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Two new synonyms and a name at new rank of Oreocharis Benth. (Gesneriaceae) in China

Xiaokai Xiong,Meijun Li,Zhi Li,Fang Wen,Xin-xiang Bai

Published 2025 in Botanical Studies

ABSTRACT

The enlarged concept ofOreocharis Benth., as the second largest genus of Gesneriaceae plants in China, has been a focus of attention for Gesneriaceae researchers in recent years. However, after the frequent taxonomic revisions of Oreocharis, errors in species publication have become common, leading to confusion in taxonomy. Two taxonomic issues requiring attention were identified during the investigation of the resources of Gesneriaceae in the karst plateau of Guizhou. First, the morphological characteristics of Oreocharis brachypoda J.M.Li & Zhi M.Li and Oreocharis wanshanensis (S.Z.He) Mich.Möller & A.Weber are difficult to distinguish, and their type localities overlap. Therefore, it is suspected that the same species has been repeatedly published, albeit with different specific epithets. Moreover, the above two species are closely related to the Oreocharis villosa (K.Y.Pan) Mich.Möller & A.Weber. Second, there is no essential difference in morphological characteristics between Oreocharis notochlaena H.Lév. and Oreocharis mileensis (W.T.Wang) Mich.Möller & A.Weber, and the latter should be treated as a synonym of Oreocharis notochlaena. In this study, through morphological, molecular phylogenetic, and haplotype network studies, the taxonomic status of the above involved species was explored. Based on original literature research, field investigation, and morphological comparison, it was determined that the morphological characteristics of Oreocharis brachypoda and O. wanshanensis are highly consistent, and there are no qualitative characteristics that can effectively distinguish the two, while quantitative characteristics overlap with each other. O. villosa differs from the above two by cymes 2-3 branches, 2-3 per plant, each 8-10-flowered, anther thecae divergent, style shorter than ovary. Similarly, it is difficult to distinguish between O. notochlaena and O. mileensis in morphology. Both the reconstructed phylogenetic relationships and the results of the haplotype network analysis also corroborate the results of the morphological studies. Based on morphology, geographic distribution patterns, molecular phylogeny, and haplotype networks, the findings on two taxonomic issues are as follows: First, O. brachypoda is a duplicate publication of O. wanshanensis, and morphologically, it is distinguished from O. villosa by cymes unbranched, 1-4-flowered, anther thecae confluent, style and ovary nearly equal in length. Second, O. mileensis is a duplicate publication of O. notochlaena. According to the regulations and suggestions of the 2018 International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code), it is proposed to treat O. wanshanensis as a variant of O. villosa and to treat O. brachypoda as a synonym of O. wanshanensis. At the same time, O. mileensis should be treated as a synonym of O. notochlaena.

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