Two new species and a new series of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from China

Abstract

The new series Elatostema section Elatostema series Albopilosoides Q.Lin & L.D.Duan (Urticaceae) is described, and two new species of Elatostema, namely Elatostema albopilosoides Q.Lin & L.D.Duan and Elatostema purpureum Q.Lin & L.D.Duan. from south Guizhou province, south-west China are described and illustrated. Both species were found growing only at the base of a large limestone chamber at an altitude of c. 800 m. Elatostema albopilosoides is morphologically similar to E. albopilosum W.T.Wang, but differs by having female inflorescences with peduncles 10-60 mm long (0-1.5 mm long in E. albopilosum) and receptacles 7-27 mm long, 7-24 mm wide (E. albopilosum: 1-4 mm long and 1-3 mm wide). Elatostema purpureum is also morphologically similar to E. albopilosum, but has stipules 5-6 mm long, 0.8-1.5 mm wide (4-7 mm long, 1.5-2.8 mm wide in E. albopilosum) and leaf blades obliquely elliptical to obliquely oblong-obovate, 3.5-7.5 mm long and 1.5-2.5 mm wide (obliquely narrowly oblanceolate-oblong, 12-17 cm long, 3-5 cm wide in E. purpureum:). © 2008 The Linnean Society of London.