Two new taxa of the genus Aspidistra (Convallariaceae) from northern Vietnam

Khang Sinh Nguyen1 , Leonid V. Averyanov2 , H.-J. Tillich3 , Van The Pham4 , Tatiana V. Maisak5 and Ngoc Sam Ly6 

1 Inst. of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Vietnam 

2Komarov Botanical Inst. of the Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia 

3 Ludwig-Maximilians-Univ., Inst. of Systematic Botany, Munich, Germany 

4 Inst. of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Vietnam 

5Komarov Botanical Inst. of the Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia 

6 Inst. of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Corresponding author: Leonid V. Averyanov, Komarov Botanical Inst. of the Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia. E-mail: av_leonid@mail.ru

Abstract The recently discovered Aspidistra cyathiflora var. bifolia, and A. neglecta are described and illustrated as taxa new to science. Both plants are local endemics of karstic limestone areas of northern Vietnam. Data on ecology, phenology, tentative relations, distribution and expected conservation status are reported for all mentioned taxa. 

The genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawler (1822: 628) is presently one of the most fast-growing taxonomic groups of flowering plants. Available data show Vietnam and allied countries as a largest center of species diversity of this genus. Recent account of the genus in Vietnam reported 43 species occurring in the country (Tillich 2014). Since then, at least 25 species were discovered and described in this country additionally (Averyanov, Tillich 2014, 2015, 2016, Vislobokov et al. 2014a,b, 2016, LeongSkornickova et al. 2014, Colin 2015, Ngoc-Sam Ly, Tilllich 2015, Vislobokov 2015, 2016, Averyanov et al. 2016). Meanwhile, the diversity of the genus in Vietnam and allied countries remains still insufficiently inventoried. This paper continues the publication of new results of a successive investigation of the genus Aspidistra diversity in Vietnam. It includes descriptions of two new taxa discovered in northern Vietnam, A. cyathiflora Y. Wan & C.C. Huang (Wan 1989: 100) var. bifolia Aver., Tillich & K.S. Nguyen and A. neglecta Aver., Tillich & K.S. Nguyen. Both these species are local endemics of karstic limestone areas of northern Vietnam. Morphological description, appropriate type citations, data on ecology, phenology, distribution, estimated protection status and notes on plausible phylogenetic relations are provided for mentioned species and variety. Newly described taxa are illustrated by color detailed analytical photo-plates. When the new data provided here are included, the number of Aspidistra species known in Vietnam exceeds 70.

Figure 1. Aspidistra bifolia sp. nov. Digital epitype, L. Averyanov et al., 0263/CPC 8057. Photos of L. Averyanov and Khang Sinh Nguyen, correction and design by L. Averyanov.

Figure 2. Aspidistra neglecta sp. nov. Digital epitype, Khang Sinh Nguyen, 0272/VP 26. Photos of Khang Sinh Nguyen, correction and design by L. Averyanov.

Nordic Journal of Botany