SIX NEW SPECIES OF ASPIDISTRA (RUSCACEAE) FROM NORTHERN VIETNAM

Six species of Aspidistra Ker Gawl. (Ruscaceae) from Vietnam new to science are described. The total number of known Aspidistra species now increases to 90.


INTRODUCTION
The Southeast Asian genus Aspidistra Ker Gawl. of Ruscaceae s.l.(this family name has priority over Convallariaceae, see APG II ( 2003)) was notoriously overlooked for many decades.Aspidistras are at first glance inconspicuous members of forest undergrowth, but the diversity of flower types makes this genus one of the most spectacular Map 1. Collection sites of Aspidistra species in northern Vietnam. 5: A. alata; §: A. cryptantha; ´: A. campanulata; ,: A. grandiflora.
in Angiosperms (Lang et al., 1999;Li et al., 2000;Li, 2004;Tillich, 2005).Since about 1980, the number of known Aspidistra species is increasing rapidly, and only during the past three years 22 new species have been described (Li & Wei, 2003;De Wilde & Vogel, 2005;Tillich, 2005Tillich, , 2006)).In the course of ongoing investigation of the genus Aspidistra in Vietnam there arose the opportunity of studying herbarium material from the National Centre of Science and Technology Hanoi (HN) as well as the material from St. Petersburg (LE) and St. Louis (MO).This resulted in the identification of more new species collected in northern Vietnam (Map 1).Unfortunately, a lot of herbarium specimens are prepared in only vegetative stages; but without well-prepared flowers a determination of species is mostly impossible.The best way is to take the plants in cultivation under permanent observation to detect the flowers, which mostly develop at ground level and are more or less hidden below the leaves (Tillich, 2005;De Wilde & Vogel, 2005).Herbarium specimens then should include well-prepared flowers and at the best also colour photos.Including the following new species, we currently have knowledge of 90 Aspidistra species.Tillich, Aspidistrae xiliensis Y. Wan & X.H. Lu similis, sed laminis linearibus 50 -60 cm longa 2-3 cm lata, perigonii lobis ligulatis, staminibus tubi basi insertis differt.-Typus: L.V. Averyanov et al. VH 2456 (holo HN, photo M;iso LE), Vietnam, Prov. Cao Bang, Distr. Tra Linh, Subdistr. Quoc Toan, near Thang Heng Lake, alt. 600-700 m, 04.01.1996.Perennial herb.Rhizome creeping, 5 -6 mm diam., densely covered with fibrous remnants of cataphylls.Leaves distally crowded, 80-100 cm long, petiole 15-20 cm, lamina linear, 60-80 by 2.5-3.5 cm, basally gradually tapering to petiole, in herbaria typically blackish brown, with a yellow prominent midrib at lower surface.Flowers solitary, peduncle decumbent, 5-7 cm, with two bracts halfway and one at the base of the flower.Perigone dirty green-violet to dirty reddish; tube urceolate, 8-10 mm long, diam.at lower third 10-12 mm, distally decreasing to 5-6 mm; lobes 6, ligulate with rounded tips, reflexed, 8 by 4 mm, each with 4 thin, parallel keels 1.5-1.8mm high, keels distally fusing to each other and basally running to the base of the tube.Anthers 6, sessile, ovoid, 1.2 by 0.8 mm, closely attached to the pistil base.Pistil mushroom shaped, ovary inconspicuous, style cylindrical, 2 mm long, stigma hemispherical, 5 mm diam., upper surface with irregular furrows similar to a brain surface.

Aspidistra alata
Distribution -The species is known from three places in Province Cao Bang which is directly adjacent to the Chinese Province Guangxi, the diversity centre of the genus.It may occur also in Guangxi as well as some species from southern Guangxi can be expected also in Cao Bang.However, recently only one species, A. dolichathera X.X.Chen, is documented in both provinces.
Habitat & Ecology -The species grows in primary evergreen and secondary semideciduous forests on steep slopes of remnant limestone mountains.In some places very common.
Distribution -The species is known from the type locality only, where it is very common.
Distribution -The species is known from the type locality only.
Habitat & Ecology -The species grows in evergreen forests on slopes of remnant limestone mountains between 600-800 m, very common at 700-800 m.Distribution -The species is known from the type locality only.
Etymology -From Latin reconditus = hidden, referring to the sexual organs completely hidden inside the ovoid perigone with an only very small distal opening.

Fig. 1 .
Fig. 1.Aspidistra alata Tillich.a. Habit; b. flower; c. perigone in longitudinal section, the frontal stamen detached; d. lobe in cross section to show the position and height of keels (all from type specimen).

H
Fig. 4. a-h: Aspidistra grandiflora Tillich.a. Flower with peduncle and bracts; b. internal view of part of perigone; c. peduncle with flower removed to show the shape of flower subtending bracts; d. stigma in upper view; e. leaf; f. flower in longitudinal section; g. flower centre in upper view; h.flowers in original position in the type habitat (a-e from type specimen).-i: Aspidistra campanulata Tillich.Photos f-i: L.V. Averyanov.Scale bars: a-d, h: 3 cm; e: 10 cm; f, g, i: 1 cm.