Ligusticopsis miyiensis (Franch.) J.Q. Lei & X.J. He, 2023

Lei, Jia-Qing, Cai, Jing, Zhou, Song-Dong & He, Xing-Jin, 2023, Ligusticopsis miyiensis (Apioideae, Apiaceae), a new combination from China revealed by morphological and molecular evidence, Phytotaxa 591 (4), pp. 273-282 : 278-279

Ligusticopsis miyiensis (Franch.) J.Q. Lei & X.J. He , comb. nov. ( Figs. 1 , 2 ).

≡ Ligusticum glaucescens Franch. (1894: 134) .

non Ligusticopsis glaucescens (H.Wolff) Lavrova & Kljuykov in Kljuykov & Lavrova (1994: 105) [≡ Pleurospermum glaucescens H. Wolff (1929: 114) ]

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: in pratis adumbratis prope Mo-che-tschin, ad cataractas supra Tapin-tze, 03 Oct 1882, Delavay (syntype P!: P03224789 , P03224792 , P03224793 , P03224794 , P03224795 ) ; Yunnan: in pratis montis Pee-ngaytze, supra Tapin-tze, 01 Sep 1882, Delavay 446 (lectotype P!: P03224790 , designated by Pimenov 2017) .

Description:— Perennial herbs. Plants 40–80 cm. Roots cylindric, thin. Stems erect, hollow, glabrous, striate, base clothed in fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal petioles 2–6 cm, with ovate sheaths, rachis densely pilose; blade ovatetriangular, 10–12 × 8–10 cm, 2-pinnate, primary pinnae 3–4 pairs, coriaceous; ultimate segments lanceolate, ca. 3– 5 × 1–1.5 mm, apex apiculate. Cauline leaves sessile, sheathing, blade similar to basal, reduced. Umbels terminal and lateral, 4–6 cm across; bracts 3–6, linear, entire, rarely apex 3-lobed or pinnate, marginal white membranous, caducous; rays 16–24, subequal, 2–4 cm, inner faces scabrous; bracteoles 9–11, linear, entire, rarely apex 3-lobed or pinnate, marginal white membranous, longer than umbellules. Calyx teeth conspicuous, subulate, ca. 0.3 mm. Petals white, obcordate, base cuneate. Styles longer than stylopodium; stylopodium conical. Fruit oblong, ca. 4.5 × 3.5 mm, glabrous, strongly compress dorsally; dorsal ribs filiform, slightly prominent, marginal ribs winged, wings ca. 0.8 mm; vittae 1–2 in each furrow, 4–6 on commissure. Seed face plane.

Phenology:— The species was found flowering in September to October, fruiting in October to November.

Diagnosis:— Ligusticopsis miyiensis is most similar to five validated Ligusticopsis species, being Ligusticopsis capillacea , Ligusticopsis hispida , Ligusticopsis modesta , Ligusticopsis scapiformis and Ligusticopsis brachyloba . However, Ligusticopsis miyiensis differed from them in having 2-pinnate leaf blades, ultimate segments of leaves lanceolate, bracts and bracteoles mainly linear, entire, with membranous margins, calyx teeth subulate, and mericarps oblong.

Distribution and habitat:— Ligusticopsis miyiensis is distributed in Yunnan (“Pee-ngay-tze” & “Mo-che-tchin, supra Tapin-tze”) and Sichuan (Miyi), China. It grows in hillside grasslands at elevations between 1600 and 2800 m.

Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. Yunnan: Zhongdian, Haba , 2800 m, 27°23′N, 100°10′E, 1963, anonymous 068400 ( HITBC!) . Sichuan: Miyi, Laoyamen , 1845 m, 27°2′33.22″N, 101°57′17.22″E, 10 Oct 2022, J. Q . Lei & J . Cai LC20221010001, LC20221010002, LC20221010003 ( SZ!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Specimens of Ligusticum glaucescens. A. syntype (P03224795); B. lectotype (P03224790); C. specimens collected from Laoyamen, Miyi, Sichuan.

FIGURE 2. Morphological characteristics of Ligusticum glaucescens. A. habitat; B. living plant; C. root; D. basal leaf; E. inflorescence; F. bract and bracteole; G. calyx teeth and fruit. H. dorsal side of mericarp; I. commissural side of mericarp; J. transverse section of mericarp. Abbreviations: co = commissure; cv = commissural vittae; en = endosperm; lr = lateral ribs; mar = marginal ribs; mer = median rib; vv = vallecular vittae. Scale bar = 0.5 mm in H, I and J.