On the recognition of the long neglected Vitisadenoclada Hand.-Mazz. (Vitaceae) from southern China

This study reports the recognition of Vitisadenoclada Hand.-Mazz. from southern China. The species was not recognized in the Flora Reipublicae Ropularis Sinicicae and Flora of China treatments. Recent field studies and examination of herbarium collections including the type material suggest that Vitisadenoclada is morphologically similar to V.heyneana, in their densely arachnoid tomentose abaxial leaves, yet it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its red-purple glandular hairs on the young branches (vs. glandular hairs absent in V.heyneana) and inflorescences usually subtended by a tendril at the base (vs. only occasionally with a tendril in V.heyneana). Vitisadenoclada may be a species of hybrid origin, with the highly tomentose Vitisheyneana as one of the parental species, and likely the glandular-hair bearing V.davidii as the other parental species. Vitisadenoclada is recorded from southern China in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces.