Carex zhangjiajieensis Y. F. Lu, W. Q. Qin & X. F. Jin 2026, sp. nov.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: 1.Carex zhangjiajieensisY. F. Lu, W. Q. Qin & X. F. Jin sp. nov. Figs 1 A – E, 2 A – F Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Carex shuchengensis S. W. Su in having short rhizomes, leathery leaves, and thick spikes, but differs in having peduncles of pistillate spikes exserted from bract sheaths, utricles slightly longer than pistillate glumes or nearly equal in length, ventrally veinless, nutlets with a ca. 0.2 mm long erect beak at the apex. Type. China • Hunan: Zhangjiajie City, Yongding Dist., Mt. Tianmenshan, Yuhufeng; alt. 1,450 m; in roadside grass under forest; 27 April 2024; X. F. Jin, Y. F. Lu & W. Q. Qin 5372 (holotype: ZJFC; isotypes: IBK, ZM). Description. Herbs perennial. Rhizomes woody, stiff, obliquely ascending. Culms central, loosely caespitose, 25–45 cm tall, obtusely trigonous, base with dark brown fibrous sheath. Leaves longer to shorter than culms; blades flat, leathery, 3.5–8 mm wide, apex long-acuminate, scabrous on upper lower surface and margins. Bracts spathe-like, shorter than inflorescence, apex awned, base sheathing; sheaths 1.2–3 (– 4) cm long. Spikes four or five, racemose, remote; terminal spike staminate, clavate-cylindrical, 3–5 cm long, 3–4.5 mm wide, densely flowered, base pedunculate; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 2–5 cm long, 3–5.5 mm wide, densely flowered, base with peduncles exserted from sheaths. Staminate glumes oblanceolate, pale brown, upper part brown, pale yellow laterally, 8–9 mm long, apex obtuse, with 1 - veined brown costa dorsally. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate or ovate, upper part pale brown, lower part pale yellow, 4–4.5 mm long, apex acute and mucronate, with 3 - veined green and scabrid costa dorsally. Utricles pale yellow, obovoid (beak excluded), obtusely trigonous, 4–4.5 mm long, slightly longer than pistillate glumes, or nearly equal in length, dorsally distinctly thinly veined, ventrally veinless, densely hispidulous, base attenuate, apex abruptly contracted into a ca. 1.2 mm long beak, orifice obliquely truncate. Nutlets tightly enveloped, pale yellow, obovoid, trigonous, 2–2.2 mm long, with three sides slightly concave below, apex abruptly contracted into a ca. 0.2 mm beak; style erect, base slightly thickened; stigmas three. Etymology. The specific epithet “ zhangjiajieensis ” refers to the type locality of this new species. Phenology. Flowering and fruiting occur from late April to early May. Additional specimens examined. China • Hunan: Zhangjiajie City, Yongding Dist., Mt. Tianmenshan, 29.05163°N, 110.48356°E, alt. 1,402 m, on roadside slope under forest, 8 May 2026, Y. F. Lu, Q. Q. Qin, L. L. Wang & W. Q. Qin 1393 (IBK, ZJFC, ZM), • 29.05469°N, 110.47978°E, alt. 1,021 m, on roadside slope under forest, 8 May 2026, Y. F. Lu, Q. Q. Qin, L. L. Wang & W. Q. Qin 1400 (ZJFC, ZM); • Wulingyuan, Mt. Tianzishan, 29.37355°N, 110.46300°E, alt. 910 m, on limestones, 7 May 2026, Y. F. Lu, Q. Q. Qin, L. L. Wang & W. Q. Qin 1387 (ZJFC, ZM). Conservation status. The new species is currently known from a few collections from Mts. Tianmenshan and Tianzishan in Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. All known localities are situated within scenic areas subject to substantial human activity, and tourism-related disturbance and roadside vegetation management may pose potential threats to the species. However, the extent to which these activities affect its habitat and populations remains unclear. Further field surveys are needed to determine population size and trends, assess habitat condition, and establish whether continuing declines are occurring. The species is therefore provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD) under the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2024). Notes. The new species is readily distinguished within Carex sect. Clandestinae by its robust habit, rhizomes, and spikes. Morphologically, it is similar to Carex shuchengensis S. W. Su, known from western Anhui Province, but differs in having peduncles of lateral pistillate spikes exserted from bract sheaths, utricles slightly longer than or subequal to pistillate glumes and adaxially veinless, and nutlets with an erect beak ca. 0.2 mm long at the apex. Additionally, Carex dayongensis Z. P. Wang, an endemic species of sect. Clandestinae from western Hunan Province, is distinguished from the new species in having leaf blades 1–2 mm wide and utricles with conspicuous distinctive veins and an extremely short beak less than 0.5 mm long.
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225259009
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