China News Service, Chongqing, February 20 (Liang Qinqing and Fu Chunrong) The reporter learned from the Chongqing Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve Management Center on the 20th that a new species of Gesneriaceae plant - Wuxi Gesneria was recently discovered in the reserve. , and published in the plant taxonomy journal "Phytotaxa".
Potatowort is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Gesneriaceae family, mainly distributed in southwestern my country. The leaves of Wuxi Potato Moss are rosette-shaped at the base, and the surface of the leaves is covered with rust-colored hairs. The cymes are axillary, and the peduncle is 15 cm long. The flower color is dark pink to purple. The flowering period is from May to June every year. Distributed on moist stone walls between 1060 meters and 1670 meters above sea level.
Recently, the Chongqing Museum of Natural History, in collaboration with the School of Life Sciences of Southwest University, the Wulipo Nature Reserve Management Affairs Center, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the Guangxi Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted a plant resource survey in the Yintiaoling Nature Reserve. Several rosette-shaped plants were found on the stone wall, and the researchers quickly concluded that they were plants of the Gesneriaceae family. This also aroused the interest of the team members, who took photos and recorded them.
After careful anatomy of the flowers of this species, literature review and more in-depth morphological research, it was confirmed that this species is a new taxon of Potatowort that has not been recorded before, and was named "Wuxi" based on its type place of origin, Wuxi County. Potato Moss”.
Recently, a new species of Gesneriaceae plant—Wuxi Malachite was discovered in Chongqing Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve. Photo by Xiong Chi
Through investigation, only 3 populations of about 500 mature individuals have been found in the Yintiaoling Nature Reserve. They are all distributed on roadside stone walls and are easily affected by human activities. There is an urgent need to strengthen in-depth research and protection of this species. The discovery of this species not only enriches the Gesneriaceae flora in Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve, but also provides basic information for the origin and evolution of Gesneria species. (over)