Agapetes is a semi-climbing shrub genus native to the Himalayas, grown as an ornamental for its attractive pendulous benches of red tubular flowers blooming over a long period. It is in the genus of Vaccinioideae, a subfamily of Ericaceae.
During China-Myanmar joint field expedition from November to December 2017 to survey plant diversity in northern Myanmar, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) collected many specimens of Agapetes from Putao, Kachin State.
After consulting literature, examining specimen images, specimens in herbaria, and collections in the field, the researchers confirmed that the species is new to science. They named it Agapetes reflexiloba and got the new species published in Phytotaxa.
Agapetes reflexiloba is morphologically similar to A. nutans, A. linearifolia, and A. angustifolia in having linear to lanceolate narrow leaves and corymbose-racemose inflorescences. It is, however, readily distinguished from its three relatives by corolla lobes conspicuous reflexed in anthesis, corolla light brownish yellow to brownish yellow, and with 5 deep purple red zig-zag stripes.
Agapetes reflexiloba is so far known only from the type locality of Putao, Kachin state in north Myanmar, where it is an epiphytic shrub that grows on the trees in montane broadleaved forests, at an elevation of about 1,100 meters. It flowers in December.
Agapetes reflexiloba (Image by XTBG)
Prof. HU Guangwan, current curator of the Herbarium of Wuhan Botanical Garden, initially found an unusual kind of Impatiens in Tongbiguan Nature Reserve, southwestern Yunnan, in 2007. After several years of study, no proper scientific name had been found for it. In 2011, another field survey was carried out especially for this plant in the place where Dr. HU found it for the first time and its neighboring areas. Adequate specimens and research materials have been collected in this survey. Micro-morphological characters of pollen grains and seeds using SEM were presented for detailed comparison in addition to morphological studies.
Zoologists have identified two new species during a survey on wild land animals in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, according to the regional forestry authorities. The researchers found a new type of Pallas pit viper in Jilung County and a new type of cascade frog in Zayu County. They were named after the location of their discovery.
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