Two new species of Gesneriaceae from Eastern China

Two new species of Gesneriaceae from Eastern China

Palmatiboea curvituba and P. recurva are described and illustrated here. Both species resemble P. heucherifolia in having the calyx divided to the base, palmately veined leave blades with eglandular hairs on both surfaces, and a pink, externally puberulent corolla. However, P. curvituba differs from P. heucherifolia in that its corolla tube curved-funnelform-tubular (vs. funnelform-tubular), ratio of the corolla tube length to the orifice diameter ca. 2.62–2.92 (vs. ca. 1.4–1.74); leaf blade abaxially glabrous between veins (vs. pubescent); calyx lobes margins entire (vs. denticulate). P. recurva differs from P. heucherifolia by: corolla tube with a distinct pit on the middle of adaxial lip (vs. without a pit), ratio of the corolla tube length to the orifice diameter ca. 2.82–3.17 (vs. ca. 1.41—1.74), upper half part of corolla tube slightly upward-curving (vs. not upward-curving); peduncle, abaxial surface of bracts and abaxial surface of calyxes villous and mixed glandular-pubescent (vs. villous mixed eglandularpubescent). Based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, the conservation status of both new species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).