A new plant species, Peliosanthes dawulingensis (大雾岭球子草), has been discovered in South China's Guangdong Province and named for Dawuling Ridge of the Yunkai Mountains in Maoming City.
The research findings were published in a recent issue of the international academic journal Phytotaxa.
The species was found in the Yunkai Mountain National Nature Reserve. Unlike most members of its genus, which grow in karst limestone areas, it thrives in well-drained acidic soil on a sparsely wooded slope in a river valley, expanding our understanding of the ecological range of the genus.
It is distinguished from its close relative Peliosanthes cupuliformis by several key traits: a longer inflorescence, pedicellate and pendulous flowers, a cylindrical style and a half-inferior ovary. Field observations show it flowers from August to November, with its structure suggesting a potentially specialized pollination mechanism.
First documented in 2021, it was confirmed as a new species after a complete specimen was collected in 2024 and verified through herbarium comparisons. The species has been assessed as Critically Endangered under ICUN criteria and is currently known from a single site, with fewer than 250 mature individuals.
The Guangdong Yunkai Mountain National Nature Reserve is located in the southwestern part of the province. Spanning Maoming and Yangjiang, it is the only national-level forest ecosystem nature reserve in western Guangdong.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Maoming Daily
