[Botany • 2025] Tilia saxatilis (Malvaceae) • A New Species from limestone areas of Guangxi, China

 

 

Abstract

Tilia saxatilis Z.C.Lu & W.B.Xu, a new species was discovered in limestone areas of Guangxi, China. The morphology shows that T. saxatilis is similar to T. tuan Szyszyl., but differs by having leaf blades that are oblong or ovate-oblong, entire margins, fruit ellipsoid, 5-angled, apex acute.

Key words: Malvaceae, morphology, new species, taxonomy, Tilia tuan

Tilia saxatilis sp. nov.
 A habit B winter buds C flowering branches D trunk E fruiting branches F habitat (White circle shows where the new species grow).
Tilia saxatilis sp. nov.
A leaf in abaxial view (Red circle shows tuft domatia in vein axils) B bract in abaxial view C bract and cyme D bract and infructescence E flower in frontal view F flower in lateral view G flower in dorsal view H dissection of flower I fruits J seeds.

 Tilia saxatilis Z.C.Lu & W.B.Xu, sp. nov.

 Chinese name: shí shān duàn (石山椴)

Diagnosis: This new species is similar to Tilia tuan Szyszyl., but differs in having leaf blades that are oblong or ovate-oblong (vs. narrowly ovate or ovate-oblong to ovate-orbicular), margins entire (vs. entire or with a few minute teeth near apex or prominently dentate); fruit ellipsoid (vs. globose or obovoid-globose), 5-angled (vs. not ridged), apex acute (vs. rounded).

Etymology: The specific epithet ‘saxatilis’ refers to the limestone habitats of this new species.

Zhao-Cen Lu, Shi-Li Chang, Ming-Lin Mo, You-Dong Wu and Wei-Bin Xu. 2025. Tilia saxatilis (Malvaceae), A New Species from limestone areas of Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys. 251: 233-240. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.251.141836 

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