Phlomoides liangwangshanensis Y. Zhao, H. L. Zheng & C. L. Xiang 2021, sp. nov.

Phlomoides liangwangshanensis Y. Zhao, H.L. Zheng & C.L. Xiang, sp. nov. (Fig. 1).

Type: — CHINA. Yunnan Province: Chengjiang City, Liangwang Mountain, 24°45′22.56″N, 102°53′13.03″E, on the grassy slope, elevation 2755 m, 18 Jul 2018, Y. P. Chen et al. EM483 (holotype: KUN!; isotypes: K!, KUN!, PE!).

Diagnosis: — Phlomoides liangwangshanensis is morphologically similar to P. franchetiana (Diels 1912: 242) Kamelin & Makhmedov (1990a: 243) and P. ruptilis (C.Y. Wu 1977: 254) Kamelin & Makhmedov (1990a: 244) (Fig. 2), but can be distinguished by its bracts 6–7 mm long (vs. 1–2 mm long in P. franchetiana, 2–3 mm long in P. ruptilis), and calyx teeth triangular (vs. broadly triangular in P. franchetiana and P. ruptilis) with spines 4–6 mm long (1–2 mm long in P. franchetiana and P. ruptilis) and without teeth-like sinuses (vs. sinuses expanded into triangular teeth in P. franchetiana and P. ruptilis).

Perennial herbs. Stems 40–60 cm tall, subquadrangular, robust, much branched, densely stellate pilose. Basal leaf absent; petioles 1–13.5 cm long, densely stellate pilose; laminas of cauline leaves broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, thick papery, 5–16 × 3–12.5 cm, adaxially green, densely stellate pilose, abaxially white, densely stellate pilose, with base cordate, margin serrate or crenate, apex acute to acuminate. Verticillasters axillary, 10–16-flowered; floral leaves 2–7.5 × 1–6.5 cm, petioles 2–9 mm long, broadly ovate, gradually reduced upward; bracts subulate, 6–7 mm long, densely stellate pilose. Calyx tubular, 10–12 × 4 mm, densely stellate pilose and pubescent outside, conspicuously 10-veined; teeth 5, triangular, subequal, 1.5–2 mm long, apical spine 4–6 mm long. Corolla light yellow, ca. 2 cm long, 2-lipped; posterior lip ca. 7 mm long, galeate, densely stellate tomentose outside, margin denticulate, bearded inside; anterior lip 3-lobed, ca. 7 × 8 mm, middle lobe largest, oblong, ca. 5 × 2.5 mm, lateral lobes ovate, margin irregularly denticulate; tube slightly exserted, sparsely stellate tomentose outside, annulate pilose inside near base; Stamens 4, included, glabrous, posterior filaments with upwardly curved appendages at base. Style included, apex unequally 2-lobbed. Mature mericarps brown, elliptic, ca. 5.5 × 2.7 mm, glabrous.

Phenology: —Flowering from July to August and fruiting from October to December.

Distribution, habitat and ecology: —Based on present collections, P. liangwangshanensis is only known from its type locality, i.e. Liangwang Mountain in central Yunnan Province, China. It is restricted to the top of the mountain and grows on grassy slopes at an elevation between 2700 m and 2800 m (Fig. 3).

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the Liangwang Mountain (Liang Wang Shan) in Yunnan Province, where the new species was found.

Common name (assigned here):— Liang Wang Shan Cao Cao Su (梁王山ĦOiḞ; Chinese name).

Additional specimen examined (paratypes):— CHINA. Yunnan Province: Chengjiang City, Liangwang Mountain, 24°45′12.90″N, 102°53′21.08″E, elevation 2740 m, 3 Nov 2018, Y. P. Chen et al. EM734 (KUN!).

Additional specimens of P. franchetiana examined: — CHINA. Yunnan: Dongchuan District, Oct 1909, Fr. Ducloox 6441 (KUN1220633); Dali City, Cangshan Mountain Range, elevation 2500 m, 25 Aug 1933, Y. Tsiang 11681 (IBSC0005133, PE00835495); Dali City, Cangshan Mountain range, Jun 1941, H. C. Wang 948 (PE00835493, IBSC0005132); Yangbi County, 19 Jun 1942, H. C. Wang 2391 (PE00835494); Binchuan County, Jizu Mountain, 21 Dec 1946, S. E. Liu 22029 (IBSC0585513, PE00835496); Luquan County, Emao Village, elevation 2500 m, 06 Nov 1952, P. Y. Mao 01688 (PE00835500); Songming County, Guodong Village, elevation 1950 m, 16 Oct 1955, P. Y. Mao 51336 (PE00835499); Songming County, Guodong Village, elevation 2380 m, 22 Aug 1957, B. Y. Qiu 54861 (IBSC0585511, PE00835498); Songming County, Guodong Village, elevation 2400 m, 21 Sept 1957, B. Y. Qiu 55153 (PE00835497); Dali City, E side of Cangshan Mountain Range, 10 Jul 1984, Sino-Amer. Bot. Exped. 950 (E); Dali City, Cangshan Mountain Range, elevation 3050 m, 26 Sept 2005, L. Q. Fang et al. 091056 (KUN0711276); Dali City, E side of Cangshan Mountain Range, elevation 2700 m, 13 Jul 2009, Z. J. Yin et al. 1144 (KUN1225204); Songming County, Guodong Village, elevation 2300 m, 14 Sept 2009, C. L. Xiang & E. D. Liu 366 (KUN0715366).

Additional specimens of P. ruptilis examined: — CHINA. Yunnan: Lijiang City, Yulong Snow Mountain, elevation 3500 m, 7 Jul 1962, A. L. Zhang. 100641 (KUN0226569); Dali City, Cangshan Mountain Range, Xiaohuadianba, elevation 2900–3050 m, 10 Jul 1984, Sino-Amer. Bot. Exped. 950 (KUN); Dali City, Cangshan Mountain Range, Xiaohuadianba, elevation 2900–3200 m, 19 Jul 1984, Sino-Amer. Bot. Exped. 1175 (E, KUN); Lijiang City, Yulong Snow Mountain, elevation 3300 m, 22 Jul 1997, Anonymous 4041 (KUN1268174); Dali City, Cangshan Mountain Range, Huadianba, elevation 3240 m, 9 Aug 2017, Y. P. Chen et al. EM353 (KUN); Heqing County, Ma’er Mountain, elevation 3240 m, 7 Aug 2018, Y. P. Chen & H. Zhu EM507 (KUN); Weixi County, J. S. Yang. 83-2366 (KUN0228570); Heqing County, Ma’er Mountain, J. S. Yang 63-1902 (KUN1218986).