Research Paper

Primulina longanica sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone area of Guangxi, China

Wen-Qing Ma, Li-Li Shen, Wei-Chuen Chou, Tao-Ran Chen, Fang Wen

Published on: 08 September 2025

Page: 639 - 645

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.639

Abstract

Primulina longanica F.Wen & W.C.Chou, a new species of Gesneriaceae endemic to Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to P. yangshuoensis F.Wen & Y.G.Wei, but differs in several key characteristics, including the presence of stolons, indumentum of petiole, peduncle, filament, ovary, and style, bract shape, and corolla length. The species is currently known only from its type locality, in Long’an County, Guangxi, where it grows on limestone cliffs in a subtropical monsoon climate area. Due to its limited distribution and over-collection for ornamental purposes, P. longanica is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Keyword: Flora of Guangxi, New taxon, Primulina yangshuoensis, Taxonomy

Literature Cited

Beentje, H. 2016 The Kew Plant Glossary, an illustrated dictionary of plant terms (2 edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 184 pp.

Cai, L., Ya., J.-D., Zhang, T. 2024 Primulina hsiwenii (Gesneriaceae), a new species from southeastern Yunnan, China. Edinb. J. Bot. 81: 1–7.

Chen, D.-Y., Li, R.-F., Ding L. 2024a Primulina liangshengyui (Gesneriaceae), a New Species from Guangxi, China with Supplementary Description of Floral Morphology of P. minutimaculata. J. Trop. Subtrop. Bot. 32(5): 629?636.

Chen, D.-Y., Zeng, X.-H., Cai, W.-L., Wu, X.-G. Gao, Y.-Y., Xu, G.-L. 2024b Primulina adenopoda (Gesneriaceae), a new species from the limestone karst area of Jiangxi Province, China. Taiwania 69(1): 74?82.
DOI: 10.6165/tai.2024.69.74View Article Google Scholar

Deng, X.-X., Zeng, N.-G., Xu, G.-L., Zhang, Z.-F., Zuo, Z.-Y. 2024a Primulina longnanensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Jiangxi. J. Plant Resour. Environ. 33(1): 98–107.

Ding, L., Ke, X.-C, Wen, F. 2024 A new lithophilous species of Gesneriaceae, Primulina jinyu, from the limestone area of Hubei Province, China. Taiwania 69(2): 178?184.
DOI: 10.6165/tai.2024.69.178View Article Google Scholar

Fu, L.-F., Monro, A.K., Wei, Y.-G. 2022 Cataloguing vascular plant diversity of karst caves in China. Biodivers. Sci. 30(7): 21537.
DOI: 10.17520/biods.2021537View Article Google Scholar

Ge, Y.-Z., Wen, F., Chou, W.-C. 2024 New Taxa of Gesneriaceae from Southwest Guangxi, China—Four New Varieties of Primulina Hance. Bot. Res. 13(5): 504–515.
DOI: 10.12677/br.2024.135053View Article Google Scholar

Gu, J.-M., He, S.-T., Wen, F., Bai, X.-X., Li, M.-J. 2025 Primulina xingyiensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species in the karst landforms of Guizhou Province, China. PhytoKeys 251: 1–12.
DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.251.135126View Article Google Scholar

GRC 2024 Gesneriaceae Resource Centre. Internet address: https://padme.rbge.org.uk/GRC. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. (Accessed: 1 June 2024)

Hance, H.F. 1883 New Chinese Cyrtandreae. Journal of Botany, British and Foreign 21: 165–170.

Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. 2006 Plant identification terminology: an illustrated glossary. Spring Lake Publishing, Spring Lake, 216 pp.

Hickey, M.K., King, C. 2000 The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 208 pp.

Hong, X., Keene, J., Shan, Y.-W., Do, V,-T., Wen, F. 2020 Taxonomic identity of Primulina swinglei (Gesneriaceae). Guihaia 40(10): 1393–1401.

IPNI 2025 Continuously updated. The International Plant Names Index. Available from http://www.ipni.org (accessed on 1 Feb. 2025)

IUCN 2022 Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 15. Prepared by the Standards and petitions committee. Available from https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/redlistguidelines (Accessed on 4 February 2022)

Lai, B.-D., Huang, Y.-Q., Shi, M.-J., Deng, Z.-Y., Wen, F. 2025 Primulina aureipurpurea (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. PhytoKeys 257: 125–133.
DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.155007View Article Google Scholar

Li, S., Xin, Z.-B., Chou, W.-C., Huang, Y., Pan, B., Maciejewski, S., Wen, F. 2019 Five new species of the genus Primulina (Gesneriaceae) from limestone areas of Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, China. PhytoKeys 127: 77–91.
DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.127.35445View Article Google Scholar

Li, Z.-Y., Wang, Y.-Z. 2005 Plants of Gesneriaceae in China. Henan Science and Technology Publishing House, Zhengzhou, Henan. 170–282, 302–303, 673–674, 677–678pp.

Liu, K., Mou, C., Lv, H., Ge, Y.-Z., Wen, F. 2025 Primulina yangmingshanensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Hunan province, China. Taiwania 70(1): 75–80.
DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.75View Article Google Scholar

Ma, H.-S., Lu, Z.-C., Xu, W.-B., Pan, B. 2024 Primulina pingguoensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi, China. Guihaia 44: 629–634.

Mai, G.-D., Chou, W.-C., Wen, F. 2024a Primulina serina, a new species of Gesneriaceae from northern Guangxi, China. Gard. Bull. Singapore 76(2): 285–291.
DOI: 10.26492/gbs76(2).2024-11View Article Google Scholar

Mai, G.-D., Pan, B., Wen, F. 2024b Primulina pseudotabacum (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guangxi Province, China. Ann. Bot. Fenni. 61(1): 141–146.
DOI: 10.5735/085.061.0121View Article Google Scholar

Monro, A.K., Bystriakova, N., Fu, L.-F., Wen, F., Wei, Y.-G. 2018 Discovery of a diverse cave flora in China. PLoS ONE 13(2): e0190801.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190801View Article Google Scholar

POWO 2025 Primulina Hance. Available from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17172-1 (Accessed on 1 Feb. 2025)

Tang, S.H., Li, S., He, X.Z. 2024 Primulina huahaii (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guizhou, China. Ann. Bot. Fenni. 61(1): 255–262.
DOI: 10.5735/085.061.0135View Article Google Scholar

Wang, W.-T., Pan, K.-Y., Li, Z.-Y., Weitzman, A.L., Skog, L.E. 1998 Gesneriaceae. In: Wu, Z.-Y., Raven, P.H. (Eds) Flora of China Vol. 18. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.

Weber, A., Middleton, D.J., Clark, J.L., M?ller, M. 2020 Keys to the infrafamilial taxa and genera of Gesneriaceae. Rheedea 30(1): 5–47.
DOI: 10.22244/rheedea.2020.30.01.02View Article Google Scholar

Weber, A., Middleton, D.J., Forrest, A., Kiew, R., Lim, C.L., Rafidah, A.R., Sontag, S., Triboun, P., Wei, Y.-G., Yao, T.L., M?ller, M. 2011 Molecular systematics and remodelling of Chirita and associated genera (Gesneriaceae). Taxon 60(3): 767–790.
DOI: 10.1002/tax.603012View Article Google Scholar

Wei, Y.-G. 2018 The Distribution and Conservation Status of Native Plants in Guangxi, China. China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing, 876pp.

Wei, Y.-G. 2023 Catalogue and Red List of Plant Species in Guangxi. China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing, 1040pp.

Wei, Y.-G., Wen, F., M?ller, M., Monro, A., Zhang, Q., Gao, Q., Mou, H.-F., Zhong, S.-H., Cui, C. 2010 Gesneriaceae of South China. Guangxi Science and Technology Publishing House, Nanning, Guangxi. 247–256pp.

Wen, F., Wang, F., Wei, Y.-G. 2012 Primulina yangshuoensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi, China. Taiwania 57(1): 55–61.
DOI: 10.6165/tai.2012.57(1).55View Article Google Scholar

Xin, Z.-B., Chou, W.-C., Maciejewski, S., Fu, L.-F., Wen, F. 2021 Primulina papillosa (Gesneriaceae), a new species from limestone areas of Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys 177: 55–61.
DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.177.63878View Article Google Scholar

Xu, M.-Z., Yang, L.-H., Kong, H.-H., Wen, F., Kang, M. 2021 Congruent spatial patterns of species richness and phylogenetic diversity in karst flora: Case study of Primulina (Gesneriaceae). J. Syst. Evol. 59(2): 251–261.
DOI: 10.1111/jse.12558View Article Google Scholar

Xu, W.-B., Pan, B., Huang, Y.-S., Liu, Y. 2010 Chirita leprosa sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Nord. J. Bot. 28(6): 705–708.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-1051.2010.00762.xView Article Google Scholar

Xu, W.-B., Zhang, Q., Wen, F., Liao, W.-B., Pan, B., Chang, H., Chung, K.-F. 2012 Nine new combinations and one new name of Primulina (Gesneriaceae) from South China. Phytotaxa 64(1): 1–8.
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.64.1.1View Article Google Scholar

Zhang, S.-S., Chou, W.-C., Wen, F. 2024 Primulina magnifica (Gesneriaceae), a new species from northern Guangxi, China. Nord. J. Bot. 2024: e04468.
DOI: 10.1111/njb.04468View Article Google Scholar