ABSTRACT
Vacciniumbangliangense, a new species from limestone areas in Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically most similar to V.pseudotonkinense and V.sciaphilum in having small and dense obovate leaf blades with a retuse apex, hairy young branches and calyx and campanulate corollas, but can be distinguished from them by the distance of basal gland from petiole, the length of peduncle, pedicle and filaments, the indumentum of calyx tube and corolla and the existence of apical glands on calyx lobes. A table to distinguish the new species from other morphologically similar Vaccinium species, as well as colour plates of comparison of key characters, is also provided.
ABSTRACT
Brediabullata, B.enchengensis, and B.nitida (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae), three species occurring in Sino-Vietnamese limestone karst regions, are described as new. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological divergence indicate that these species are well separated from their close relatives in Bredia, justifying their recognition as distinct species. Brediabullata is unique in its interveinal areas prominently bullate each with an apical seta, a character otherwise never recorded in the genus. Bredianitida resembles B.malipoensis in habit, leaf shape, and inflorescence morphology, but differs in the glabrescent and nitid adaxial leaf surface (vs. densely pubescent and subvelvety), ovate-elliptic or elliptic calyx lobes (vs. triangular to semiorbicular), and white petals (vs. purplish-red). Brediaenchengensis is closest to B.longiradiosa, but easily recognized by its prostrate habit (vs. erect), the yellowish-green, membranous and fragile leaves (vs. green or dark green, papery), and white anthers (vs. pink to purplish). These new discoveries show that further botanical exploration is warranted in the remote Sino-Vietnamese bordering region.
