Two new species of Sonerila Roxb. (Melastomataceae) from Laos Author Phonepaseuth, Phongphayboun Faculty of Environmental Sciences, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos. p.phonepaseuth@nuol.edu.la Author Souladeth, Phetlasy Faculty of Forest Science, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos. p.souladeth@nuol.edu.la Author Souvannakhoummane, Keooudone Centre for Development and Environment, Lao Country Office, Unit 11, # 136, Simuang Road, Hom 1, P. O. Box 1438, Ban Phapo, Vientiane, Laos. keooudone1988@gmail.com Author Vongthavone, Thyraphon Association for Community Development (ACD), Salavan Province, Laos. thyraphon@gmail.com Author Tagane, Shuichiro The Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. stagane29@gmail.com text European Journal of Taxonomy 2021 2021-06-22 755 136 148 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2021.755.1403 journal article 10.5852/ejt.2021.755.1403 4e0dadd2-0530-4ab7-8314-3a0b1576ea27 2118-9773 5012980
Table 1. Comparison of Sonerila erectifolia Phonep., Soulad. & Tagane sp. nov. and S. violifolia Hook. f. ex Triana. 1 = from Renner et al. 2001.
CharactersSonerila erectifoliaSonerila violifolia 1
Habitacaulescent herb or with rhizomatous stem, 10–14(–20) cm tall including inflorescencessomewhat succulent rhizomatous herb or with stem, 10–18 cm tall
Rhizomecylindrical, 2–3 cm long and 5–10 mm in diam, with long blonde hairssucculent
Stemca 1 cm long, with long blonde hairs; internodes almost absent10–18 cm tall, cover with conspicuous 4–6 mm long; internodes up to 4 cm long; reddish brown setae, especially at the nodes
Petiole6–10 cm long, light green to reddish green, sparsely covered with long pale green hairs1–7 cm long, glabrous
Lamina (ordinary leaves)elliptic-oblong, ovate-elliptic, 4–6 × 2–2.5 cmovate or elliptic-ovate, 3–8(–11) × 1.5–4(–7) cm
Number of lateral primary veins2 pairs2–3 pairs
Peduncle length10–15 cm long2–9 cm long
Pedicel length6–12 mm long2–3 mm long
Number of flowers per inflorescence5–12(–18) flowers1–9 flowers
Hypanthiumcylindrical, 8–9 × 2 mmcampanulate, 5–6 × ca 2 mm
Petalelliptic-obtuse, 9–11 × 5–6 mmoblong or ovate, acuminate, 8–10 mm long