Hemiphragma heterophyllum, new record genus and species for the flora of Vietnam

Last modified on 13/5/2009 at 8:55:00 PM. Total 7915 views.

Through the field survey at Lao Cai (Phan Si Pang peak area) and Yen Bai province, we found a strangle herb on rocky that though it as a new species, at least a new record species for Vietnam. After a long time of trouble, I and prof. Phan Ke Loc have discussed together about this species and he had help me to identify.

This species was indetified as Hemiphragma heterophyllum Wallich, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 13: 612. 1822. It belongs to family Scrophulariaceae, as a result, this species was added for the flora of Vietnam as a new record.

Hemiphragma was monotypus genus with only species Hemiphragma heterophyllum that includes 3 variations:

Hemiphragma heterophyllum var. dentatum (Elmer) T. Yamazaki, J. Jap. Bot. 25: 212. 1950.

Hemiphragma heterophyllum var. heterophyllum

Hemiphragma heterophyllum var. pedicellatum Handel-Mazzetti, Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 60: 15. 1923.

Morphology

Herbs, diffusely creeping, villous. Stems slender, much branched, rooting from nodes. Leaves dimorphic. Stem leaves opposite, flat, orbicular. Branch leaves crowded, needlelike, involute. Flowers axillary, solitary. Calyx deeply 5-lobed to base, lobes narrow. Corolla white or rose, actinomorphic; lobes 5, subequal, as long as tube. Stamens 4, included, equal, inserted at base of corolla. Style shorter than or as long as stamens; stigma subulate or 2-lobed. Capsule septicidal lengthwise, valves entire or 2-parted. Seeds numerous; seed coat smooth.

Perennials. Leaves on main stems with petiole 2-5(-10) mm or sometimes subsessile; leaf blade orbicular, cordate, or reniform, 0.5-2 cm, base truncate, subcordate, or cuneate, margin serrately 2-7-toothed, apex obtuse to acuminate, veins inconspicuous. Leaves on branches crowded, needlelike, sometimes linear-lanceolate upward, 3-5 mm. Flowers subsessile or short pedicelled. Calyx lobes narrowly triangular-lanceolate, 3-5 mm, subequal. Corolla white or rose, ca. 6 mm; tube short campanulate; lobes 5, orbicular to oblong, subequal, sometimes transparently punctate. Filaments filiform, adnate to corolla tube; anther locules apically confluent. Style ca. 1 mm. Capsule red, ovoid to globose, berrylike, fleshy, shiny, 5-6(-10) mm. Seeds pale yellow-brown, ovoid, to 1 mm.

Ecology

Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Jun-Aug.

Alpine grassland, rock crevices, among herbs; 2600-4100 m. Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia (Sulawesi), Nepal, Philippines, Sikkim

BVN introduces the photo of Hemiphragma heterophyllum at Yen Bai and Lao Cai province, Vietnam.