Taxonomic Revision Of Oreocharis Benth.and Petrocosmea Oliv.from Guizhou Province

Guizhou Province is one of the core areas for distributing wild Gesneriaceae in China.The area has abundant species resources,and many new groups and distribution records have been reported in the last two years.These will serve as valuable resources for further introduction,cultivation,exploitation,and utilization.However,related taxonomic research is lacking,and the area’s status as a hotspot for Gesneriaceae resources is severely imbalanced.This paper systematically revised the species list for Gesneriaceae in Guizhou based on previous research findings and our group’s field investigation.Taking Oreocharis Benth.and Petrocosmea Oliv.plants recorded in Guizhou as the research objects,the taxonomic revision of Oreocharis and Petrocosmea in Guizhou was conducted based on research in the original literature of the recorded species,verified type specimens,and all known evidence specimens,alongside extensive field investigation and comprehensive analysis of the morphological characteristics and variation patterns of these species.The revision mainly includes the taxonomic treatment of the species,designated lectotype,and complementary descriptions.The main results are provided below.(1)In Guizhou,there were 24 species and two varieties of Oreocharis.The results of the morphological characteristic analysis revealed that the plant’s vital taxonomic characteristics were leaf surface characteristics,corolla shape,and leaf indumentum.Following a comprehensive analysis of morphological variation patterns in species,O.pinfaensis(H.Lév.)Mich.M?ller &W.H.Chen as a synonymy of O.elegantissima(H.Lév.& Vaniot)Mich.M?ller & W.H.Chen,O.brachypodus is a synonymy of O.wanshanensis,Oreocharis mileensis(W.T.Wang)Mich.M?ller& A.Weber as a synonymy of Oreocharis notochlaena H.Lév.,O.rosthornii var.crenulata(Diels)Mich.M?ller & A.Weber as a synonymy for O.rosthornii(Diels)Mich.M?ller & A.Weber,and the taxonomic problems of Oreocharis leveilleana Fedde were clarified.O.notochlaena H.Lév.and O.parvifolia(K.Y.Pan)Mich.M?ller & W.H.Chen were rediscovered and supplemented with relevant taxonomic information.It was made clear that none of the three species,O.convexa(Craib)Mich.M?ller & A.Weber,O.tongtchouanensis Mich.M?ller & W.H.Chen and O.chienii(Chun)Mich.M?ller & A.Weber,were found in Guizhou.The taxonomic problems in Oreocharis were intensively discussed and designated lectotype for O.saxatilis(Hemsl.)Mich.M?ller & A.Weber and O.mairei H.Lév,supplements the O.cavalieri H.Lév.isolectotype specimen.(2)This paper confirms the distribution of 18 Petrocosmea plants in Guizhou.The morphological characteristics demonstrated that the flower type,the ratio between the upper and lower lip lengths of the corolla,the lip shape,and the anther shape,among others,had significant taxonomic value.In addition,P.getuheensis sp.nov.,a new taxon,was discovered.This taxon’s morphology and taxonomic discussion were described in detail.There were three newly recorded species: P.sinensis Oliv.,P.forrestii Craib,and P.oblata Craib.Accordingly,the appropriate species search table for Petrocosmea in this region has been updated.Consequently,the area’s Petrocosmea taxonomic problems have been intensively discussed and reviewed.This study enriches the taxonomic data of the genera Oreocharis and Petrocosmea in Guizhou and serves as a reference for developing and utilizing their germplasm resources.