Ilex delavayi Franchet (1898: 255)

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 : 156

5. Ilex delavayi Franchet (1898: 255) . Type:— CHINA. “Chine Occidetale, Yunnan, dans les bois de Kou toui”, 20. Apr. 1888, Delavay 4414 (holotype: P)

Ilex delavayi var. comberiana S.Y. Hu (1950a: 48) , syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Mt Lauchun , SW of Yangtze Bend, 1923, J. F. Rock 9575 (holotype: A); Yunnan, Lijiang, R. C. Ching 20479 (paratype: PE) .

Ilex delavayi var. exalata Comber (1933: 44) , syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: N’Maikha-Salween Divide , 26°10 ′ N, 2440 m, Jan. 1919, G. Forrest 18093 (holotype: E; isotype: K).

Ilex delavayi var. linearifolia S.Y. Hu (1950a: 48) , syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Li-Kiang (Lijiang), 14. Oct. 1939, R. C. Ching 21989 (holotype. A; isotype: KUN).

Ilex delavayi var. muliensis W.P. Fang & Z.M. Tan (1983: 81& pl. 6. fig. 2), syn. nov. Type: CHINA. Sichuan: Muli, Mahuanggou, 3520 m, 25. Jul. 1978, Q. S. Zhao & Y. B. Yang 6817 (holotype: SZ).

I reduce the four varieties as synonyms because examination of a large number of specimens shows that I. delavayi is polymorphic in the indumentum of the branchlets and in the size and shape of leaf blades. The branchlets vary from glabrous to densely puberulent; the leaf blade from linear-elliptic to obovate-lanceolate, from 2.5 to 8.5 cm in length, and from 0.7 to 2.7 cm in width. All these variations are continuous. However, all the specimens I have observed have verruculose branchlets, particularly when fruiting.

The protologue of I. delavayi var. comberiana says that it “occurs within the range of the typical Ilex delavayi ” but differs from the latter “in having verruculose and pubescent branchlets.” Actually one of diagnostic characters of I. delavayi is verruculose branchlets.

The protologue of I. delavayi var. linearifolia states “This variety differs from the typical Ilex delavayi in having verruculose and pubescent branchlets and linear-lanceolate leaves.” This variety is also within the range of the typical I. delavayi and is very similar to I. delavayi var. comberiana in the former two characters, while the third character is within the range of continuous variation of leaf shape in I. delavayi .

Comber (1933) states in the protologue of I. delavayi var. exalata that “this variety differs from the type in the broader leaves, which are abruptly narrowed into the petiole, and in the smooth bark of young shoots.” The type specimen indicates that it is still an element within the polymorphic variation of the species.

According to Tan (1983), I. delavayi var. muliensis differs from the typical form in having the branchlets smooth, not verrucose, the fruit solitary or in an umbel, the fruiting peduncle 1–1.5 mm long, and the fruiting pedicel 2–3 mm long. However, the Chinese name of I. delavayi var. muliensis is “Muli liuzhi dongqing”, which means that the variety from Muli is with verrucose branchlets.

Ilex delavayi is rather common in the southern Hengduan Mts region, but there is no record from the Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra region. One collection with two duplicates from Bhutan, and two collections from E Nepal (see below) all have the branchlets verrucose, leaves elliptic, 4.2 cm long, and fruit 4 or 5 in a fascicle, and thus should belong to I. delavayi . These three collections make new records to the Himalayan region. Therefore, according to the material available, I. delavayi is disjunct between China and NE Myanmar on one side and Bhutan and E Nepal on the other ( Fig. 3 ).

Representative specimens examined:— E NEPAL: Kosi, Sankhuwasabha Distr., 13. Aug. 1990, M. Minaki et al.

9040296 (E); Sankhuwasabha, Saldim Khola Valley, 3000 m, 11. Oct. 1991, Long et al. 680 (E). BHUTAN: Upper Mo Chu Distr., S side of Pari La, between Gasa and Kohina, 27°58 ′ N, 89°48 ′ E, 3390 m, 16. Sept. 1984, Sinclair & Long 5060 (E, K). S HENGDUAN: Binchuan, Kuanshang, 23. Apr. 1942, H. C. Wang 2016 (PE); Cawarong, 28°24 ′ N, 98°24 ′ E, Salween-Drungjiang Divide, 3050–3350 m, Sept. 1921, G. Forrest 23040 (K); Dali, Dali, 1929, G. Forrest 28171 (paratype of I. delavayi var. exalata : PE); Canshan, Huadianba, 3100 m, 20. May 1981, S. B. E. C. 0917 (KUN); Gongshan, Champutung, 3500 m – 3700 m, 20. Sept. 1940, K. M. Feng 7837 (KUN, PE); Heqing, Lianping, Ma’er shan, 3600 m, 23. Aug. 1940, R. C. Ching 23961 (KUN, PE); Huili, near the city, 2700–3600 m, 26. Mar. 1914, Handel-Mazzetti 888 (WU); Jianchuan, Laojunshan, 14. Oct. 1958, W. T. Wang 466 (KUN); Lanping, Laojun Shan, 3510 m, 07. Jul. 1960, Nanshui Beidiao Exped. 9810 (KUN, PE); Lushui, Pianma Pass, 3100 m, 04. Aug. 1978, Nujiang Prefecture Exped. 1825 (KUN); Shweli-Salween Divide, 25°45 ′ N, 98°58 ′ E, 2440–2743 m, Sept. 1924, G. Forrest 25248 (paratype of I. delavayi var. exalata : K); Shweli-Salween Divide, 25°50 ′ N, 98°58 ′ E, 3050 m, Nov. 1924, G. Forrest 25365 (paratypes of I. delavayi var. exalata : K, PE); Mianning, Tuowu, 2400 m, 15. Jun. 1959, Sichuan Econ. Plant Surv. (Xi 59) 1755 (KUN, PE); Miyi, Baipo Shan, 2800 m, 09. Jul. 1983, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 11909 (KUN, PE); Muli, Gumatian, 3400 m, 25. May 1937, T. T. Yü 5722 (KUN, PE); Muli, Mt E of Yungning, 27°45 ′ N, 101°E, Jun. 1922, Forrest 21235 (PE); Puge, Tuomugou, 2500 m, 25. Aug. 1959, Sichuan Econ. Plant Surv. (Liang 59) 5501 (KUN, PE); Shangri-la (Zhongdian), Habaxue Shan, 2800 m, 06. Oct. 1955, K. M. Feng 21016 (PE); Weixi, Wudiping, 3200 m, 15. Jun. 1940, K. M. Feng 4602 (KUN, PE); Weixi, 2900 m, 12. Oct. 1934, H. T. Tsai 59761 (PE); Yunnan, Weixi, H. T. Tsai 59761 (paratypes of I. delavayi var. linearifolia : KUN, PE); Yangbi, Yangjiang, 3400 m, 15. Jul. 2009, Yunnan Exped. 1357 (PE); Yulong (Lijiang), 27°40 ′ N, 3350 m, Jun. 1913, G. Forrest 10237 (PE); Lijiang, 01. Jun. 1939, R. C. Ching 20646 (paratype of I. delavayi var. linearifolia : KUN). U IRRAWADDY: Chawng Maw Hka Valley, 2440 m, 04. Jun. 1919, F. Kingdon-Ward 3176 (paratype of I. delavayi var. exalata : E); W slope of Imaw Bum, 2743–3050 m, 02. Jul. 1919, F. Kingdon-Ward 3298 (paratype of I. delavayi var. exalata : E); Tengchong, Shweli-Salween Divide, Nov. 1924, G. Forrest 25365 (PE); 25°30 ′ N, 3050 m, Oct. 1918, G. Forrest 17768 (paratype of I. delavayi var. exalata : K).

Figures

FIGURE 3. The disjunct distribution of Ilex delavayi Franch.