The discovery of androecia and sporophytes of the critically endangered Ascidiota blepharophylla C.Massal. (Porellaceae) in China and an assessment of its conservation status

Abstract

Male plants and fertile populations of Ascidiota blepharophylla C.Massal. from Wanglang National Nature Reserve of Sichuan Province in China have been discovered recently. Here we present a description and illustrations of the androecia and sporophytes, and comment on the conservation status of this species.

Keywords:

• Ascidiota blepharophylla
• Distribution
• Critically Endangered species
• Wanglang National Nature Reserve

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Wanglang National Nature Reserve of Sichuan, China and to W.-P. Zhang (Shanghai) for field assistance. Many thanks are due to David Glenny, Elizabeth Kungu and two anonymous referees for their linguistic corrections and comments on the manuscript. Special thanks are due to Z.-T. Zhao (Shandong) and G.-Y. Han (Guizhou) for providing collections for the study. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 31300171) and the Special Program for the National Basic Work of the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (no. 2015FY110200).

Taxonomic Additions and Changes: Nil.