Ticanto sinensis (Hemsl.) R. Clark & Gagnon, 2022

Clark, Ruth P., Jiang, Kai-Wen & Gagnon, Edeline, 2022, Reinstatement of Ticanto (Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae) - the final piece in the Caesalpinia group puzzle, PhytoKeys 205, pp. 59-98 : 59

6. Ticanto sinensis (Hemsl.) R. Clark & Gagnon comb. nov.

= Caesalpinia chinensis Roxb. in Fl. Ind. ed. 2: 361. 1832., nom. rej. Li et al. Taxon 51: 816. 2002. Type: not designated.

= Mezoneuron sinense var. parvifolium Hemsl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 205. 1887. Type: China. Hupeh Province, Ichang, Henry, A. 2238 (lectotype, designated here: K [K000264687!]; isolectotype: P [P00751902!])

= Caesalpinia tsoongii Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 27: 162. 1925. Type: China. Szechuen, Tsoong 4190. (holotype: UC [UC227358!]; isotype: GH [A00059897!]).

= Caesalpinia stenoptera Merr., J. Arnold Arbor. 19: 35. 1938. Type: Indo-China. Tonkin, Cao Bang, Ban Gioc, Jun. 1933, Petelot, A. 4757 (lectotype, designated here: A [A00059899!], isolectotypes: P [P02142685!, P02142686!], NY [NY00003575!, NY00003576!, NY00003577!]).

Basionym.

Mezoneuron sinense Hemsl., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 204. 1887. ≡ Caesalpinia sinensis (Hemsl.) J.E. Vidal in J.E. Vidal & S. Hul Thol, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., ser. 3, 395 (Bot. 27): 90. 1976. nom. cons. Li et al. Taxon 51: 816. 2002.

Type.

China. Hupeh, Ichang, A. Henry, (Herb. Kew) (lectotype (designated by Larsen et al. 1980): China, Henry, A. 3113 [K 000264688!]) .

Description.

Habit a scandent shrub or vine to 13 m. Stems with scattered recurved prickles to 4 mm, glabrous or sparsely whitish to pale orange tomentose. Stipules persistent, triangular, 1-3 × 1-2.5 mm. Leaves with 2-4(-5) pairs opposite pinnae; petiole (1.3-)3-7 cm; leaf rachis 2.5-24 cm, with paired recurved prickles at pinna insertion points and scattered in between, sometimes densely; pinnae 2.5-12.5 cm, sometimes with recurved prickles in pairs at the leaflet insertion points and scattered in between; leaf rachis and petiole glabrous to sparsely whitish to pale orange tomentose; pinna rachis glabrous to sparsely pale orange tomentose; leaflets 2-5 opposite pairs per pinna; elliptic, base cuneate to rounded, sometimes oblique, apex usually acuminate, or acute, occasionally rounded; terminal leaflets 1.8-10.7 × 0.9-5.1 cm; lateral leaflets 1.9-9.2 × 0.8-4.7 cm; all leaflets glabrous on both surfaces or lower surface sparsely orange tomentose at base and on midvein, sometimes at margins, glossy above; venation reticulate, anastomosing. Inflorescence a panicle, axillary, supra-axillary or terminal, 7-42 cm long, axes sparsely to densely ferruginous tomentose, axis sometimes with small, recurved prickles; pedicels (3-)4-12(-17 in fruit) mm, articulated, sparsely to moderately ferruginous tomentose; bracts caducous, triangular, 0.5-2 × 1-1.5 mm; clusters of triangular scale-like bracts sometimes below base of raceme; bracteoles caducous, broad, elliptic, acute, 2-3 × 1-1.5 mm. Flowers with a hypanthium 1-2 × 3-5 mm, sparsely to moderately ferruginous tomentose; lower calyx lobe 6-8 × 3-5 mm, other lobes 5-6 × 2-3 mm, all lobes sparsely to densely pale orange to ferruginous tomentose on inner and outer surface; median petal obovate, sometimes reflexed backwards, inrolled, 6-8 × 3-4 mm, including claw 1-2 mm long, a circular patch of orange hairs between claw and blade, hairs on margins of claw; upper laterals obovate, 6-10 × 2-6 mm, including claw ca. 1 mm long, petal glabrous or with a few hairs on inner surface of claw; lower laterals 6-10 × 2-6 mm, including claw ca. 1 mm long, glabrous or with a few hairs on inner surface of claw; stamen filaments flattened, 5-12 mm long, densely orange villous on basal ½; anthers 1-2 mm long; ovary 2-5 mm long, sparsely to densely, sometimes partially, orange tomentose, occasionally glabrous; style 6-12 mm long, sparsely hairy on basal ½; stigma funnel-shaped, not or very slightly papillate, sometimes slightly laterally placed. Fruit light green, indehiscent, coriaceous, sub-circular to lunate, base cuneate to rounded, not stipitate or stipe 0-2 mm, apex with a pronounced beak to 25 mm, venation prominent, sparsely ferruginous tomentose, the indumentum most dense at base and on margins, glabrescent or glabrous, 3-5.8 × 1.9-3.6(-4.1) cm × ca. 4-8 mm deep, wing on ventral suture 0.5-4 mm wide. Seed 1, ca. 1.8-2.5 cm diameter, matt or glossy dark brown. (Fig. 3A ).

Ecology.

Forest and thicket, on limestone. Elevation 100-1500m.

Phenology.

Flowering March-May, fruiting March-October.

Distribution.

China (Chongqing, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan), Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam (Map 1 ).

Notes.

The current authors have not seen any specimens or specimen records from Hong Kong but the area is included within the distribution listed by Vidal and Hul Thol (1976) and that information is retained here. The identity of the few available specimens from Laos and Myanmar is unconfirmed and these could be individuals of T. crista , although based on morphological affinities and the preference of T. crista for coastal habitats they are retained here as T. sinensis pending further analysis of the species limits.

Selected specimens examined.

China. Chongqing: Qijiang, Wansheng, Heishangu Ave., opposite of Yaqulou, S.R. Yi YSR9620 (NPH). Shimiaoxiangzhai, S.G. Tang s.n. (SM). Wushan, Guandu River, T.P. Wang 10431 (WUK). Fujian: Mengtongyang, Chengmenkan, H.Y. Zou 0931 (NF). Guangdong: Dinghu, Xinghu, Yuping Peak, K.C. Ting & G.L. Shi 1337 (WUK). Zhaoqing, Qixingyan, F.C. How 74128 (IBK). Guangxi: Bama, Xishan, Z.T. Li 601739 (KUN). Donglan, Ma’an mountain, R.P. Clark 429 (K, IBK). Debao, Longguang, Miaohuai Village, Debao Exped. 451024160516009LY (IBK). Fusui, Quli, Jidao Village, B.Y. Huang, Y.Y. Xie & H.F. Cen 451421160523025LY (GXMG). Jingxi, Longlin to Ande, R.P. Clark 415 (K, IBK). Liuzhou Longtan Park, W.E. Qun 150 (K). Long’an, Nanxu, Longxintun, Long’an Exped. 450123130506007LY (IBK). Longlin, Kechang, Haichang Village, Dankuntun, L.Y. Yu, Y.D. Peng & X.Y. Hu 451031140410083LY (GXMG). Napo, county town, Hongshui River Exped. 400 (TNM). Ningming, W Tingliang, C.C. Huang et al. 2111 (GXMI). On the slopes of the limestone mountain near the county seat of Lingle, Z.T. Li 603637 (IBK). S Nanning, Dar Shan, Seh-Feng, Me-Jon, R.C. Ching 8435 (US). Tianyang, Wucun, Dalu Village, Longlitun, Tianyang Exped. 451021150410060LY (GXMG). Guizhou: Ceheng, Rongxian, Huangtian to Maoping, Z.Y. Cao 544 (PE). Kwanlin, Kwanlinchow, Da-Swee-Tzi, S.W. Teng 1641 (IBSC). Zhenfeng, Beipanjiang, Shuiyanba Village, Y. Jia 522325190716483LY (GZTM). Hubei: Badong, T.P. Wang 10830 (IBK). Sichuan: Jiang’an, Nanyan, Hongfo Temple, K.Y. Lang 3033 (PE). Xuanhan, Dong’an, Xuanhan Exped. 1498 (SM). Yunnan: Between Szemao and Puerhfu, J.F. Rock 2849 (NY, US). Lushui, near Nujiang River, H. Sun 1672 (KUN). Xichou, Changqing, C.W. Wang 81282 (KUN). Yingjiang, 23 km milestone on X309 Road from Pingyuan to Kachang, Y.J. Guo, W.L. Zhao, P.X. Tang, X.L. Jin & X.Q. Zhang 13CS7525 (KUN). Laos. Phou Phung pres de Louang Prabang, M. Poilane 20257 (K, L). Myanmar. Bhamo District, Lapycke to Sinlum Kabo, J.H. Lace 5769 (K). Vietnam. Indo-China, Tonkin, A. Petelot 4757 (NY). Ninh Binh: Cuc Phuong National Park, N.M. Cuong 464 (MO).

Figures

Map 1. Distribution of all species (excluding T. crista).

Figure 3. A T. sinensis (i) habit (ii) leaves (iii) flowers (photos by Xin-Xin Zhu, Guizhou, China, unvouchered) (iv) habit (v) fruit (R. P. Clark 429, Guangxi, China, (IBK, K )) (vi) leaves (R. P. Clark 415, Guangxi, China (IBK, K) B T. aff. szechuenensis (i) habit (ii) inflorescence and leaves (R. P. Clark 422, Guangxi, China (IBK, K )).