Published April 28, 2026 | Version v1
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Primula maershanensis (Primulaceae), a new species in Primula sect. Auganthus from Sichuan, China

  • 1. Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
  • 2. Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
  • 3. Sichuan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, China
  • 4. Sichuan Wolong National Natural Reserve Administration Bureau, Wenchuan, China

Description

Primula maershanensis J.L.Gu & Z.K.Wu, a new species of Primulaceae from Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated. Morphological evidence supports the placement of P. maershanensis within Primula sect. Auganthus, a section characterized by leaves that are shallowly to deeply lobed and covered with hairs and by a distinctively broad calyx with a flattened base. The new species is distinguished from other species in this section by its short rhizome and nearly fleshy roots; subpurple petioles and scapes; leaf blade suborbicular, wider than long, margin palmately 5–9-lobed to the middle of the blade; and a bright yellow corolla associated with long-homostylous flowers. Information on the distribution, morphological comparisons with closely related species, and the conservation status of the new species is also provided, along with a key to the known species of Primula sect. Auganthus.

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References

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