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Issue: Vol. 712 No. 1: 29 Jul. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-07-29
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
Page range: 31-46
Abstract views: 322
PDF downloaded: 18

New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae)

College of Life Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641000, Sichuan, China
Co-innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Cultivated Plant Diversity, Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB, U.K.
College of Life Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641000, Sichuan, China
Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, 45320 Islamabad, Pakistan
China Rosaceae new species nomenclature taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

We describe and illustrate a new species, Eriobotrya tsiangii, from Yunnan Province, China. Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic sequence analysis utilizing nrDNA ITS sequences verified the uniqueness of this new species within the genus. Molecular phylogenetic analaysis revealed that the new species and E. obovata formed a clade. The new species morphologically resembles E. malipoensis and E. serrata, but differs greatly from the former by petiole (glabrous vs. tomentose), leaf apex (rounded or obtuse vs. acute), leaf margins (remotely inconspicuously serrate apically, entire basally vs. remotely obtusely serrate), pairs of lateral veins (14–16 vs. 20–25), leaf abaxially surface (glabrous vs. tomentose), panicle size (4–5 vs. 8–10 cm long), flowers (sessile vs. 2–4 mm), bracts (ovate vs. lanceolate), and ovary (5-loculed vs. 2-loculed); while it differs from the latter by leaf blades (18–35 × 5–12 vs. 9–23 × 3.5–13 cm long), leaf margins (entire basally, remotely inconspicuously serrate apically vs. incurved-serrate), leaf abaxial surface (glabrous vs. tomentose), size of panicle (4–5 vs. ca. 8 cm long), flowers (sessile vs. 2–4 mm), Indumentum of pedicels and peduncle (rusty vs. yellow tomentose), styles (connate vs. free at base). For nomenclatural purposes, we proposed three new combinations Eriobotrya bengalensis f. intermedia, E. bengalensis f. multinervata, and E. bengalensis f. contracta. Additionally, the name Eriobotrya fulvicoma, is considered a synonym for E. kwangsiensis. Furthermore, our findings confirmed that Eriobotrya is monophyletic, and distinct from Rhaphiolepis.

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How to Cite

Idrees, M., Li, M., Shaw, J.M., Zhang, Z. & Ahmad, M. (2025) New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31–46. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3