Researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Identify and Name Ardisia chimingiana
A team of researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has announced the discovery of a new species within the Ardisia genus, known as Ardisia chimingiana. The plant was found in Yunnan, introduced from the wild and subsequently cultivated. The researchers conducted detailed morphological observations and measurements on both live plants and herbarium specimens, confirming the novelty of the species.
The new species, Ardisia chimingiana, was named in honor of Professor Hu Chiming, who has significantly contributed to the taxonomy of Ardisia in China and Southeast Asia. The findings were published in the scientific journal Annales Botanici Fennici.
Ardisia chimingiana is categorized under Ardisia subgenus Tinus and exhibits distinctive characteristics, including glandular entire leaf margins, axillary umbellate racemose inflorescences, and dextrorse imbricate calyx lobes with a rounded apex. These features differentiate it from other Chinese species within the subgenus, such as A. solanacea, A. elliptica, and A. attenuata.
Tan Yunhong of XTBG highlighted the challenges in identifying Ardisia chimingiana, stating, “Ardisia chimingiana has long been misidentified in China as A. solanacea and A. polycephala because of similarities in leaf blades and inflorescences. However, it differs from these two species by having fewer leaf veins, inflorescences with fewer flowers, a shorter peduncle, glabrous calyx margin, and fruits that do not turn black.”
The newly discovered species, Ardisia chimingiana, is currently known only from its type locality in Yunnan. It thrives at low altitudes, approximately 580 meters above sea level, along the edges of dense evergreen tropical forests and riverbanks. The research contributes to the ongoing efforts to understand the diversity and taxonomy of the Ardisia genus.