Title
Chisocheton megathyrsus (Meliaceae), a long-overlooked new species from Yunnan, China
Author
Quan, Dong-Li
Publication
ANNALES BOTANICI FENNICI
Year
2025
Volume
62
Issue
1
Corresponding Author
Tan, YH
Abstract
Chisocheton megathyrsus Y.H.Tan & D.L.Quan sp. nova (Meliaceae) is described and illustrated from Yunnan, China. Morphologically, it belongs to sect. Chisocheton ser. Paniculati. It is characterised by extremely long inflorescences (up to 2.5 m), subsessile glomerulate flowers, and large puberulent capsules (up to 10 cm in diameter). Comparative analysis shows that it differs from its morphologically closest species, C. dysoxylifolius, in multiple traits: longer pubescent leaf rachis and petiolules, larger pubescent leaflets with more secondary veins, longer inflorescence branches and bracts, a distinct indumentum of the staminal tube and style, glabrous anthers, and cupulate disk. Morphological differences between the new species and C. cumingianus subsp. balansae are also outlined. Pollen morphology of C. megathyrsus is documented with SEM figures.