Phedimus

YANGSHANICUS   Z. Chao, 2020

Subgenus Aizoon

Etymology : Referring to the type locality, Yangshan county,  China.

Distribution : China : Guangdong Province, Yangshan county, Changfudong. Only known from the type locality, growing on limestone hills and rocks, ca 200 - 500 m.

 

Description :

Perennial herbs.

Rootstock usually short, with 1 - 2 branches at the top and slender roots below.

Leaves oval, elliptic, ellongate elliptic or obovate, 3.5 - 7 x 2.5 - 3.5 cm, obtuse or acute, narrowing into obvious pseudopetiole 3 - 5 cm long, often purplish-red, softly leathery, margin almost entire or slightly undulate, midrib distinct, slightly prominent at back of leaf. Basal leaves persistent at anthesis.

Flowering branches simple, erect, ca 20 cm high, often purplish-red, stem leaves much smaller than basal leaves, alternate, suborbicular, ca 1.2 cm wide, margin shallowly dentate, pseudopetioles 0.5 - 1.2 cm. Terminal cymes mostly 3-branched, spreading.

Flowers 5-merous, sessile, sepals triangular linear, 5 - 7 mm long, obtuse, petals lanceolate-oblong, 7 - 10 x 2 - 3 mm, apex long mucronate, golden yellow.

Flowering time : March - April.

 

Note :

Phedimus yangshanicus is distinguished from other species of genus Phedimus by its dimorphic, pseudopetiolate leaves and the fact that the basal leaves are persistent at anthesis. Its nearest relatives are P. odontophyllus and P. aizoon.

First published in Phytotaxa 429 (2): 148-156. 2020.

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