Clematis sibirica Miller (1768

Huang, Qiao-Lan, Fei, Wen-Qun, Yuan, Qiong & Yang, Qin-Er, 2025, The identity of Clematis diebuensis (Ranunculaceae) described from southern Gansu, China, Phytotaxa 712 (2), pp. 107-124 : 109-121

Clematis sibirica Miller (1768 : Clematis no. 12). Figs. 1–11 .

Type:—Cultivated plants in Chelsea garden in 1753, propagated from seeds from Siberia (no herbarium material found) ( Serov & Jarvis

1988). = Clematis sibirica var. tianzhuensis Yan & Sun (1992: 325) . Type:— CHINA. Gansu: Tianzhu county, Shimengou, alt. 2800 m, 20 June 1989, Q.R. Wang & M.S. Yan 12063 ( holotype NWNU, not seen). = Clematis diebuensis Wang (2015: 1) , syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Gansu: Têwo county, Jiangyegou, alt. 2500 m, on slopes, 2 June 1999, Bailongjiang Exped. 1691 ( holotype PE!). See Yang et al. (2009), under the name Clematis alpina subsp. sibirica , for a full citation of synonymy of this species.

Description:—Liana woody, sometimes suffruticose. Branches inconspicuously 4–6-angulate to subterete, glabrous; bud scales deltoid, triangular, or oblong, 0.2–1.3 cm long, abaxially puberulous at apex. Leaves often biternate, rarely ternate; petiole 3–6.5 cm long; leaflet blades elliptic-ovate, ovate, or lanceolate, 2–3.5 cm long, 1.1–1.8 cm wide, herbaceous to thinly papery, both surfaces sparsely puberulous or abaxially glabrous, base broadly cuneate to rounded, margin serrate to denticulate, apex acute to acuminate; basal veins nearly flat. Flowers solitary, 3–6 cm in diameter. Pedicel 5–10 (–14) cm long, sparsely puberulous. Sepals 4, yellow, yellowish, or white, ascending, narrowly oblong, oblong, or narrowly ovate, 3–4.5 cm long, 1–1.6 cm wide, both surfaces puberulous or adaxially glabrous, abaxially margin densely puberulous, apex acute to acuminate. Staminodes linear-spatulate or spatulate, ca. 1/2 as long as sepals, 2–5 mm wide, abaxially puberulous, adaxially glabrous, often with sterile anthers at apex. Stamens 1–1.4 cm long; filaments puberulous; anthers narrowly oblong, 2–3.2 mm long, abaxially puberulous on connective. Ovaries puberulous. Style 8–9 mm long, densely villous. Achenes obovate, 4–5 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, puberulous; persistent style 2.5–4.5 cm long, plumose.

Phenology:—Flowering from May to July; fruiting from July to August.

Distribution and habitat:—According to Johnson (2001), Wang & Bartholomew (2001), and Yang et al. (2009), Clematis sibirica has the widest distribution in the genus. It occurs in China, Finland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Norway, Pakistan, and Russia, thriving best in conifer and mixed forests, in margins and in thickets, on rocky slopes and also in creek ravines and along river beds. In China, C. sibirica is distributed in southern Gansu, northern Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol, northern Ningxia, eastern Qinghai, and Xinjiang ( Fig. 12 ), growing in forests, scrub, or along forest margins at elevations of 1200−2700 m above sea level. Fang (1980), Fu et al. (1992), Liu (1994), Zhou (1997), and Yang et al. (2009; under the name C. alpina subsp. sibirica var. sibirica ) all recorded the occurrence of C. sibirica in Jilin in northeastern China, but we have not as yet see any reliable material of this species from that province.

Additional specimens examined (barcodes are given when available):— CHINA. Gansu: Têwo, Q.L. Huang & K.Y. Qiu 59 (IBSC); Tianzhu, W.Q. Fei & J. Li 610 (IBSC). Heilongjiang: Da Hinggan Ling, S.X. Li et al. 7741 (IFP05108011x0024, IFP05108011x0025). Nei Mongol: Alxa, Y.C. Ho 2836 (PE00418278), W.J. Yang & C.F. Zhang 080607053 (PE01859041), 080607054 (PE01859038), 080607055 (PE01859043), 080607056 (PE01859047); Ergun, X.W. Huang & L.S. Wu Huangxw2050 (KUN1447976), Z. Wang 1644 (PE00418283). Ningxia: Helan Shan, Ningxia Inst. Drug Contr. 0146 (PE00419918, PE00419919). Qinghai: Huzhu, Q.L. Huang & K.Y. Qiu 62 (IBSC), Y.H. Wu 50143 (HNWP00010819), 50265 (HNWP00023420); Menyuan, Anonymous 1442 (HNWP0219760), Chin . Acad. Sci. Qinghai-Gansu Exped. 2512 (PE00418285, WUK0167123), 2639 (PE00418284, WUK0167517), P.C. Kuo 7263 (HNWP21311), K. Rong 1044 (HNWP0219763, WUK0167517). Xinjiang: Akto, B.S. Li et al. 10167 (PE01344708, PE01344709, PE01344710); Altay, G.L. Chu 6318 (IBSC0086420, NAS00182339, PE00418302, WUK0232809), G.L. Chu et al. 5870 (PE00418307), C. Liu 302 (NAS00182340); Bole, Q.X. Liu & X.Y. Chen 87331 (N091048716, NAS00182336); Burqin, Q.T. Jiang A1018 (PE00418304, PE00418305), C. Liu et al. 16CS12374 (KUN1448083); Fuhai, Anonymous 96209 (PE00418343), S.L. Chen 059 (PE00418319, PE00418350), H.Z. Zhou 8599 (SHM0013674, SHM0013675, SHM0013676); Fukang, Anonymous 067 (PE00418287), T.Y. Chou et al. 651167 (IBSC0086418, NAS00182325, NAS00182329, PE00418353), T.Y. Yang & A. Sayit 05739 (P02841725); Hami, Anonymous 770008 (BJM0169480, PE00418339), Minist. Forest. Forest Type Exped. s.n. (CAF00008900), 014 (CAF00008899, PE00418295); Hoboksar, Chin . Acad. Sci. Xinjiang Exped. 10544 (KUN285448, PE00418332, PE00418349); Kuqa, Chin . Acad. Sci. Xinjiang Exped.10023 (PE00418290, PE00418347); Tian Shan, G.N. Potanin s.n. (P00125065), K.C. Kuan 1830 (PE00418303, PE02078938, XJBI00011164), Bot . Teach. Group 0014 (NAS00182333); Toli, H.T. Ding F-93035 (NAS00182338), K.C. Kuan 2512 (PE00418297), 2712 (PE00418296), Y.Y. Ren H93052 (PE00418344); Turpan, A.J. Li & J.N. Zhu 5821 (KUN285447, PE00418330, XJBI20009602, XJBI00009792); Ürümqi, Y.X. Bai et al. 0083 (PE00875638), S.H. Tang et al. 0024 (PE00875637); Wenquan, M. Ma 1390-410 (PE00418340); Yecheng, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 870946 (KUN1224119, KUN1224122, PE00418336); Zhaosu, T.Y. Chou et al. 650738 (IBSC0086416, IBSC0086417, NAS00182318, NAS00182328, PE00418331, SZ00089094), 650797 (IBSC0086419, NAS00182322, NAS00182323, PE00418348, SZ00089092, XJBI00011168), Y.R. Ling 74798 (IBSC0086422, PE00418308, PE00418317).

Notes:—The authority of Clematis sibirica had been previously wrongly cited as “(L.) Mill.” and this species had long been generally known as C. sibirica (Linnaeus) Miller ( Anonymous 1975, Zhao 1990, Fu et al. 1992, Liu 1994, Tamura 1995, Zhou 1997, Johnson 1997, 2001, Grey-Wilson 2001). In the genus Clematis Linnaeus (1753: 543) , the correct name for this species, as clarified by Serov & Jarvis (1988), is C. sibirica Miller. This correct name was used by Wang & Bartholomew (2001) in their account of Clematis in the Flora of China but regrettably not adopted by Grey-Wilson (2001) and Johnson (1997, 2001), both of whom still used the name “ C. sibirica (L.) Miller” in their works.

Most of the Russian botanists recognize Atragene Linnaeus (1753: 542) as an independent genus. In the genus Atragene , as clarified by Serov & Jarvis (1988), A. speciosa Weinmann (1850: 538) is the earliest valid name. Serov (1991) and Borodina-Grabovskaya et al. (2007) adopted this name, instead of Clematis sibirica Miller , for the species in question.

Grey-Wilson (2001) and Johnson (1997, 2001), when mentioning the name Clematis dianae Serov in their works, did not clearly indicate its basionym and did not give a full and direct reference to its author and place of valid publication. The combination C. dianae , therefore, has never been validly published in Clematis , although the name A. dianae Serov (1991: 995) was validly published in Atragene . When describing A. dianae as new, Serov (1991) stated that this new species was actually identical with C. macropetala var. albiflora (Maximowicz ex Kuntze 1885: 163) Handel-Mazzetti (1939: 197) , but he considered it more reasonable to treat this variety as an independent species. This treatment was accepted by Borodina-Grabovskaya et al. (2007), who placed C. macropetala var. albiflora (Maximowicz ex Kuntze 1885: 163) Handel-Mazzetti (1939: 197) in synonymy with A. dianae . On the contrary, Wang & Bartholomew (2001) and Yang et al. (2009) placed A. dianae in synonymy with C. macropetala var. albiflora . After checking the type specimens of A. dianae ( Fig. 13 ), which have petaloid staminodes nearly as long as the sepals, we accept this treatment. After checking the type specimens of A. dianae ( Fig. 13 ), which have petaloid staminodes nearly as long as the sepals, a diagnostic character of C. macropetala , it seems to us that the treatment by Wang & Bartholomew (2001) and Yang et al. (2009) is more justifiable. Morphologically, C. macropetala var. albiflora differs from the type variety, var. macropetala , only by having white (vs. blue or purple) sepals.

As remarked by Johnson (2001), Kuntze (1885), in his monograph on the genus Clematis , treated C. sibirica as a subspecies of C. alpina ( Linnaeus 1753: 543) Miller (1768 : Clematis no. 9). This classification, although sometimes giving rise to long chains of combination names by recognizing more than one infraspecific ranks within a genus, is still followed by some botanists such as Uotila (2001) and Yang et al. (2009). We agree with Tamura (1995) that the C. alpina complex may be reasonably regarded as consisting of five geographically differentiated species including C. sibirica . Johnson (1997, 2001), with reference to differences in characteristics of its members, also took the view that a division of this complex into different species is justified and suitable from a horticultural point of view. Here we therefore maintain C. sibirica at specific status.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype sheet of Clematis diebuensis(= C. sibirica), China, Gansu, Têwo, Bailongjiang Exped. 1691 (PE).

FIGURE 2. Line illustration of Clematis sibirica var. tianzhuensis (= C. sibirica) (1. habit; 2. sepal; 3. staminode; 4. stamen).

FIGURE 3. Clematis sibirica in the wild (China, Gansu, Têwo, type locality of C. diebuensis (= C. sibirica)). A. Habitat. B, C. Habit. D, E. Portion of stem. F. Bud scale (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side). G. Leaves (adaxial side). H. Flower (lateral view). I. Flower (top view). J. Sepals (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side). K. Staminodes. L. Stamens. M. Carpels.

FIGURE 4. A selected specimen of Clematis sibirica, China, Gansu, Têwo, type locality of C. diebuensis (= C. sibirica), Q.L. Huang & K.Y. Qiu 59 (IBSC).

FIGURE 5. Clematis sibirica in the wild (China, Gansu, Tianzhu, type locality of C. sibirica var. tianzhuensis (= C. sibirica)). A. Habitat. B, C. Flowering branches. D, E. Portion of stem. F. Bud scale (left: adaxial side; right: abaxial side). G. Leaves (adaxial view). H. Flower (lateral view). I. Flower (top view). J. Sepals (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side). K. Staminodes. L. Stamens. M. Carpels. N. Achenes (immature).

FIGURE 6. Selected specimens of Clematis sibirica, China, Gansu, Tianzhu, type locality of C. sibirica var. tianzhuensis (= C. sibirica), W.Q. Fei & J. Li 610 (IBSC).

FIGURE 7. Clematis sibirica in the wild (China, Qinghai, Huzhu). A. Habitat. B, C. Flowering branches. D, E. Portion of stem. F. Bud scale (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side). G. Leaves (adaxial side). H. Flower (lateral view). I. Sepals (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side). J. Staminodes. K. Stamens. L. Carpels.

FIGURE 8. Selected specimens of Clematis sibirica, China, Qinghai, Huzhu, Q.L. Huang & K.Y. Qiu 62 (IBSC).

FIGURE 9. Selected specimens of Clematis sibirica, China, Qinghai, Menyuan.A.Anonymous 1442 (HNWP).B. P.C.Kuo 7263 (HNWP). C, D. K. Rong 1044 (HNWP).

FIGURE 10. Selected specimens of Clematis sibirica, China, Qinghai, Menyuan. A. Chin. Acad. Sci. Qinghai-Gansu Exped. 2512 (PE). B. Chin. Acad. Sci. Qinghai-Gansu Exped. 2512 (WUK). C. Chin. Acad. Sci. Qinghai-Gansu Exped. 2639 (PE). D. Chin. Acad. Sci. Qinghai-Gansu Exped. 2639 (WUK).

FIGURE 11. Selected specimens of Clematis sibirica, China, Heilongjiang and Nei Mongol.A. Heilongjiang, Da Hinggan Ling, S.X. Li et al. 7741 (IFP). B. Nei Mongol, Alxa, Y.C. Ho 2836 (PE). C. Nei Mongol, Alxa, W.J. Yang & C.F. Zhang 080607055 (PE). D. Nei Mongol, Ergun, X.W. Huang & L.S. Wu 2050 (KUN).

FIGURE 12. Distribution in China of Clematis sibirica (●). The black arrow indicates the type locality of C. diebuensis(= C. sibirica), i.e. China, Gansu, Têwo, and the red arrow indicates the type locality of C. sibirica var. tianzhuensis (= C. sibirica), i.e. China, Gansu, Tianzhu.

FIGURE 13. Holotype, isotype and paratype sheets of Atragene dianae (= Clematis macropetala var. albiflora). A. China, Nei Mongol, Alxa, S.S. Chetyrckin 198 (holotype LE). B. China, Nei Mongol,Alxa, S.S. Chetyrckin 198 (isotype LE). C. China, Nei Mongol,Alxa, S.S. Chetyrckin 197 (paratype LE). D. China, Nei Mongol, Alxa, S.S. Chetyrckin 343 (paratype LE).