Sinocrassula chenggongensis J. Guan Wang & Jing Zhao sp. nov.
Figs 4, 5
Type.
China • Yunnan: Kunming City, Chenggong District, Santai Mountain Park; elev. ca. 1905 m; 24.898200, 102.793500; 15 October 2025; Jia-Guan Wang, Jing Zhao & Chuan-Jie Huang YUS 15602 (holotype YUKU!; isotype YUKU!).
Diagnosis.
Sinocrassula chenggongensis is morphologically similar to S. adpressa, S. yongshengensis Chao Chen & J. Guan Wang and S. kunmingensis, but can be distinguished by the following character combinations. Compared to S. adpressa, this species has oblong bracts with an oblique apex (vs. elliptic in S. adpressa), nectar scales are subligulate, measuring 0.5–0.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm (vs. rectangular, 0.5–0.7 × 0.3–0.5 mm in S. adpressa), petals without a protrusion (vs. with a protrusion at the middle in S. adpressa), and flowers are pinkish-purple (vs. reddish-purple in S. adpressa). Compared to S. yongshengensis, this species bracts are oblong bracts with an oblique apex (vs. spatulate or ovate-oblong in S. yongshengensis), flowers are pinkish-purple (vs. white to green in S. yongshengensis), nectar scales are subligulate (vs. rectangular in S. yongshengensis), and petals without a protrusion (vs. with a ridged protrusion at the middle of the upper part in S. yongshengensis). Compared to S. kunmingensis, this species bracts are oblong bracts with an oblique apex (vs. ovate-lanceolate in S. kunmingensis), flowers are pinkish-purple (vs. reddish-purple in S. kunmingensis), stem-leaves are green with purplish-red spots (vs. greenish yellow or red without spots in S. kunmingensis), and petals without a protrusion (vs. central with a slight protrusion in S. kunmingensis).
Description.
Terrestrial or lithophytic, perennial, 16.0–24.0 cm tall, glabrous, rosette 5.0–8.0 cm in diam. Roots fibrous. Basal leaves rosulate, ca. 20–30, spirally arranged, base green, asymmetrically ovate to lanceolate, 2.5–5.0 × 1.0– 2.5 cm, upward purple red with spots. Flowering stems terminal, slender, ca. 12.0–15.0 cm, glabrous, purple red with spots, unbranched or branched near base. Stem leaves alternate, green with purplish-red spots, lanceolate, 3.0–4.0 × 1.0– 1.5 cm, oblique at base. Inflorescence corymbiform, ca. 2.0–3.0 cm in diam, many flowered. Bracts oblong-elliptic, apex oblique, densely covered with purple red spots, 0.5–0.7 × 0.2–0.4 cm. Flowers small, ca. 4.0–6.0 mm in diam, pedicels green, slightly longer than flowers. Sepals broadly triangular, purple with red spots, 1.5–3.0 × 0.5–1.2 mm, minutely papillate, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded to cuneate. Petals triangular, without a protrusion, base white, densely pinkish-purple upward, 2.0–3.0 × 1.0– 1.5 mm. Stamens slightly longer than petals, ca. 2.5–3.0 mm, filaments basally gradually broadened; anthers yellow. Nectar scales nearly ligulate, ca. 0.5–0.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm. Carpels five, lanceolate, arranged clockwise, 2.5–3.0 mm. Styles slender, white, ca. 1.0– 1.2 mm. Pollen grain prolate-spheroidal, 20.0–25.0 × 10.0–15.0 μm, surface ornamentation striate-rugulate. Flowering from September to January.
Distribution and habitat.
Sinocrassula chenggongensis is currently known in central Yunnan Province, China. One population was found growing on tiles and walls of old houses in villages, as well as on shaded rock faces and boulders in the wild, at an elevation of ca. 1900 m.
Etymology.
The epithet chenggongensis refers to Chenggong District, the location where the species was discovered. Its Chinese name is suggested as ‘ 呈贡石莲 (cheng gong shi lian) ’.
