Ophiopogon malipoensis Q.W. Lin, 2025

Ophiopogon malipoensis Q.W. Lin , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 & 2 View FIGURE 2 )

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan Province: Malipo County, Xiajinchang Country, 23.17° N, 104.85° E, alt. 1202 m a.s.l., rocky slopes under forests, 8 May 2023, Q. W. Lin, K. Tan, Y. T. Niu & J. H. Xiao 2024-1118 ( holotype: PE!).

Diagnosis: —In having lateral veins running from midvein, this new species is closely similar to O. peliosanthoides ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 & 4). It is, however, distinguishable mainly by the stout ginger-like rhizomes (up to 5 cm long, 4–10 (–15) mm in diameter vs. slender rhizomes up to 20 cm long, 2–5 mm in diameter), larger lanceolate blades 30–9 × 4.4–5 cm with acuminate apex (vs. oblanceolate blades 10–15 × 3.2–3.8 cm with acute apex), light green abaxial surfaces (vs. blue grey abaxial surfaces), and with 12–15 pairs of lateral veins (vs. 4–7 pairs), connate anthers (vs. free), and inconspicuous filaments (vs. shortly stalked).

Description:—Herb perennial, evergreen, terrestrial, rhizomatous, tufted, glabrous. Rhizomes subterranean, horizontal or ascending, ginger-like, stout, knobby, simple, up to 5 cm long, 4–10 (–15) mm in diameter; knobs 4–6, subglobose or ovoid, erect or suberect, 6–10 (–16) cm long, producing numerous roots, apically covered with cataphylls and bases of leaves. Roots proximally cordlike, semi-ligneous, slender, (1–) 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter, brown, puberulent when young. Leaves 60–65 cm long, distinctly petiolate; petioles 30–35 cm long, 4.5–5 mm wide; blades broadly lanceolate, 30–39 × 4.4–5 cm, attenuate at base, acuminate at apex, leathery, adaxial surface glossy, dark green, abaxially light green; pinnate-parallel veined, with 12–15 lateral veins running from midvein; leaf margins entire, more or less wrinkled. Flowering stem (including peduncle and rachis) sub-erect to ascending, 40–48 cm long, often flushed with purple; peduncle subterete, slightly flattened, ca. 5 mm in diameter, basally covered with several imbricate sterile bracts that are cymbiform ca. 2.5 × 2 cm, translucent, sheath-like; in the middle part usually with 1–3 sterile bracts which are ascending, ovate to deltoid-ovate, ca. 2 × 0.8 mm. Inflorescence racemose, dense with 25–30 flowers; rachis 19–27 cm long, usually with 2 (sometimes one) flowers per axil of bracts. Flowers secund, cernuous, broadly campanulate, ca. 25 mm across when fully opened. Bracts cymbiform, broadly ovate, 15–30 × 1–5 mm, apex acute to obtuse, abaxially light purple to purple, adaxially dull white, margins membranous to scarious, bracteoles 1 or 2, similar to bracts but smaller. Pedicels 6–12 mm long including lower stalky part of perianth (true pedicels, excluding perianth part, 4–8 mm long), articulate in lower part. Perianth lobes 6, ovate, 13–15 × 5–7 mm, abaxially light purple to purple, adaxially dull white. Stamens 6, inserted at base of each perianth lobe; anthers 6, ca. 1 cm long, greenishyellow, apex acuminate, connate, straight, connivent and surrounding the style, base narrowly hastate-deltoid (lateral sides slightly concave and dilated toward base); filaments very short, but incrassate. Pistil 1, white; style filiform, straight, ca. 1 cm long. Mature seeds subglobose, ca. 1.4 cm long, ca. 1.2 cm in diam., glossy bluish-green.

Etymology: —The specific epithet of the new species refers to the name of its type locality.

Phenology: —Flowering in May, fruiting in January.

Habitat and conservation status: —Growing on humid and shady areas, under primary or secondary broadleaved evergreen forests at ca. 1200 m in elevation. This species is known only from its type location. The area where it occurs is estimated less than 500 km ², meeting the geographic range threshold (< 5000 km 2) for assessment as Endangered (EN) under IUCN Red List criterion B1 ( IUCN 2022). The population is small and declining because of ongoing habitat degradation caused by anthropogenic pressures which are expected to continue and further threaten the species' survival. Considering these factors, the species is classified as Endangered (EN) B1ab (i,ii,iii,v).

Distribution: —Currently known only from the type locality.

Comparison with similar species: — Ophiopogon malipoensis can be easily distinguished from all other known species of Ophiopogon with its lateral veins running from midvein, with the exception of O. peliosanthoides . However, the new species differs from O. peliosanthoides in several key characteristics: stout ginger-like rhizomes (up to 5 cm long, 4–10 (–15) mm in diameter vs. slender rhizomes up to 20 cm long, 2–5 mm in diameter), larger broadly lanceolate blades 30–39 × 4.4–5 cm with acuminate apex (vs. oblanceolate blades 10–15 × 3.2–3.8 cm with acute apex), light green abaxial surfaces (vs. blue grey abaxial surfaces), 12–15 pairs of lateral veins (vs. 4–7 pairs), connate anthers (vs. free), and inconspicuous filament (vs. shortly stalked). Details of the morphological differences between O. malipoensis and O. peliosanthoides are presented in Table 1.

Studied specimens:― Ophiopogon peliosanthoides . CHINA. Yunnan: unknown, Esquirol 6677 ( PE: 00036188!) ; Xichou, K. M. Feng 11900, 12052, ( PE: 00291586!, PE: 002915900!, PE: 00291591!) ; S. Z. Wang 405 ( PE: 00291588!) ; Malipo, K. M. Feng 22850 ( PE: 00291589!) ; Pingbian, C. W. Wang 82405 ( PE: 00291587!) ; Maguan, A. Q. Wu 8434 ( KUN: 1222906 image!). Guizhou: Anlong , Z. S. Zhang & Y. T. Zhang 2373 ( holotype: PE: 00036187!). Guangxi: Longlin , H. Q. Wen 00425 ( IBK: IBK00351346 About IBK image!). Anonymous s.n. ( HITBC: HITBC069531 About HITBC image!) .