Sinocrassula holotricha J. Guan Wang, Jing Zhao & Chao Chen 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Xu, Zhi-Bai
name: Zhao, Jing
name: Li, Rong-Juan
name: Jiang, Hong
name: Wang, Jia-Guan
name: Chen, Chao
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Saxifragales
Crassulaceae
Sinocrassula
Sinocrassula holotricha

description: Sinocrassula holotricha J. Guan Wang, Jing Zhao & Chao Chen sp. nov.
Figs 2, 3
Type.
China • Sichuan: Jiulong County, elev. ca. 2384 m, 28.832849 ° N, 101.612746 ° E, on the granite crevices, 7 July 2023, Jing Zhao et al. YUS- 13475 (holotype: YUKU!; isotypes: YUKU!).
Diagnosis.
Morphologically, Sinocrassula holotricha is similar to S. ambigua and S. jiaozishanensis, but clearly differs from the latter two by its hairy plants (vs. glabrous), and similar to S. yunnanensis (Franch) A. Berger in having hairy plant, but differs from the latter in basal leaves opposite (vs. rosette), orangish-red (vs. yellowish green) petals, and ligulate (vs. quadrate) nectar scales (Table 2). The new species with the combined morphological characters of hairy plants and lack of basal rosette is obviously different from these known species.
Description.
Plants terrestrial or lithophytic, perennial, 15–20 cm tall, hairy throughout (Figs 2 A, 3 G, H). Roots fibrous. Leaves without basal rosettes, basal leaves opposite, oblanceolate-rounded, 2.0–2.5 × 2.0– 2.5 cm, stem leaves oblanceolate - oblong, 2.5–3.0 × 1.2–1.5 cm, apex cuspidate, (Figs 2 A, 3 G, H). Sterile stems short, 8.0–15.0 cm tall, simple, slightly thickened to the base, 5.0–7.0 mm in diam. (Fig. 2 A). Flowering stems elongated, 5–10 cm, sparely leafy, hairy; stem leaves nearly opposite, ± orbicular at base, upward obovate, hairy (Fig. 2 A, B). Inflorescences corymbiform, densely orange papillate, ca. 7.0 cm in diam. (Fig. 2 A, B); bracts few, obovate-lanceolate, pubescent and glandular (Fig. 2 G, H). Flowers small, ca. 4.5–5.0 × 3.5–4.0 mm in diam; pedicels purple, slightly longer than flowers (Fig. 2 A, B, I). Sepals obovate-triangle, ca. 2.5–3.5 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, minutely and densely orange papillate, apex obtuse, base rounded (Fig. 2 K). Petals yellowish white, deeply orange upward, ovate-lanceolate, 3.5–4.2 × 1.0– 1.5 mm, minutely papillate abaxially (Fig. 2 L). Stamens slightly shorter than petals, ca. 3.0 mm (Fig. 2 M). Nectar scales nearly ligulate, ca. 0.45–0.50 × 0.25–0.30 mm (Fig. 2 N). Carpels 5, lanceolate, 3.0– 3.3 mm (Fig. 2 J). Styles short, ca. 0.5–0.7 mm (Fig. 2 J). Flower Jun. – Oct.
Distribution and habitat.
Sinocrassula holotricha is known only from the west and south west Sichuan in China. Two populations were found on granite crevices, dry stony, or gravelly slopes at elevations of ca. 1500–2400 m (Fig. 3).
Additional specimens examined.
China • Sichuan: Yuexi County, elev. ca. 1522 m, 28.704771 ° N, 102.596450 ° E, on the granite crevices, 5 July 2023, Jing Zhao et al. YUS- 12867 (YUKU!).
Etymology.
The specific epithet holotricha is derived from the Latin holo, meaning whole, and “ trichome, ” meaning hair, in reference to the plants covered by pubescence throughout.
description: Published as part of Xu, Zhi-Bai, Zhao, Jing, Li, Rong-Juan, Jiang, Hong, Wang, Jia-Guan & Chen, Chao, 2025, Sinocrassula holotricha (Crassulaceae), a new species from Sichuan, China, pp. 241-250 in PhytoKeys 251 on pages 241-250, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.251.134633