7 per side

Inflorescence terminal terminal and axillary

Calyx lobe apex rounded

lobe apex acuminateCorolla tube inside with long hairs inside with a few scattered glandular hairs

Stamen inserted

slightly below the middle of corolla tube

inserted slightly above the middle of corolla tube

Ovary stellate-tomentose glabrous or stellate-tomentose

Flowering May January to April

ZHU ET AL.292 • Phytotaxa 159 (4) © 2014 Magnolia Press

FIGURE 2. A. Habitat on rocky slope. B. Bark of old branch coming off in strips. C. Leaf blade glabrous, base rounded or obtuse,

margin serrate. D. Corolla blue-purple, corolla mouth white. E. Corolla and calyx outside glabrous. F. Capsule stellate-tomentose. G.

Capsule septicidal.

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the "Strategic Priority Research Program-Climate Change: Carbon Budget and

Related Issues" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA05050202), by the Project “Spatial scale effect of

land use impact on runoff in the Loess Plateau under climate change” supported by NSFC (41230852) and

during a floristic investigation for an illustrated handbook of Jinsixia Grand Canyon (201399990309).�We

thank P.L. Liu, B. Li and A. Chen for language editing; H. Liu, L.F. Sun, Y.B. Yuan and M.H. Cai for help in

fieldwork.

Phytotaxa 159 (4) © 2014 Magnolia Press • 293BUDDLEJA JINSIXIAENSIS, A NEW SPECIES FROM SHAANXI, CHINA

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ZHU ET AL.294 • Phytotaxa 159 (4) © 2014 Magnolia Press