Name:

Aspidistra bella Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen – Phytotaxa 364(2): 205. (2018).

Holotype:

 

Vietnam, Ha Giang province, Bac Me district, ex hort. on 10 March 2018, L. Averyanov, T. Maisak CPC 7484/14369 (holotype: LE01042153, isotypes: LE01042154, LE01042155, LE01042156).

Specimens:

 

 

 

Vietnam, Ha Giang province, Bac Me district, Thuong Tan municipality, primary broad-leaved humid evergreen forest on very steep slopes and along rocky ridge composed with solid crystalline highly eroded limestone at elevation 1200–1285 m around point 22°38’19.0’’N 105°17’06.5’’E, terrestrial herb on rocky slope, leaves uniformly dark green, fruits globular, about 1 cm in diam., densely haired with soft spine-like hairs, stalk 2.5–4 cm long, common, 16 November 2014, L. Averyanov, N. T. Hiep, N. S. Khang, T. Maisak, L. Osinovetz, CPC 7484 (LE01042157, LE01042158).

Distribution:

Vietnam: Ha Giang province.

Phenology:

Flowers in March–April in greenhouse.

Description

from 

protologue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrestrial rhizomatous herb. Rhizome plagiotropic, creeping, terete, branching, (0.8)1–1.4(1.6) cm in diameter, densely nodal, distal part ascending to erect, terete, (3)4–6(7) cm long, (1)1.2–1.8(2) cm in diameter, simple, densely nodal, grassy green, with many cataphylls and 2–5(6) leaves; basal part with thick, distant, rigid, light grey, semiwoody, straight spreading roots distally richly branching. Cataphylls convolute, cuneate, acute, dark purple-brown and tubular when young, later light dull yellowish, almost flat, papyraceous, (1)2–8(10) cm long and (4)5–8(10) mm wide, splitting into irregular fibrous–papyraceous remains with age. Leaves petiolate, (0.5)0.6–0.9(1.2) m long. Petiole stiff, erect, straight, or slightly curved, (25)30–40(50) cm long. Leaf blade upright to somewhat arching, elliptic, attenuate at base and apex, (25)30–45(50) cm long, (6)8–16(18) cm wide, plicate, uniformly grassy green above and below, with prominent midvein and several secondary veins well seen on both sides, arising from midvein in basal half of leaf blade. Flowers odorless, numerous, arising by (1)2–3(5) from each axil, nodding, pure milky-white, widely open, (1.3)1.5–1.8(2) cm in diameter. Peduncles appearing in groups, successively, one by one, dirty purple, finely streaked with white, (1.4)1.8–3(3.5) cm long, (1.6)1.8–2(2.2) mm in diameter, curved downward, with 4–6 sterile bracts. Peduncle bracts broadly ovate to reniform, concave, scarious, pure white or slightly tinged with violet, roundish at apex, (5)6–7(7.5) mm long and (6)7–11(12) mm wide (being flattened), upper three approximate near flower base. Perigone tube campanulate, (4)4.5–5.5(6) mm long, (5.5)6–7(7.5) mm wide, glossy. Perigone lobes (4)6(7), subequal, triangular broadly sagittate, (4.5)5–6(6.5) mm long, (4.5)5–8(8.5) mm wide, slightly convex, almost round at apex, fleshy, glossy, smooth, with irregularly recurved and often incised margin, at broadest part auriculate, narrowing adaxially into rather narrow rectangular base. Stamens (5)6(7), anthers brightly yellow, sessile, erect (parallel to style), arising near the base of the tube, narrowly ovoid, (3.8)4–4.4(4.6) mm long, (1)1.2–1.4(1.6) mm wide, with narrow connective, pollen sacs facing the style; pollen brightly yellow. Pistil cylindric, erect, (5.6)5.8–6.2(6.4) mm tall, slightly broadening at apex and base; ovary inconspicuous, white to white tinged with violet, (1)1.2–1.4(1.6) mm long and wide; style white, cylindrical, (4)4.2–4.4(4.6) mm long, (0.8)0.9–1(1.2) mm in diameter; stigma truncate, almost flat, pure white or white with very light indistinct violet irregular spots, subcircular to rounded triangular, sometimes with inconspicuous irregular lobes, (1)1.2–1.4(1.6) mm across, its upper surface smooth. Fruits greenish, globular, (0.7)0.8–1(1.1) cm long and wide, densely hairy with long soft spine like papillae, stalk (2.5)3–4(4.5) cm long..

Sourses:

Averyanov et al. (2018) – Phytotaxa 364 (2): 205–208.

Gallery: