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| Saussurea balangshanensis
in Zhang, Tang, Huang, et al., 2019.
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Abstract
Saussurea balangshanensis, based on populations from Balang Mountain in the Hengduan Mountains region, SW China, is described and illustrated as a new species of Asteraceae. It can be distinguished from other species in Saussurea by its concolorous leaves, swollen and hollow upper stems, articulate hairs and stipitate glandular hairs, laciniate margins of uppermost stem leaves, numerous and sessile capitula, and narrow involucre. Based on nucleotide sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), phylogenetic analyses also support the recognition of these populations as representing a new species. The new species is known only from a single location in Balang Mountain, at elevations of 4500–4700 m. Its habitat can be easily disturbed or destroyed by a tourist arterial highway and the over grazing. We propose that the species should be listed as Critically Endangered based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Categories and Criteria B2a.
Keywords: alpine scree, Compositae, taxonomy, W Sichuan
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| Habit of Saussurea balangshanensis sp. nov. Balang Mountain.
Photo by Zhang Yazhou, 23 Aug. 2017
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Saussurea balangshanensis Zhang, Y.Z. & Sun H., sp.
nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality: Balang
Mountain,
Chinese name: 巴朗山雪莲 ba lang shan xue lian.
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| Saussurea balangshanensis sp. nov. Overall perspective of Balang Mountain.
Photo by Zhang Yazhou, 23 Aug. 2017
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Yazhou Zhang, Rong Tang, Xianhan Huang, Wenguang Sun, Xiangguang Ma and Hang Sun. 2019. Saussurea balangshanensis (Asteraceae), A New Species from the Hengduan Mountains region, SW China. Nordic Journal of Botany. 37(4); DOI: 10.1111/njb.02078
Chinese researchers discover a new but highly endangered species of snow lotus xhne.ws/L8kkN twitter.com/XHNews/status/1160484188342169601
Chinese researchers discover new species of snow lotus https://news.cgtn.com/news/2019-08-11/Chinese-researchers-discover-new-species-of-snow-lotus-J4lKFPz2lG/index.html via @cgtnofficial
