Abstract
A new species of Sporoxeia (Melastomataceae), S. vietnamensis, is described from northern Vietnam. It is morphologically similar to S. blastifolia in having obtusely quadrangular stems, slightly unequal leaf blades with cuneate bases, and two secondary veins on each side of midvein, but differs by having stiffly papery leaf blades, larger and densely horned hypanthia, larger calyx lobes with concave adaxial surface and convex abaxial surface forming a ridge, and larger petals. Photos and illustration are provided together with information of habitat, ecology and preliminary conservation assessment following IUCN criteria. An identification key to the Sporoxeia species is also provided.
References
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<p>Thiers, B. (2022) Index Herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (accessed 5 March 2022)</p>
<p>Chen, C. & Renner, S.S. (2007) Melastomataceae. <em>In:</em> Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (Eds.) <em>Flora of China vol. 13</em>. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp. 377–384.</p>
<p>Hansen, C. (1990) New species and combinations in <em>Allomorphia</em>, <em>Phyllagathis</em>, and <em>Sporoxeia</em> (Melastomataceae) in Indo-China. <em>Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. Section B, Adansonia </em>12 (1): 37–41.</p>
<p>IUCN (2022) <em>Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 15. </em>Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 15 February 2022)</p>
<p>Jain, S.K. & Rao, R.R. (1977) <em>A Handbook of Field and Herbarium Methods</em>. Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers, New Delhi, 157 pp.</p>
<p>Jack, W. (1822) Descriptions of Malayan plants. <em>Malayan Miscellanies</em> 2 (7): 1–96.</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1926) New species of plants from Indo-China, II. <em>University of California Publications in Botany</em> 13: 127–144.</p>
<p>Pham, H.H. (2000) <em>An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam vol. 2</em>. Young Publishing House, Hanoi, 951 pp.</p>
<p>POWO (2022) Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ (accessed 20 January 2022)</p>
<p>Smith, W.W. (1917) Diagnoses specierum novarum in herbario Horti Regii Botanici Edinburgensis cognitarum (Species asiaticae), CCLI-CCCL. <em>Notes from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh</em> 10: 1–78.</p>
<p>Thiers, B. (2022) Index Herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (accessed 5 March 2022)</p>