Salsola hartmannii Sukhor., 2019

Sukhorukov, Alexander P., Liu, Pei-Liang & Kushunina, Maria, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet, PhytoKeys 116, pp. 1-141 : 108-109

1. Salsola hartmannii Sukhor. sp. nov. Fig. 45

Holotype.

[INDIA, Jammu & Kashmir] E-Ladakh, Alpine Steppe mit Artemisia minor , ca. 1 km W oberhalb Kiagar Tso [alpine steppe with Artemisia minor , ca. 1 km W above Kiagar Tso], 4720 m a.s.l., 27 Aug 1997, H. Hartmann 6080 (G00410003! isotype - MSB160560!).

Taxonomic notes.

The new species was formerly identified as S. jacquemontii or S. collina . In many characters (e.g. tiny anthers, small outgrowths of the perianth segments), Salsola hartmannii resembles S. monoptera , but the latter species has only one well-expressed, wing-like projection on a segment closest to the bract, whereas projections on other segments are much smaller (in the form of tubercles). Additionally, the gibbous bracts and bracteoles are exceptionally rare in S. monoptera . In contrast, S. hartmannii possesses gibbous bracts and bracteoles and two or three perianth segments develop tiny, but clearly visible wings. The new species is also similar to S. jacquemontii but has smaller anthers and a smaller diameter of the entire diaspore (winged perianth enclosing the fruit), which is hidden within the subtending bract and bracteoles.

The gibbous bract and bracteoles cannot be considered as strong characteristic features of S. hartmannii ; some specimens of S. jacquemontii may possess such a shape of the bracts and bracteoles. All three species, S. monoptera , S. hartmannii and S. jacquemontii , are morphologically related. Salsola collina is morphologically distant from these species, having appressed bracts without clearly expressed wings on the perianth at fruiting. The distribution patterns are also different: S. monoptera is widespread in Central Asia and Tibet, S. hartmannii seems to be localised in North Himalaya and Karakoram and S. jacquemontii is found in Central Himalaya and Tibet. The presence of S. jacquemontii and S. collina in North Himalaya ( Rilke 1999) is not confirmed.

Description.

Annual with prostrate or ascending stems up to 15 cm long, glabrous or scarcely papillate. Leaves terete, 10-20 × 1.0-1.5 mm. Flowers in axillary clusters and arranged in the main inflorescence. Flower clusters (located below the main inflorescence) abundant and consist of two flowers covered with bracts and bracteoles that are connate almost to the top and basally gibbous; perianth segments membranous, fimbriate, r-shaped, their tips more or less appressed to each other, not hardened and not forming a tight conus, with white, small tubercles 0.3-0.5 mm long in the flexure; styles with stigmas ca. 0.5 mm; fruits 1.2-1.6 mm, depressed roundish. Flowers in the main inflorescence with (almost) free, basally gibbous bract and bracteoles, hermaphrodite; perianth segments 5, membranous, fimbriate, r-shaped at the fruiting stage, <2.5 mm long, above the flexure soft, hyaline, horizontally orientated and not forming a distinct conus; 2 or 3 (of 5) segments develop wing-like appendages (up to 1.5 mm long) that are located almost horizontally or obliquely, two other segments develop tubercles only; the whole diaspore with the perianth wings is 2.0-3.0 mm across and is hidden within the bract and bracteoles; anthers 0.3-0.5 mm long; styles with stigmas ca. 1 mm; fruits lenticular, 1.1-1.5 mm. Seeds with horizontal or obliquely orientated embryo.

Habitat.

Gravelly or sandy substrates at altitudes of 3500-5200 m. The species seems to be common in Ladakh and Spiti Valley.

Phenology.

Flowering: August-September; fruiting: September-October.

Etymology: The specific epithet is after Hans Hartmann, a Swiss geobotanist who provided significant contributions to the flora and vegetation of North India.

Distribution.

See Fig. 46 .

Specimens examined.

CHINA: Xizang: Ngari Prefecture: [Zanda County] Tisum, 15000 ft a.s.l., [without date] R. Strachey & J.E. Winterbottom s.n. (BR);

INDIA: Jammu & Kashmir: Naini valley to Srinagar, [without date and collector] (BM); [Ladakh] Parang valley, 11 Sep 1847, T.T. Thomson s.n. (K); Ladakh, Muklip to Lukung, ca. 4000 m a.s.l., 29 Aug 1976, B.M. Wadhwa 60152 (BSD); [Ladakh] Debring to Tanglang La, 4800-5200 m a.s.l., 3 Sep 1989, L. Klimeš & M. Šrůtek 28/37 (PRA); Rupshu, N of Tso Kar, ca. 4600 m a.s.l., 22 Aug 1995, H. Hartmann 5036 (G455293, MSB160561); Ladakh, Zanskar Region, Zara, N of Kurio, 33°35'30"N, 77°28'E, 4250 m a.s.l., 23 Aug 1998, code 98-11-2, L. Klimeš 161 (PRA); Ladakh, Indus valley, Stot (E) [Stod River valley], between Angkung & Puga, 33°14'N, 78°16'E, 4550 m a.s.l., 8 Sep 1999, L. Klimeš 776 (PRA); Ladakh, Rupshu Region, Tso Moriri, Lema to Peldo, 33°1'53"N, 78°16'34"E, 4550-4560 m a.s.l., 13 Sep 2005, L. Klimeš 6301 (PRA); Himachal Pradesh: Parang La, 11 Sep 1847, anonym s.n. (K); Spiti valley, Samdo to Kaurik, 21 Aug 1994, S.K. Murti & S. Singh 81588 (BSD); Pin Valley National Park, Mane vill., 3700 m a.s.l., Sep 2002, K.C. Sekar 100736 (BSD).

General distribution.

North India, NW China (Xizang) and North Pakistan ([Gilgit-Baltistan] Nagar, dry stony slope, 9000 ft a.s.l., 22 Aug 1987, Jamshed 239 (E!)).

Figures

Figure 45. Holotype of Salsola hartmannii Sukhor. sp. nov. (G).

Figure 46. Distribution map of Salsola hartmannii (circles), S. collina (stars) and S. jacquemontii (triangles).