Ophiopogon stenophyllus (Merrill) Rodriguze (1934: 95)

Gan, Xin-Jun, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Chen, Huan-Jin, Zhong, Ping-Sheng & Fan, Qiang, 2024, Taxonomic studies on the genus Ophiopogon (Asparagaceae) I: - identity of O. albimarginatus and O. pseudotonkinensis, and a new species O. guangzhouensis from Guangdong, China, Phytotaxa 662 (2), pp. 121-136 : 128-130

Ophiopogon stenophyllus (Merrill) Rodriguze (1934: 95) ( Figs. 7 & 8 )

≡ Peliosanthes stenophylla Merrill (1918: 134) .

Type:— CHINA. Kuangtung (= Guangdong province), Loh Fau Mountain (= Lofaushan , ḄĀƜ), 9 August 1917 – 27 August 2017, Merrill 10757 (isotypes: NY00319815 photo!; US00091985 photo!; CAS0007083 photo! & GH00030013 photo!). Kwangtung province , Canton (=Guangzhou) and vicinity, 15 September 1917, Levine 1613 (paratype: MO77689 photo!) .

= Ophiopogon albimarginatus D. Fang (1998: 97) , syn. nov. ( Fig. 9 ).

Type:— CHINA. Guangxi: Hezhou City, Babu District, Daguishan Tree Farm, valley, in forest, alt. 300 m, 16 October, D. Fang, C. Z. Gao & K. J. Yan 80952 (holytype: GXMI 051107!). Hezhou, Nanxiang, medicinal, 29 September 1977, Hexian Exped. 7–642 (paratype: GXMI 051108!).

Note:— Ophiopogon stenophyllus ( Figs. 7 & 8 ) was described based on the basis of two collections, Merrill 10757 and Levine 1613, with the first collection designated as holotype from Luofushan, Boluo County, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province. This species had been put in the genus Peliosanthes by Merrill with the subsessile anthers. But Rodriguze stated that in this species the six stamens with free and very short and not wilded into a crown, so it should be a species of Ophiopogon , after examination of the shape of the flowers. And O. stenophyllus has been recognized by Dai & Chen (1978), Li (1997), Li et al. (2016), Chen & Tamura (2000). Based on Dai & Chen (1978) in this species the filaments ca. 1 mm long, anthers ca. 3 mm long, sometimes connate and free later. And Dai & Chen's views (1978) were also accepted by Li (1997), Li et al. (2016), Chen & Tamura (2000).

We also found that Ophiopogon albimarginatus D. Fang (1998: 97) ( Fig. 9 ) and O. stenophyllus are very similar. O. albimarginatus was described based on two collections, D. Fang, C. Z. Gao & K. J. Yan 80952 ( GXMI 051107!) and Hexian Exped. 7–642 ( GXMI 051108!), with the first collection designated as holotype which from Daguishan (大IJƜ), Babu District, Hezhou city, Guangxi province. In the protologue, the authors stated that O. albimarginatus was most closely related to O. reptans Hooker. f. (1892: 268) , but immediately differed by the blades 6 – 11 mm broad, bracts longer than pedicel, persistent tepals margin white. In the protologue, the authors stated that the key characteristic of O. albimarginatus is the petals margin white. Our critical observations on specimens have revealed both in O. albimarginatus and O. stenophyllus the petals margin white and not the petals but also the bracts margin white. In O. albimarginatus the blades margin serrulate which the same as O. stenophyllus . It is worth mentioning that in these two species the stem rhizomelike, stout, with dense nodes and somewhat woody, densely hairy roots. Leaves somewhat crowded and subterminal, subsessile, grasslike. Both of them are not essentially different from each other in any morphological characteristics and conspecific with each other.

Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. Guangdong: Xinyi, X. P. Gao 51604 ( IBK 00139053 photo!). Fengkai, Yueqisi 74–5259 ( IBSC 0644402!). Zijin, G. L. Shi 11511 ( IBSC 0644382!). Duanzhou, G. L. Shi 15373 ( IBSC 0644393!). Zengcheng, G. C. Zhang 061 ( IBSC 0644398!). Lianshan, P.X. Tan 58816 ( PE 00291518!). Deqing, Y. G. Liu 01110 ( PE 00291523!). Guangxi: Donglan, Z. Huang 43611 ( IBK 00139047 photo!). Linguan, Z. Z. Chen 50989 ( IBK 00139045 photo!). Mahan, S. Q. Zhong A 62253 ( IBK 00139050 photo!). Rongshui, D. Z. Chen 779 ( IBSC 0644413!). Lingui,

J.X. Zhong 90989 ( IBSC 0644409!). Longsheng, Guangfu Exped. 00582 ( PE 00291512!). Wuming, Anonymous Q 3 ( PE 02017730!). Chongqing: Anonymous 0588 ( SM 722204259 photo!).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Ophiopogon stenophyllus. A–D: Isotypes. E: Paratype. F: Rhizome, base of B. G: Rhizome, base of C. H: Inflorescence, from C. I: Inflorescence, from D. J: Inflorescence, from B.

FIGURE 8. Ophiopogon stenophyllus. A: Habit. B: Inflorescence. C: Flower, views from side. D: Old flower, three tepals has been removed. E: Old flower, longitudinally sectioned. F: Young flower, three tepals has been removed. G. Young flower, longitudinally sectioned. H: Old flower, front view. I: Young flower, front view. J: Stamens, front view. K: Stamens, internal view.

FIGURE 9. Ophiopogon albimarginatus. Holotyoe: A. Paratype: B. C (from B) & D (from A): Fruit. E (from A) & F (from B): Rhizome.