Epithema benthamii C.B. Clarke (Gesneriaceae), A Newly Naturalized Plant in Taiwan

In Taiwan, only one species of the genus Epithema, E. ceylanicum Gardner, had previously been recorded. This study reports a newly naturalized species, Epithema benthamii C.B. Clarke, growing in Shuangxi, Meinong Dist., Kaohsiung City. These two taxa can be distinguished by the following characteristics: leaves of E. benthamii are oblong, with dark-green adaxial surfaces, and the corolla is light bluish-purple to white, with inconspicuous purple spots; whereas leaves of E. ceylanicum are elliptic to broad-elliptic, with light-green adaxial surfaces, and the corolla is bluish-purple, with conspicuous purple spots. Taxonomic descriptions and color photographs of the above two species are provided to assist in their identification.

關鍵字

Epithema benthamii ； Epithema ； Gesneriaceae ； naturalized plant ； Taiwan

並列摘要

臺灣的盾座苣苔屬僅記錄錫蘭盾座苣苔（Epithema ceylanicum Gardner）一種。本研究報導一新歸化種－邊沁氏盾座苣苔（Epithema benthamii C.B. Clarke），生長於高雄美濃雙溪。兩者形態差異在於邊沁氏盾座苣苔的葉長橢圓形，葉正面深綠，花冠淡藍紫色至白色，具不明顯紫斑；錫蘭盾座苣苔的葉橢圓形至寬橢圓形，葉正面淡綠色，花冠藍紫色，具明顯紫斑。本文提供上述二物種的特徵描述和彩色照片，以助其鑑定。

並列關鍵字

邊沁氏盾座苣苔；盾座苣苔屬；苦苣苔科；歸化植物；臺灣

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