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| Melanoseris kangdingensis Ze H.Wang, in Zhong, Wang, Xu et Sun, 2023. |
Abstract
Melanoseris kangdingensis, a new species native to western Sichuan, China, is firstly described and illustrated, and its conservation status is also assessed. It bears resemblance to M. macrantha and M. bracteata in terms of morphology; however, there are distinguishing characteristics in terms of their leaf structure, presence of bracts, hairiness of involucre, number of florets, and length of both stamen tube and achene’s beak.
Key words: Melanoseris bracteata, Melanoseris macrantha, morphology, new taxon, taxonomy
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| 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. |
Melanoseris kangdingensis Ze H.Wang, sp. nov.
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).
Etymology: The specific epithet ‘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.
Qian-Qian Zhong, Ze-Huan Wang, Jia-Ju Xu and Qin-Wen Sun. 2023. Melanoseris kangdingensis (Lactucinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), A New Species reported from western Sichuan, China. PhytoKeys. 236: 29-37. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.236.113401
