Research Paper

Pale-flowered Sonerila leucantha (Melastomataceae, Sonerileae), a new species from southern Vietnam

Thi Thanh Dat Pham, Leonid V. Averyanov, Thi Thuy Nhan Tran, Van Canh Nguyen, Thi Hoa Nguyen, Tatiana V. Maisak, Ba Vuong Truong, Che Wei Lin

Published on: 21 October 2026

Page: 739 - 743

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2026.71.739

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    Abstract

    Sonerila leucantha, a new species from the Central Highlands of southern Vietnam (Dak Lak Province), is described and illustrated. It resembles S. yunnanensis in having ovate leaves with a cordate base, quadrangular peduncles, and petals with the adaxial surface bearing stipitate glandular trichomes. Nevertheless, S. leucantha is clearly distinguished by its taller stems reaching up to 30 cm (vs. usually not exceeding 15 cm), an adaxial leaf surface that is subglabrous to sparsely covered with fleshy hirsute-setose trichomes (vs. moderately to densely villous-hirsute), white to pale yellowish petals (vs. pink), and uniformly yellow anthers (vs. bicolored, yellow and pale purple, or pale purplish and grayish-white).

    Keyword: Biodiversity, Dak Lak Province, endemism, flora of Indochina, plant conservation, Sonerila yunnanensis

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