Metapetrocosmea navicularis, a new species of Gesneriaceae in Vietnam

Based on morphological comparisons, literature reviews, and molecular systematic studies, a new species from South Vietnam, Metapetrocosmea navicularis F. Wen, T. V. Do, Z. B. Xin & K. Tan, has been confirmed. Morphologically, this new species resembles Metapetrocosmea tamiana (B. L. Burtt) Yin Z. Wang & P. W. Li in leaf peltate, bilabiate corollas, arcuate filaments, and slightly curved capsule, while it is distinguished from M. tamiana in having leaf blade ovate to ovate-elliptic, boat-shaped bracts 6–9 mm long, the ratio of corolla lobes length to corolla tube length consistently 1: 3, corolla tube gradually narrowed from mouth to base, subcylindrical-infundibulate, 10–20 - flowered or more, filaments pubescent near the top.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the combined dataset of trn L-F and ITS sequences show that the new species is also most closely related to M. tamiana. The conservation status of this new species is assessed as Least Concern (LC).