Gesneriaceae consists of about 150 genus and around 3500 species of recurrent herbs , bush or minuscule tree , with the main distribution in the tropics and semitropics .
During botanical surveys from 2012 to 2018 in Yunnan , researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden ( XTBG ) collected several specimens of Gesneriaceae .
The investigator conducted exhaustive equivalence of symptomatic morphological , anatomical features and herbarium specimens and with standardized taxonomic group of Petrocosmea , Didymocarpus , and Henckelia .
They also consult the relevant lit for Petrocosmea from China and adjacent region . Morphological observance were carry out on live on plants in the field and glasshouse , as well as dry specimen .
Afterwards , four mintage were confirmed new to science . They were named as Petrocosmea rhombifolia , Petrocosmea tsaii , Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus , and Henckelia xinpingensis respectively and publish in PhytoKeys .
Petrocosmea rhombifolia is a perennial herb with light rhizomatous stem and crowded stringy roots . It is interchangeable to P. rosettifolia , but differs from the latter in having rhombic folio blades and much longer leafstalk .
Petrocosmea rhombifolia . Image by Yang Bin
Petrocosmea tsaii is a perennial herb with short rhizomatous stem . It is similar to P. kerrii var . kerrii and P. menglianensis , but can be well distinguished from the two similar taxonomic category by its blueish - purple corolla ( vs. whitened ) and much longer florescence .
Petrocosmea tsaii . Image by Yang Bin
Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus is similar to D. purpureobracteatus in bract ovate to ball-shaped and calyx tubular , but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its leaf infrastructure extremely athwart heart-shaped .
Didymocarpus brevipedunculatus . figure of speech by Yang Bin
Henckelia xinpingensis is similar to H. pumila , but disagree in consume intensive yellow corolla , and stigma exclusive or slenderly 2 - lobed , etc .
Henckelia xinpingensis . Image by Yang Bin
For more information : Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesMenglun , Mengla , Yunnan 666303 , Chinaenglish.xtbg.cas.cn
