Ilex crenata Thunberg (1784: 168)

Hong, De-Yuan, 2015, A taxonomical revision of Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) in the Pan-Himalaya and unraveling its distribution patterns, Phytotaxa 230 (2), pp. 151-171 : 154-155

3. Ilex crenata Thunberg (1784: 168) . Type:— JAPAN. not designated

Ilex thomsonii Hooker (1875: 602) . Ilex crenata var. thomsonii (Hook. f.) Loesener (1901: 202 & t. 4 2C), syn. nov. Type:— BHUTAN. Tongsa, Griffith 2003 (lectotype here designated: K; isolectotype: W); India. Meghalaya (Khasia), Surureem , 26. Jun. 1850, J. D. Hooker & T. Thomson s. n. (paratype: K) .

Ilex yuana S.Y. Hu (1951: 396) (“ yuiana ”), syn. nov. Type:— China. Yunnan, Taron in Kiu-Kiang (Drungjiang) Valley, 1250 m, 10. Sept. 1938, T. T. Yü 20181 (holotype: A; isotypes: KUN, PE); Taron-Taru Divide, Lungnan-Tehgai , 2300 m, 30. Oct. 1938, T. T. Yü 20884 (paratypes: KUN, PE) .

Ilex crenata is distributed from Japan and Russia (Sakhalin and S Kuriles) westernwards to S Korea and East China (Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Taiwan, and Zhejiang). Ilex thomsonii was reduced by Loesener (1901) to the varietal rank, and Basu (2000) accepted Loesener’s treatment, as I. crenata var. thomsonii . The present author examined all specimens of these two taxa in the herbaria BM, E, K, P, and PE, but failed in discovering any significant difference between them. Therefore, I. crenata may be considered to be widely disjunct between the Far East of Asia at one end and the eastern Himalaya, Gaoligong Shan, China, and Manipur and Meghalaya, India at the other ( Fig. 2 ), showing a unique distribution pattern.

Hu (1951) compared I. yuana in the protologue of her new species with I. triflora and I. szechwanensis Loesener (1901: 347) with the conclusion that it was different from the latter two. Indeed, I. yuana is distinct from these two species in having solitary and axillary fruit and much smaller leaves. She also compared her new species with I. crenata but said: “It can be easily distinguished from I. crenata by its thick indumentum”. I examined some specimens of I. crenata from Guangdong, NW Yunnan and SE Tibet, and found that Hu’s type specimens are more densely hairy on young shoots, petioles and pedicels than those from Guangdong, but they are the same as those from NW Yunnan and SE Tibet ( I. crenata var. thomsonii ).

Representative specimens examined:— E NEPAL: Kosi, Sankhuwasabha, 2720 m, 21. Aug. 1998, S. Noshiro et al. 9840138 (BM). SIKKIM & DARJILING: Darjiling, Palmajua, 2200 m –Batasi 2100 m, 08. Aug. 1972, H. Kanai

721564 (BM); Sikkim, s. loc. Jul. 1857, Thomson s. n. (K). BHUTAN: Gyasa Dzong, MoChu , 2440 m, 13. Jun. 1949 ; F. Ludlow et al. 16543 (BM, E); Paro, below Taksang, 2590 m, 26. Apr. 1987, Rushforth 1065 (E): Punakha, 2743 m, 26. Aug. 1914, Cooper 3149 (E). Tashiling, 09. Jun. 1915, R. E. Cooper 3975 (E). Tongsa, Changkha , 27°29 ′ N, 90°28 ′ E, 2400 m, 18. May 1979, Grierson & Long 1146 (E. K) ; Thimphu, 2300 m, 18. Jun. 1989, Wood 6962 (E). YARLUNG ZANGBO-BRAHMAPUTRA: Baibung, Gelin, 1690 m, 21. May. 1983, B. S. Li et al. 3686 ( PE) ; Gutang, Xingkai to Jiangbietang, 2200–2400 m, 26. Sept. 1982, B. S. Li & S. Z. Cheng 1069 ( PE). Shangzayü, near Buzhong , 2100 m, 24. Jul. 1980, C. C. Ni et al. 0711 ( PE) ; Shergaon, 2440–2743 m, 19. Oct. 1935, F. Kingdon-Ward 12445 ( BM) ; Talung Dzong, Balipara Frontier, 2134 m, 10. May 1935, F. Kingdon-Ward 11420 ( BM). S HENGDUAN: Gongshan, Salween-Irrawadi Divide , 27°52 ′ N, 3400 m, 03. Jul. 1916, Handel-Mazzetti 9214 ( WU). U IRRAWADDY: Drungjiang, 1600 m, 23. Aug. 1982, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 9483 (KUN, PE) ; Tengchong, Houqiao , 1680–1750 m, 23. May 1964, S. K. Wu 6863 ( KUN) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. The disjunct distribution of Ilex crenata Thunb.