Botanical Studies (2008) 49: 281-285.

*

Corresponding author: E-mail: fschou@tfri.gov.tw; Fax:

+886-7-6894588.

INTRODUCTION

Veronicastrum, a genus of Scrophulariaceae (s. l .)

(Fischer, 2004), contains about 20 species in the world

and has a limited distribution from East Asia to North

America (Chin and Hong, 1979). In Taiwan, three species

(Yamazaki, 1957) or two species and one variety (Liu,

1998) of the genus have been recognized, including V.

simada Yamazaki (or V. axillare [Sieb. & Zucc.] Yamazaki

var. simadai [Masamune] H. Y. Liu), V. formosanum

(Masamune) Yamazaki, and V. kitamurae (Ohwi)

Yamazaki, and are all endemic to this island.

In 2001, the first author made a field collection near

Loshan Village, Hualien County, and found a species

characterized with a terminal spike-like infructescence

and alternate ovate-oval leaves. Based on the four-

valved fruit displayed on the infructescence and winged

stems, the species was putatively referred to as a species

of Veronicastrum. It was thought to have vanished until

the second author re-collected fresh materials with

inflorescences and blooming flowers in October 2006.

After a detailed study of its morphological characters in

comparison with related species through either examining

specimens or reviewing the relevant literature concerning

the genus, we concluded that it is a new species. It is

described below.

DESCRIPTION

Veronicastrum loshanense T.-T. Chen & F.-S. Chou¡X

TYPE: TAIWAN. Hualien Co., Loshan Village, ca. 600

m elevation, on a substratum of a sparse broadleaf for-

est; Fu-Shan Chou 00001 (with flowers and young fruit,

Oct. 15, 2006) (holotype: TAIF; isotypes: HAST, TAI,

SYSU). Chen Tien-Tsai 11738 (PPI). ù¤s¸¡¤ô¯ó

Figures 1, 2

Caulis scandens vel decumbens, teres striatus. Folia

alterna, chartacea, glabra, oblaceolata vel ovata,

subsessilia vel breviter petolata. Inflorescentia in ramum,

ternalem disposita. Flores subsessiles. Corolla 4-fissa,

tubolobis subaequilongo. Stamina corolla paulo exserta,

filamentis inframedium pilosis.

Perennial herb. Stems scandent or decumbent, much

branched, ca. 1 m long, ca. 0.5 mm wide, with wings about

1 mm wide, glabrous. Leaves alternate, simple, dimorphic,

margins serrate, glabrous, oblanceolate-elliptic on lower

part of stem, 7-10 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide, apex acute,

base attenuate, ovate-oval on branches and upper part of

stem, 2-5 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, apex acute, base cuneate;

petioles short, 1-2 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescences

terminal, racemose, 5-12 cm long, glabrous; flowers dark

purple, nearly sessile, bracteate. Pedicels ca. 1 mm long.

Bracts lanceolate, ca. 3 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide. Calyx

deeply 5-lobed, green, lobes narrowly trullate, acuminate,

shallowly serrate, glabrous, ca. 3 mm long, ca. 1 mm

wide. Corolla 4-lobed, tubular-campanulate, dark purple;

tube ca. 2.5 mm long, woolly inside near mouth, glabrous

outside; upper lobe slightly curved, ovate-orbicular, ca. 2.5

mm long, ca. 2 mm wide; other lobes lanceolate, 2.5 mm

long, 1.5 mm wide, recurved. Stamens 2, slightly exserted,

inserted beside upper corolla-lobe, ca. 3 mm long; haired

near base, anther dorsifixed, ca. 1 mm long, longitudinally

dehiscent, yellow. Ovary ovate-oval, ca. 1 mm long, 1.5

mm wide; style ca. 2 mm long; stigma punctate. Fruit an

ovoid capsule, 3-4 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, dehiscent into

4 valves. Seeds numerous, ovoid-ellipsoid, ca. 0.5 mm

long, ca. 0.4 mm wide, with reticulate-striated.

A new Taiwan species Veronicastrum loshanense

(Scrophulariaceae)

Tien-Tsai CHEN

1

and Fu-Shan CHOU

2,

*

1

Institute of Natural Resources, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974, Taiwan

2

Liukuei Research Center, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 198 Chungchuang, Chunghsing Village, Liukuei 844,

Kaoshiung County, Taiwan

(Received March 21, 2007; Accepted January 17, 2008)

ABSTRACT.

A new species, Veronicastrum loshanense (Scrophulariaceae), found in eastern Taiwan is

described. Its growth is restricted to near Loshan Village, Hualien County. A morphogical comparison to

related species is provided. In addition, a detailed description, geographic distribution, habitat, photographs,

and line-drawings are provided for this new species.

Keywords: Veronicastrum loshanense; New species; Taiwan.

TAxONOmy

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Botanical Studies, Vol. 49, 2008

Figure 1. Veronicastrum loshanense T.-T. Chen & F.-S. Chou. A, Stem with wings; B, Habit; C, Upper-stem leaf; D, Branch leaf; E,

Branch with terminal inflorescence; F, Fruit with sepals; G, Flower; H, Collora with woolly upper inside and two stamens; I, Calyx and

ovary; J, Stamen with hairs; K, Bract. (All materials from the holotype, Fu-Shan Chou 00001).

CHEN and CHOU ¡X A new Taiwan species

Veronicastrum loshanense

283

Figure 2. Veronicastrum loshanense T.-T. Chen & F.-S. Chou. A, Habit; B, Branch and terminal inflorescence; C, Flower; D, Calyx

and ovary; E, Seed (SEM); F, Seed surface with reticulate-striated. (A, B, C, and D from Fu-Shan Chou 00001; E and F from Tien-Tsai

Chen 11738 (PPI))

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Botanical Studies, Vol. 49, 2008

Ecology. On substratum of a sparse broadleaf forest.

Distribution. Known only from Hualien Co., Loshan

Village, and eastern Taiwan; at ca. 600 m elevation; very

rare. (Figure 3).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the

type locality, Loshan (Hualien Co.).

Phenology. Flowering from September to October;

fruiting from November to January.

Notes. The new species has a superficial resemblance to

Veronicastrum caulopterum (Hance) Yamazaki in having

the characters of a stem with narrow wings, inflorescence

terminal on branches, and flowers with equal lengths of

the corolla tube and lobe; however, the former differs from

the latter in having a scandent or decumbent stem and

dimorphic leaves (Table 1).

In Taiwan, this new species can be separated from other

species of the genus by the following diagnoses. A key to

the species is given as follows.

1. Stems erect; leaves linear-lanceolate or lanceolate.

2. Leaves linear-lanceolate, sessile or subsessile ...........

........................................................... V. formosanum

2. Leaves lanceolate, shortly petioled ........ V. kitamurae

1. Stems prostrate, decumbents or scandent.

3. Stems scandent or decumbent; leaves dimorphic, oval

on branches and upper part of stem; inflorescence

terminal ................................................ V. loshanense

3. Stems prostrate, rooted at nodes; leaves

monomorphic, ovate; inflorescence axillary ..............

............................................ V. axillarae var. simadai

Acknowledgements. The authors thank Prof. Yuen-

Po Yang, Department of Biological Science, National

Sun Yat-sen University, for his critical reading of the

manuscript and useful suggestions. We thank Miss

Yi-Ching Cheng for the clear line drawings. We also

appreciate the criticism and suggestions that highly

improved the quality of this manuscript provided by two

anonymous reviewers.

LITERATURE CITED

Chin, T.L. and D.Y. Hong. 1979. Veronicastrum. In P.C. Tsoong

and H.P. Yang (eds.), Flora Reipulblicae Popularis Sinicae.

Vol. 67(2). Science Press, Beijing, pp. 227-250.

Fischer, E. 2004. Scrophulariaceae. In K. Kubitzki (ed.), The

Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. 7. Springer,

Berlin, pp. 333-432.

Liu, H.Y. 1998. Scrophulariaceae. In Editorial Committee of the

Flora of Taiwan (eds.), Flora of Taiwan, Second Edition,

Vol. 4. Taipei, pp. 642-646.

Yamazaki, T. 1957. Taxonomical and phylogenetic studies of

Scrophulariaceae - Vernonicae, with special reference to

Veronica and Veronicastrum in eastern Asia. J . F ac. Sci.

Univ. Tokyo Sect. III. 7: 91-162.

Figure 3. Distribution of Veronicastrum loshanense in Taiwan.

Table 1. Morphological comparison of Veronicastrum loshanense and V. caulopterum.

V. loshanense

V. caulopterum

Habit

Scandent or decumbent

Erect

Leaf shape

Oval (on branches and upper stems) and oblanceolate (on lower stem) Oblong, ovate to lanceolate

Floral arrangement

Not crowded

Crowded

Lower corolla-lobes

Recurved

Straight

CHEN and CHOU ¡X A new Taiwan species

Veronicastrum loshanense

285