Three new species of Aspidistra (Convallariaceae) from Vietnam

This paper continues the publication of new results of a successive investigation of species diversity of the genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. in Vietnam, which has a significant center of richness in the mainland of southeastern Asia. Three new species of the genus, Aspidistra atrata, A. graminifolia and A. zhangii discovered recently in Vietnam are described and illustrated as taxa new to science. Data on ecology, phenology, tentative relations, distribution and expected conservation status are recorded for all studied plants.

Aspidistra atrata Aver., Tillich & Q.H. Bui sp. nov

Species epithet refers to the almost entirely black colored flowers

Distribution: Northern Vietnam (Thanh Hoa province). Endemic.

Habitat, phenology and conservation status: Terrestrial creeping perennial herb. Primary and secondary lowland broad-leaved evergreen forests often with bamboo (Dendrocalamus barbatus) on silicate rocks at elevation about 250 m a.s.l., commonly in shady, humid depressions on rich soil, usually associated with Pellionia radicans, Tectaria gemmifera and Xanthophytum balansae. Flowering in May–June.

Not common.

Estimated IUCN Red List status DD.

Aspidistra atrata on Wulfenia 23 (2016)

Aspidistra graminifolia Aver. & Tillich sp. nov

Species epithet refers to narrow, lineate shape of leaves.

Distribution: Vietnam (without exact location). Endemic.

Habitat, phenology and conservation status: Terrestrial creeping herb. Flowering in cultivation in August–September.

Rare.

Estimated IUCN Red List status DD

Aspidistra graminifolia on Wulfenia 23 (2016)

Aspidistra zhangii Aver., Tillich & K.S. Nguyen sp. nov

Species epithet refers to the name of the distinguished Chinese botanist, Professor Zhang Dianxiang, specialist in plant taxonomy and phylogeny, educator of species discoverer.

Distribution: Northern Vietnam (Ninh Binh province). Endemic.

Habitat, phenology and conservation status: Terrestrial creeping herb. Lowland broad-leaved  evergreen forests on alluvial soils derived from limestone. Flowering in cultivation in May–June,  fruits in nature in December–January.

Locally common.

Estimated IUCN Red List status DD

Aspidistra zhangii on Wulfenia 23 (2016)