Lespedeza jianghuensis Song Huang, Jia X. Li & B. Pan bis

Lespedeza jianghuensis Song Huang, Jia X. Li & B. Pan bis sp. nov.

Type.

China • Jiangxi, Nanchang, Jinxian County, Qinglan Lake , 15–30 m a. s. l., 19 October 2023, Jia-Xiang Li et al. 2023101903 (holotype: CSFI 080349 !, isotype HITBC!) .

Diagnosis.

L. jianghuensis is morphologically most similar to L. cuneata , in having narrow leaflets and straight lateral veins to the margin, but differs from the latter by its prostrate or decumbent habit (vs. erect or ascending), stems strongly branched at the base (vs. stems simple), branches with appressed-pubescent (vs. densely ascending-pubescent), leaves sparse (vs. leaves crowded), leaflets narrowly obovate, terminal leaflets 5–16 mm long (vs. cuneate or linear-cuneate, terminal leaflets 7–30 mm long in L. cuneata ), abaxial surfaces of leaves pubescent with obvious veins (vs. densely whitish pubescent, veins indistinct), stipules triangular, 0.7–1 mm long (vs. lanceolate, 1–4 mm long in L. cuneata ) and calyx lobes narrowly triangular (vs. lanceolate) (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ).

Description.

Shrub, prostrate or procumbent, much branched at the base, up to 60 cm long (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). Stem slightly angular, green when young, appressed white pubescent, purplish black when old, late glabrous. Trifoliolate; stipules persistent, triangular, 0.7–1 × 0.4–0.8 mm; petiole 1–6 mm long, appressed pubescent; pulvini 0.3–0.7 mm, appressed pubescent. Leaflets glabrous above, adpressed hairy beneath, late glabrous, pinnate veins clear on both side, (6 –) 8–14 pairs, reaching margin of leaflets, narrowly obovate, 5–16 × 2–4 (– 5) mm, apex obtuse or slightly emarginate, apiculate, terminal leaflets slightly larger than lateral ones; pulvinus 0.3–0.6 mm; rachis short, 0.5–1.0 mm. Racemes axillary, not exceeding the leaves, with 2–6 flowers, pedicels very short (shorter than 1 mm); bracts ovate-triangular, 0.3–0.6 mm; bracteoles 2 at base of calyx, ovate-triangular, 0.5–1 mm, equal to or shorter than calyx tube, appressed hairy. Flowers 5–9 mm; calyx campanulate, 2.5–4.5 mm, 5 - lobed, lobes narrowly triangular, 1–2.8 mm, appressed hairy, margins ciliate, lateral and lowest calyx lobes lobed to below middle, upper lobes split about 1 / 3 of calyx; corolla white; standard oval, base with purple spot, reflexed at anthesis, 5.5–8 mm, with a claw and 2 auricles at base, lamina 5–7 × 4–4.5 mm, obtuse with a point at apex; wings narrowly elliptic, slightly shorter than the keel petals, 5–6.5 mm, lamina 4–6 × 1–2 mm, slightly auriculate at base, with a 1–1.5 mm claw; keel 5.5–8 mm, often tinged purple at apex, lamina 4–6.5 × 1–2.5 mm, narrowly obovate to obovate, obtuse at apex, abruptly narrowed to claw, claw ca. 1.5–2 mm.; diadelphous stamens (9 + 1), 6–7.5 mm; pistil, 6.5–8 mm, ovary obovate, glabrous; cleistogamous flowers clustered in the lower leaf axils of the stem, sessile or subsessile; Pods indehiscent, 1 - seeded, densely adpressed hairy. Chasmogamous pods oval, 3–4.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm, with a straight beak at apex. Cleistogamous pods nearly round, 2.5–3.5 × 1.8–2.5 mm, 2–3 times longer than persistent calyx, with a curved beak at the apex, beak ca. 0.3 mm long,

Geographical distribution and habitat.

Lespedeza jianghuensis is widely distributed in the middle reaches of Yangtze River basin in China (Fig. 6 View Figure 6 ). such as Hunan, Jiangxi and Hubei Provinces. It grows on river floodplains, lakeshore terraces, mudflats, marshes, headlands, and other grasslands and wastelands close to rivers and lakes at elevation from 7 to 39 meters, and it is subject to seasonal flooding in summer.

Phenology.

Flowering September to October; fruiting October to November.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “ jianghuensis ” refers to the distribution area, with “ jiang ” standing for Yangtze River and its tributaries, and “ hu ” standing for the lakes in Yangtze River Basin.

Chinese name

(assigned here). jiāng hú tiě sào zhou (江湖铁扫帚).

Conservation status.

The new species is widely distributed along the Yangtze River, and it is likely to be more common and widespread than currently documented. It is therefore not considered to be in imminent conservation danger. The wild population of the new species is presumed to be around 50,000, and there is no known population size or population decline. It is evaluated as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2022).

Additional specimens examined.

China. Hubei: Wuhan City, Wuchang District, Hesheng Bridge , 12 Jul. 1958, Ying-Han Zhang 842 ( HIB 0041554 ) . Yingcheng City, Yihe Township, Xier Village , 4 Oct. 2024, Song Huang et al. HD- 25 ( HITBC) ; Hunan: Changsha city, Yuelu Mountain, along the Xiang River , 10 Aug. 1972, Lin-Han Liu 8060 ( HNNU 00017822 ) ; Ningxiang City, Wangcheng District, Tuntou Lake , 5 Oct. 2024, Song Huang et al. HD- 26 ( HITBC) ; Xiangyin County, Qingtan Township , 8 Aug. 2001, Ke-Ming Liu & Guang-Wan Hu 24013 ( HNNU 00017820 ) ; Xiangyin County, Xianglu Mountain , 24 Oct. 2021, Ang Liu & Guo-Hui Zhou DTH 0298 ( CSFI 080351 ) ; Yueyang County, Lujiao Town , 26 Oct. 2021, Ang Liu & Guo-Hui Zhou DTH 0373 ( CSFI 080350 ) ; Yueyang County, Zhongzhou township , 21 Sep. 2024, Song Huang et al. HD- 05 ( HITBC) . Jiangxi: Fengcheng City, Dalan Town, Wangzhou Village , 1 Oct. 2024, Song Huang et al. HD- 20 ( HITBC) ; Fengcheng City, Yuandu Town, Changyuan Village , 30 Sep. 2019, Xiao-Lang Du 360981190930092 LY ( JXCM 0010153 ) ; Ganzhou City, Ningdu County, Xiaotian Township , 24 Oct. 1958, Qi-Ming Hu 5622 ( IBSC 0180254 ) ; Ji’an City, Taihe County, by the Gan River , 15 Sep. 1980, South Meadow group 297 ( PE 01791044 ) ; Jinxian County, Luoxi Township, Nanyang Village , 2 Oct. 2024, Song Huang et al. HD- 21 ( HITBC) ; Nanchang County, Wenshen Town, Cangtou Village , 2 Oct. 2024, Song Huang et al. HD- 24 ( HITBC) ; Nanchang County, 28 Aug. 1940, Migo H. ( NAS 00387673 , NAS 00387675 , NAS 00387676 ) ; Yichun City, Tonggu County, Yingchao Village , 14 Oct. 1996, Zheng-Ming Tao et al. 960460 ( JXAU 0007890 ) .