Sinocrassula holotricha J. Guan Wang, Jing Zhao & Chao Chen, 2025

Sinocrassula holotricha J. Guan Wang, Jing Zhao & Chao Chen sp. nov.

Figs 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3

Type.

China • Sichuan: Jiulong County, elev. ca. 2384 m, 28.832849 ° N, 101.612746 ° E, on the granite crevices, 7 July 2023, Jing Zhao et al. YUS- 13475 (holotype: YUKU!; isotypes: YUKU!) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Morphologically, Sinocrassula holotricha is similar to S. ambigua and S. jiaozishanensis , but clearly differs from the latter two by its hairy plants (vs. glabrous), and similar to S. yunnanensis (Franch) A. Berger in having hairy plant, but differs from the latter in basal leaves opposite (vs. rosette), orangish-red (vs. yellowish green) petals, and ligulate (vs. quadrate) nectar scales (Table 2 View Table 2 ). The new species with the combined morphological characters of hairy plants and lack of basal rosette is obviously different from these known species.

Description.

Plants terrestrial or lithophytic, perennial, 15–20 cm tall, hairy throughout (Figs 2 A View Figure 2 , 3 G, H View Figure 3 ). Roots fibrous. Leaves without basal rosettes, basal leaves opposite, oblanceolate-rounded, 2.0–2.5 × 2.0– 2.5 cm, stem leaves oblanceolate - oblong, 2.5–3.0 × 1.2–1.5 cm, apex cuspidate, (Figs 2 A View Figure 2 , 3 G, H View Figure 3 ). Sterile stems short, 8.0–15.0 cm tall, simple, slightly thickened to the base, 5.0–7.0 mm in diam. (Fig. 2 A View Figure 2 ). Flowering stems elongated, 5–10 cm, sparely leafy, hairy; stem leaves nearly opposite, ± orbicular at base, upward obovate, hairy (Fig. 2 A, B View Figure 2 ). Inflorescences corymbiform, densely orange papillate, ca. 7.0 cm in diam. (Fig. 2 A, B View Figure 2 ); bracts few, obovate-lanceolate, pubescent and glandular (Fig. 2 G, H View Figure 2 ). Flowers small, ca. 4.5–5.0 × 3.5–4.0 mm in diam; pedicels purple, slightly longer than flowers (Fig. 2 A, B, I View Figure 2 ). Sepals obovate-triangle, ca. 2.5–3.5 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, minutely and densely orange papillate, apex obtuse, base rounded (Fig. 2 K View Figure 2 ). Petals yellowish white, deeply orange upward, ovate-lanceolate, 3.5–4.2 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, minutely papillate abaxially (Fig. 2 L View Figure 2 ). Stamens slightly shorter than petals, ca. 3.0 mm (Fig. 2 M View Figure 2 ). Nectar scales nearly ligulate, ca. 0.45–0.50 × 0.25–0.30 mm (Fig. 2 N View Figure 2 ). Carpels 5, lanceolate, 3.0– 3.3 mm (Fig. 2 J View Figure 2 ). Styles short, ca. 0.5–0.7 mm (Fig. 2 J View Figure 2 ). Flower Jun. – Oct.

Distribution and habitat.

Sinocrassula holotricha is known only from the west and south west Sichuan in China. Two populations were found on granite crevices, dry stony, or gravelly slopes at elevations of ca. 1500–2400 m (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ).

Additional specimens examined.

China • Sichuan: Yuexi County, elev. ca. 1522 m, 28.704771 ° N, 102.596450 ° E, on the granite crevices, 5 July 2023, Jing Zhao et al. YUS- 12867 ( YUKU!) GoogleMaps .

Etymology.

The specific epithet holotricha is derived from the Latin holo, meaning whole, and “ trichome, ” meaning hair, in reference to the plants covered by pubescence throughout.