A New Species, Cerasus kumanoensis from the Southern Kii Peninsula, Japan

Abstract

A new species, Cerasus kumanoensis T. Katsuki (Rosaceae), sp. nov., is described from the southern Kii Peninsula, Japan. It is similar to C. jamasakura var. jamasakura and C. leveilleana because the corymbose inflorescences and extended peduncle are identical in these three taxa. However, C. kumanoensis is distinguished by several morphological and phenological characteristics, an earlier flowering period, narrowly ovate and smaller leaf blade (4–8 cm long, 1.8–3.6 cm wide) and glabrous petiole and pedicel.