Melanoseris kangdingensis Ze H.Wang, 2023

Zhong, Qian-Qian, Wang, Ze-Huan, Xu, Jia-Ju & Sun, Qin-Wen, 2023, Melanoseris kangdingensis (Lactucinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), a new species reported from western Sichuan, China, PhytoKeys 236, pp. 29-37 : 29

Melanoseris kangdingensis Ze H.Wang sp. nov.

Fig. 1

Type.

China, Sichuan Province, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding City, Pusharong Town , Kuxirong Village . 29°25.63'N, 101°18.39'E, alt. 2848 m, 22 Aug 2023, Wang Zehuan, Zhong Qianqian & Xu Jiaju wzh20230801 (holotype: KUN!, isotypes: KUN!, LBG!) .

Diagnosis.

Melanoseris kangdingensis most closely resembles M. bracteata in the presence of subequal phyllaries, and numerous peduncle bracts grading into the narrow outer phyllaries, but differs from the latter in basal leaves persistent (vs. wither) during flowering, leaves noticeably pinnatipartite (vs. typically entire), phyllaries densely covered with multiseriate glandular hairs (vs. glabrous), length of anther tubes 5.5-6.4 mm (vs. 3.7-4.6 mm), achenes 10-11 mm (vs. 7.9-8.5 mm), beak ca. 4 mm, about 1/2 length of the achene’s body (vs. ca. 6.5 mm, nearly equal in length to the achene’s body).

Description.

Perennial herb, 30-80 cm tall. Roots about 1-2 cm in diameter, fleshy, cylindrical, often branched. Stems erect, rather robust. Basal leaves 21-45 × 10-19 cm, persist in flowering, elongated oblong, lyrately pinnatipartite; terminal lobes 5.5-22 × 5-19 cm, broadly triangular or broadly ovate, apex acuminate; lateral lobes 2-3 pairs, 5.2-10.3 × 3.4-6 cm, triangular, ovate or rectangular, apex obtuse or truncate. Leaf margins coarsely dentate, green on both sides, sparsely covered with multiseriate glandular hairs; petiole 5-10 cm long, sparsely covered with multiseriate glandular hairs. Middle and lower stem leaves 8-28 × 3.5-12 cm, homomorphic with basal leaves, pinnatipartite; terminal lobes 3-9 × 3.5-12 cm, elongated triangular, apex acuminate; lateral lobes 2-4 pairs, 2-6.5 × 1.7-5.2 cm, triangular, semicircular or rectangular, apex obtuse or truncate, leaf margins coarsely dentate, green on both sides, sparsely covered with multiseriate glandular hairs; petiole base auriculately clasping, with wings 0.5-3 cm wide. Stem leaves gradually decrease upward, transitioning into bract-like structures on the branches of the capitulescence. Lower leaves on the branches of capitulescence 7-17 × 2.6-7.5 cm, elongated oblong or lanceolate, deeply or shallowly pinnatilobed, or entire, apex long acuminate, leaf margins coarsely dentate, sparsely hairy. Bracts on a capitulescence branches 4-7, 1.5-5.5 × 0.1-1.5 cm, lanceolate or linear, gradually receding to involucral bracts, margin entire, green on both sides, dorsal and margin densely covered with white flattened multiseriate glandular hairs. Capitulescence corymbiform, branches slender, peduncle 2-9.5 cm long, densely covered with long multiseriate glandular hairs. Capitula 4-10, pendulous in flowering, with 22-27 florets. Involucre 1.9-2.2 × 1.3-1.8 cm, broadly campanulate, densely covered with long white multiseriate glandular hairs abaxially and along the margin. Phyllaries 5-seriate, subequal, apical acute or obtuse, margin entire. Outer phyllaries ca. 16 × 2 mm, oblong, slightly shorter than inner phyllaries, purple or purplish-green, densely covered with broadly flat multiseriate glandular hairs abaxially or along the margin, trichomes up to ca. 2 mm long; middle phyllaries ca. 16 × 1.5 mm, broadly linear, green or apically purplish, with multiseriate glandular hairs gradually decreasing from the outer to inner layers; innermost phyllaries linear, ca. 16 × 1 mm, light green, subapical sparsely with multiseriate glandular hairs. Florets ligulate, tube ca. 9 mm long, white; ligules ca. 17 × 2 mm, 5-toothed at the apex, light blue. Stamens synantherous, anther tube 5.5-6.4 mm long, light blue. Ovary inferior, flattened, ellipsoid, style ca. 22 mm long, apically bifid, stigmatic branches ca. 1.5 mm long, long and acuminate, evenly coated with elongate collecting hairs. Achenes 10-11 × 1.5-2 mm, fusiform, dark brown, compressed, lateral ribs slightly thickened, each side with 3 slightly raised ribs, surface sparsely hairy, and apex contracted into ca 4 mm beak, beak discolorous, with the top half being white. Pappus ca. 8 mm long, white, consisting of a single layer, finely serrated.

Distribution and habitat.

Melanoseris kangdingensis is currently known from two localities in western Sichuan, China. It has been observed growing on the slope and at the foot of cliffs by the roadside at elevations ranging from 2800-2900 m. The dominant species of the community include Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb. ( Rosaceae ), Gentiana tibetica King ex Hook.f. ( Gentianaceae ), Heracleum candicans Wall. ex DC. ( Apiaceae ), Paraceterach vestita (Hooker) R.M.Tryon ( Pteridaceae ), and Cheilanthes chusana Hook. ( Pteridaceae ).

Phenology.

Flowering and fruiting from July to September.

Etymology.

The specific epithet ' Melanoseris kangdingensis ' refers to Kangding City in the Sichuan Province, which is the locality of the type collection.

Vernacular name.

Simplified Chinese: 康定毛鳞菊; Chinese Pinyin: Kāngdìng Máolínjú.

Conservation status.

Currently, two populations of Melanoseris kangdingensis have been discovered, each with approximately 20 mature individuals. These plants grow on slopes and at the foot of cliffs by the roadside, making them vulnerable to disturbance from human activities. Additionally, the habitat and dispersal environment for reproduction are steep and harsh, making it challenging for the species to expand its distribution area. Based on the IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2012, 2022), this new species should be classified as Endangered (EN; criteria B1ac(iii)+2ac(iii); C2a(i); D). However, we recognize that further assessments are required as additional populations are identified.

Additional specimens examined.

China, Sichuan Province, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding City, Pusharong Town , Binggu Village , 29°28.18'N, 101°18.84'E, alt. 2939 m, 22 Aug 2023, Wang Zehuan, Zhong Qianqian & Xu Jiaju wzh20230802 (KUN!, GTZM!) ; China, Sichuan Province, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Kangding City, Pusharong Town , Kuxirong Village , 29°25.07'N, 101°18.02'E, alt. 2800-3000 m, 04 Aug 2017, Gao Yundong, Deng Hengning & Li Huaicheng THP-KD-2024 (CDBI!) .

Figures

Figure 1. Melanoseris kangdingensis A, B habitat C plant D surface of leaves E petiole base F lateral view of the capitulum G bracts on peduncular branches and one capitulum H phyllaries of each layer I upper view of the capitulum J ray floret K trichomes on the outer phyllary L microscope photos of trichomes, to show its type (multiseriate glandular hairs) M achene N the apex of beak. Photographed by Zehuan Wang.