Solms-laubachia garzeensis (Brassicaceae), a new species from the Hengduan Mountains of Sichuan Province, China

A new species of the genus Solms-laubachia was discovered in the Hengduan Mountains region of Sichuan Province, China, and it has been described and illustrated. Morphologically, it is similar to Solms-laubachia himalayensis (Cambess.) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, Solms-laubachia stewartii (T. Anderson) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun, Solms-laubachia linearis (N. Busch) J. P. Yue, Al-Shehbaz & H. Sun. However, by synthesizing the characteristics of simple trichomes, blue-violet petals, large siliques, toothed bracteal leaves and cryptic coloration possessed by the new species, it can be distinctly distinguished from the aforementioned three species.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) of 23 other species in the same genus also supports the conclusion that this is a new species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of its pollen revealed that it is tricolpate. Solms-laubachia garzeensis J. Fu, Y. Ma & H. X. Yin is currently distributed only in the Shaluli Mountains at the junction of Garze County and Xinlong County in Garze Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

According to the classification criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is currently assessed as “ critically endangered ” (CR).