Tirpitzia meiguensis (Linaceae), a new species from southwest Sichuan (China)

Abstract

Tirpitzia meiguensis, a new species from Meigu County, Sichuan Province, China, is herein described and illustrated. Although its herb-like semi-shrub habit, toothed leaf margins, and seeds without a membranous wing are not characteristics that are seen in the three formerly-reported Tirpitzia species, other characteristics are morphologically related to T. sinensis; these include white flowers, terminal cymes, a four-loculed ovary with two ovules per locule, and a four-valvate capsule. Furthermore, phylogenetical analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear genes confirmed that this new species is clearly a member of Tirpitzia.