Ilex shweliensis Comber (1933: 57)

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 : 165

15. Ilex shweliensis Comber (1933: 57) . Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Shweli Valley , 25°20 ′ N, 1830 m, Oct. 1917, G. Forrest 15947 (holotype: E; isotype: K)

Hu (1949a) reduced Ilex shweliensis from Tengchong, W Yunnan, to a synonym of I. kwangtungensis Merrill (1927: 8) . This treatment was followed by Chen et al. (2008). Yes, I. shweliensis is rather similar to I. kwangtungensis in the habit, leaf shape, and the development of secondary inflorescence axes. However, it differs from that species in having leaves with the midrib abaxially yellow-lanate (vs. mostly glabrous, less often golden-hirsute) and 11–13 pairs of lateral veins (vs. 9–11 pairs). It is also similar to I. atrata W. W. Smith (1917: 40) (the type from the same locality, Tengchong) in the habit, leaf shape, and yellow-lanate hairs on the middle costa, but differs in the presence of secondary inflorescence axes (vs. their absence) and fewer lateral veins (11–13 vs. 14–18 pairs). The differences between the three species may be shown in the following key.

1a. Cymes (umbels) simple, without secondary axis; lateral veins 14–18 pairs; leaves with midrib abaxially yellow-lanate.................. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Ilex atrata

1b. Cymes (umbels) compound, with secondary axis; lateral veins 9–13 pairs; leaves with midrib abaxially glabrous, golden-hirsute or yellow-lanate.

2a. Lateral veins 11–13 pairs; midrib abaxially yellow-lanate......................................................................................... Ilex shweliensis

2b. Lateral veins 9–11 pairs; midrib abaxially mostly glabrous, less often golden- hirsute ..................................... Ilex kwangtungensis

I have seen only the type collection of Ilex shweliensis with two duplicates, and thus I think that the identity of the collection and its systematic position need further study.