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Issue: Vol. 663 No. 3: 22 Aug. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-08-22
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.663.3.4
Page range: 149-156
Abstract views: 371
PDF downloaded: 12

Sonerila dongii (tribe Sonerileae, Melastomataceae), a new species from Lam Dong province, South Vietnam

Institute of Innovation in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Food, Thu Dau Mot University, 6 Tran Van On, Phu Hoa Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam
Institute of Innovation in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Food, Thu Dau Mot University, 6 Tran Van On, Phu Hoa Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam
Herbarium of Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, No. 53, Nan-Hai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
biodiversity endemism flora of Vietnam plant diversity plant taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

Sonerila dongii, a new species from Lam Dong province in South Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. The morphological characteristics of this new species distinguish it from any previously documented species in the Indochina region because it lacks a tuber and likely adapts to periodic drought seasons by utilizing its fleshy stems. Sonerila dongii bears a resemblance to S. peninsularis with its variegated, ovate foliage, and stem and inflorescence covered with minutely brown glandular trichomes. However, the new species differs from S. peninsularis in lacking an underground tuber (vs. tuber present), stem terete (vs. quadrangular) and branched (vs. usually unbranched), petals glabrous (vs. abaxial surface with long stipitate glandular trichomes) and longer anthers 4.5–5 mm long (vs. 1.5–2.5 mm). The conservation status of Sonerila dongii is assessed as data deficient (DD), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

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