Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2026-04-01
Page range: 137-142
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Ophiorrhiza wulingensis, a new species of Ophiorrhizeae (Rubiaceae) from northwestern Hunan, China

College of Landscape Architecture, Hunan Polytechnic of Environment and Biology, Hengyang 421005, Hunan, China
School of Marxism, Jishou University, Zhangjiajie 427000, Hunan, China
School of Life Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, Hunan, China
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie 427400, Hunan, China
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Zhangjiajie 427400, Hunan, China
Gaowangjie National Nature Reserve, Guzhang 416300, Hunan, China
Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou 510650, China
IUCN flora of Hunan morphology new taxon taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

Ophiorrhiza wulingensis, a new species of Rubiaceae from northwestern Hunan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to Ophiorrhiza chinensis and Ophiorrhiza howii, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter two by its hirtellous abaxial and glabrous adaxial leaf surfaces, dark-red hypanthia, shorter corolla tubes that are longitudinally ribbed abaxially and hooked near the apex, and densely pilose inside the corolla lobes. We preliminarily assessed it as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, as it faces no obvious threats and is often encountered as a dominant component in the herb layers.

References

  1. Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de Torre, J. & Scott, B. (2011) Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. Zookeys 150: 117–126. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.150.2109
  2. Chen, T. & Taylor, C.M. (2011) Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae). In: Wu, Z.Y. & Raven, P.H. (Eds.) Flora of China, vol. 19. Science Press & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis, pp. 258–282.
  3. Darwin, S.P. (1976) The Pacific species of Ophiorrhiza L. (Rubiaceae). Lyonia 1: 48–101.
  4. Davis, A.P., Govaerts, R., Bridson, D.M., Ruhsam, M., Moat, J. & Brummitt, N.A. (2009) A Global assessment of distribution, diversity, endemism, and taxonomic effort in the Rubiaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 96: 68–78. https://doi.org/10.3417/2006205
  5. Dunn, S.T. (1908) A botanical expedition to Central Fokien. Journal of the Linnean Society 38: 366. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1908.tb00858.x
  6. Hooker, J.D. (1880) Ophiorrhiza. In: Hooker, J.D. (Ed.) Flora of British India (Vol. 3). Reeve & co., London, pp. 77–84.
  7. IUCN (2024) Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 16. IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 5 May 2024).
  8. Liao, X.W., Feng, Z.L., Song, F., Liu, Q.R. & Wu, L. (2024) Ophiorrhiza xunliniana (Rubiaceae), a new species from southeastern Yunnan, China. Annales Botanici Fennici 61 (1): 277–283. https://doi.org/10.5735/085.061.0138
  9. Liu, C.Y., Liao, X.W., Ye, L.C., Tan, Y.H., Nguyen, K.S., Thien, T.D. & Wu, L. (2024) Ophiorrhiza liuyanii (Rubiaceae), a new species from south-western China and northern Vietnam. PhytoKeys 248: 199–206. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.248.135078
  10. Lo, H.S. (1990) Taxonomic revision of the Chinese species of Ophiorrhiza (Rubiaceae). Bulletin of Botanical Research 10 (2): 1–82.
  11. Nees, C.G. (1832) Acanthaceae Indiae Orientalis. In: Wallich, N. (Ed.) Plantae Asiaticae Rariores: or, Descriptions and figures of a select number of unpublished East Indian plants (Vol. 3). Taylor & Co., London, pp. 86–89.
  12. Persoon, C.H. (1807) Synopsis Plantarum: seu Enchiridium botanicum, complectens enumerationem systematicam specierum hucusque cognitarum. Truettel et Würtel & J.G. Cottam, Paris & Tübingen, 269 pp.
  13. POWO. (2026) Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: https://powo.science.kew.org/ (accessed 26 January 2026)
  14. Razafimandimbison, S.G. & Rydin, C. (2019) Molecular-based assessments of tribal and generic limits and relationships in Rubiaceae (Gentianales): Polyphyly of Pomazoteae and paraphyly of Ophiorrhizeae and Ophiorrhiza. Taxon 68: 72–91. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12023
  15. Schanzer, I.A. (2004) Systematic notes on Ophiorrhiza trichocarpon Blume (Rubiaceae) and some related species. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 32: 132–145.
  16. Shang, C., Xue, J., Yang, Y.J., Liao, X.W., Liu, Q.R. & Wu, L. (2024) Ophiorrhiza reflexa (Rubiaceae), a new species from a karst region in Guangxi, China. Phytokeys 238: 231–240. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.238.116767
  17. Smith, J.E. (1805) Exotic botany: consisting of coloured figures, and scientific descriptions, of such new, beautiful, or rare plants as are worthy of cultivation in the gardens of Britain. Taylor & Co., London, 115 pp.
  18. Wu, L., Hareesh, V.S. & Deng, Y.F. (2017) Excluding Ophiorrhiza mungos (Rubiaceae) from flora of China. Phytotaxa 2 (2): 184–188. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.309.2.11
  19. Zhan, M., Liao, X.W., Song, F., Xue, L., Liu, Q.R. & Wu, L. (2024) Ophiorrhiza paralatiflora (Rubiaceae), a new species from limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Nordic Journal of Botany 7: e04391. https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.04391

How to Cite

Wang, Y.-Q., Qin, W.-Q., Zhang, D.-G., Meng, Y.-J., Shu, J., Zhang, Z.-L. & Xie, D. (2026) Ophiorrhiza wulingensis, a new species of Ophiorrhizeae (Rubiaceae) from northwestern Hunan, China. Phytotaxa 750 (2): 137–142. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.750.2.7