A new species of Epimedium (Berberidaceae) was discovered by Associate Professor ZHANG Yanjun from Wuhan Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences. This study was published on the latest issue of Phytotaxa.
The new Epimedium species, E. xichangense, was found in Xichang, Sichuan, China. It has biternate leaves, or leaves with seven or five leaflets, occasionally with three leaflets. The species possesses yellow flowers, petals with long spurs and obvious basal lamina. E. xichangense is most similar to E. elongatum in morphology, but the two species can be differentiated by their rhizome, foliage and flower characters.
Epimedium is a genus of basal eudicots in North Temperate Zone. Epimedium plants have been verified with activity in curing many diseases including cancer, and many species of this genus are also excellent garden plants. Under the guidance of Prof. WANG Ying and Prof. LI Jianqiang, Dr. ZHANG Yanjun has conducted a series of taxonomic studies on Epimedium.
Including E. xichangense, there are about 58 recognized Epimedium species in the world, and China boasts about 48 species of the genus.
This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Figure: Photos of E. xichangense (Image by ZHANG Yanjun)
86-10-68597521 (day)
86-10-68597289 (night)
86-10-68511095 (day)
86-10-68512458 (night)
cas_en@cas.cn
52 Sanlihe Rd., Xicheng District,
Beijing, China (100864)
Copyright © 2002 - Chinese Academy of Sciences
