Saxifraga umbellulata Hook.f. & Thomson, J., 1857

Midday, Mrinmoy, Ghosh, Jayanta & Maity, Debabrata, 2021, Taxonomic circumscription, new synonym and lectotypification of Saxifraga umbellulata (Saxifragaceae), Phytotaxa 480 (1), pp. 97-102 : 98-101

Saxifraga umbellulata Hook.f. & Thomson, J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 2: 71.1857.

Lectotype (designated here):— INDIA. Sikkim:‘ Hab. Himalaya oriental alpine , Sikkim (Thangu-type locality), alt. 12,000 -14,000 ped.! J.D.H. (fl. Jul.) (v.v.)’, 23 July 1849, Hooker J.D. ( K [ K000732356 , digital image seen] ; isolectotypes: E [ E00393003 , digital image seen] , P [ P00709224 , digital image seen] ).

= S. umbellulata f. pectinata C.Marquand &Airy Shaw in Marquand, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 48: 183. 1929. [ Figs. 2 , 3 ]; ≡ Saxifraga umbellulata var. pectinata (C.Marquand & Airy Shaw) J.T.Pan, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 34(2): 165 (1992).

Type:— CHINA. S.E. Tibet: On mossy rocks in the woods bordering the Pasum Lake , elev. 3000 m, 18 August 1924, F. Kingdon Ward. With 6111 (holotype, K [ K000732355 , digital image seen]) .

Description:— Perennial, hairy herb, to 8 cm tall; stem simple, glandular hairy, brown; basal leaves many in a rosette, spathulate–obovate, 5–1.2× 1–3 mm, apex broadly obtuse or rounded, margin cartilaginous, eciliate or sparsely to densely setose-ciliate or rarely eciliate, glabrous on both surfaces, green, sessile; cauline leaves whorled, alternate or opposite, lanceolate or oblong, 2–6× 0.6–1 mm, apex acute, margin entire, glandular hairy, base attenuate, densely glandular hairy on both surfaces; flowers few (or rarely solitary), in terminal, sub-umbellate cymes, golden yellow, pedicellate; pedicels slender, 0.7–2.5 cm long, brown, glandular hairy; calyx ±adnate to the base of ovary, nearly campanulate; sepals 5, broadly lanceolate-triangular, 2–2.2× 0.8–1 mm, apex ±acute, margin entire or slightly wavy, glandular ciliate, adaxially glabrous, abaxially glandular hairy, brown, veins 3, prominent; petals 5, elliptic or oblanceolate–oblong, 5–6× 2–2.6 mm, apex obtuse– acute, margin entire, glabrous on both surfaces, golden yellow, with 3 prominent veins, more prominent on drying, with several spots, or two spots just above basal claw or spots absent; stamens 10, in two series, unequal; filaments slender, 1–1.75 mm long, brown; anthers oblongoid, 0.15–0.2× 0.15–0.2 mm, two-celled; ovary nearly ½ inferior, ovoid, 1–1.2× 1–1.3 mm; styles 0.5-0.6 mm long; capsules broadly ovoid, c. 3.5 mm diam; seeds oblongoid-cylindrical or club-shaped, 0.5–0.65× 0.2– 0.28 mm, often 4–5–ridged (angular), brown.

Flowering & Fruiting:— June–October

Distribution:— INDIA: Himalaya: Sikkim; NEPAL; BHUTAN; TIBET ( CHINA) [3000–4700 m amsl].

Habitat:— Plants prefer to grow in rocky crevices, open pastures or even under thickets, along the margin of marshlands, on earth hammocks, commonly in association with Cotoneaster microphylla, Rhodiola bupleuroides, etc.

Examined specimens:— INDIA: Sikkim: Thangu, elev. 4200m, 17 July 2017, Midday, Ghosh & Maity 22522 ( CUH); Thangu, elev. 4000m, 5 September 2018, Midday, Ghosh & Maity 24049 ( CUH); Upper Thangu, elev. 4300 m, 14 August 2019, Midday, Ghosh & Maity 24618 ( CUH); Upper Thangu, elev. 4200 m, 15 August 2019, Midday, Ghosh & Maity 24640 ( CUH). Thangu to Sebu Chu , elev. 4200 m, s.d., DCS Raju & S. Pradhan 8144 ( BSHC); Giagang, September 1903, Prain s.n. ( CAL); Lhonak, elev. 14500 ft (c. 4400 m), 5 August 1909, Smith & Cave 2159, 2723 ( CAL155742 & 155745); Lhonak, elev. 14500 ft (c. 4400 m) 6 August 1909, Smith & Cave 2223 ( CAL155746 ); Naku Chu , elev. 15000 ft (c. 4500 m), 11 August 1909, Smith & Cave 2366 ( CAL155743 ); Giagang, elev. 16000 ft (c. 4800 m), 14 August 1909, Smith & Cave 2455 ( CAL155741 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Saxifraga umbellulata var. umbellulata: A: habit; B: basal leaf rosette of an individual; C: flower; D: basal leaf rosettes of a population; eciliate and sparsely ciliate leaves marked with yellow arrow.

FIGURE 3. Saxifraga umbellulata var. umbellulata: A: habit (note both eciliate and setose ciliate leaves in basal rosette); B: sepal; C–D: petals (spots marked with arrow); E: stamens; F: gynoecium; G: plant architecture in S. umbellulata; H: plant architecture in S. pasumensis. (A–F: drawing from Midday, Ghosh & Maity 22522).