Castanopsis grandicicatricata N. H. Xia & D. H. Vuong : A newly recorded species of Castanopsis ( Fagaceae ) from China

Abstract

[ Objective ] Castanopsis grandicicatricata N. H. Xia & D. H. Vuong is a species of Castanop- sis ( Fagaceae ) originally endemic to central and northern Vietnam , but now a scattered population was discovered in the Dawei Mountain area of the Pingbian Miao Autonomous County , Yunnan Province , Chi- na. This study aims to check its identity , to verify the close relatives from the literatures based on mor- phological speculation , and to show its systematic status. [ Methods ] Spacer ITS2 of nuclear rRNA genes 5.8S and 26S and chloroplast gene rbcL were used as molecular markers to reconstruct systematic tree. [ Results ] Morphologically , it could be distinguished from other Castanopsis species known in China by its cupule of 4.5-6.0 cm in diameter and the spine base was connate into tree-like branched bundles with a spheroid nut , where scar covering ca. 2 / 3 of the nut. The morphology-based speculation of the close rela- tives reported in the literatures was validated through phylogenetic tree restruction , C . mekongensis is one of its close relative. [ Conclusion ] C . grandicicatricata is a newly recorded species of Castanopsis from China. This new record holds significant implication for the study of the flora of southeast Yunnan and northern Vietnam.

Keywords

• castanopsis
• fagaceae
• new distribution in china