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| Sinoseris changii Ze H. Wang, N. Kilian & H. Peng, Sinoseris N. Kilian, Ze H. Wang & H. Peng, gen. nov. in Wang, Kilian, Chen et Peng, 2020. DOI: 10.3372/wi.50.50109 Photographs by Chen Yaping and Wang Zehuan. |
Abstract
Studies to elucidate the systematic position of two Chinese species described originally as Lactuca hirsuta and L. scandens, of which only historical specimens from the late 19th and early 20th centuries were known, revealed the occurrence of three different species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of these species based on sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) region and three plastid DNA markers (trnL-F, psbA-trnH, matK) uncovered a hitherto unknown lineage in a first comprehensive phylogenetic backbone of the subtribe Crepidinae (Asteraceae, tribe Cichorieae). Substantiated by comparative morphological studies, this lineage is described as a new genus, named Sinoseris, endemic to the Chinese provinces Sichuan and Yunnan. One of its three species is new to science, while another is conspecific with both L. hirsuta and L. scandens. The third was meanwhile described by other authors as Nabalus muliensis and is now transferred to Sinoseris.
KEYWORDS: Asteraceae, China, Cichorieae, Compositae, Crepidinae, Molecular phylogenetics, Nabalus
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| Sinoseris scandens A: habit; B: flowering capitula; C: fruiting capitula with mature achenes; D: basal leaf; E: sequence of stem leaves (upward, right to left). – Photographs by Wang Zehuan from Sichuan, near Gesala Village on 14 Oct 2017 (A, B, D, E) and 12 Nov 2018 (C); population voucher: Wang Zehuan & Chen Yaping WZH20171019 (KUN). |
Taxonomy
Sinoseris N. Kilian, Ze H. Wang & H. Peng, gen. nov.
Type: Sinoseris scandens (C. C. Chang) Ze H. Wang, N. Kilian & H. Peng
Diagnostic features — Annual (or monocarpic biennial) herbs; stems, leaves and involucres with conspicuous indumentum of stiff hairs; basal leaves distinctly petiolate; synflorescence of secund, subspiciform to paniculiform paracladia; capitula with 3–12 florets; involucre with inconspicuous outer phyllaries; achenes beaked; achene corpus with 5 main ribs alternating with (2 or)3 or 4 secondary ribs; pappus dirty white to pale brown, of moderately coarse, scabrid bristles.
Etymology — The generic name Sinoseris is a compound of the Latin “Sina” for China and “seris” (σέρις), the classical Greek name for salad (more precisely of Cichorium species).
Sinoseris scandens (C. C. Chang) Ze H. Wang, N. Kilian & H. Peng, comb. nov.
Sinoseris muliensis (Y. S. Chen, L. S. Xu & R. Ke) Ze H. Wang, N. Kilian & H. Peng, comb. nov.
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| Sinoseris muliensis A: habit; B: flowering capitula; C: stem leaf; D: mature achene. – Photographs from Sichuan, near Xiamaidi Village by Chen Yaping on 11 Oct 2018 (A–C) and by Wang Zehuan on 13 Nov 2018 (D); population voucher: Chen Yaping, Jiang Lei & Zheng Hailei EM652 (KUN). |
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| Sinoseris changii A: habit; B, C: flowering capitula; D, E: leaf indumentum; F: achene. – Photographs by Chen Yaping (A) and Wang Zehuan (B–F) from Yunnan, near Tanhua Temple on 12 Oct 2017; population voucher: Wang Zehuan & Chen Yaping WZH20171001 (KUN). |
Sinoseris changii Ze H. Wang, N. Kilian & H. Peng, sp. nov.
Habitat and ecology — The species is confined to open, rocky habitats at altitudes between c. 1900 and 2750 m. Fl. and fr. Sep–Oct.
Threat status — The occurrence of Sinoseris changii is less scattered and rare compared to the other two species. Between Tanhua and Wanbi, for example, the species is present with high frequency on sunny, rocky slopes, although the individual populations usually do not exceed a few hundred mature individuals. Considering its localized distribution in C Yunnan, its status should nevertheless be of concern and addressed by further investigations.
Etymology — We dedicate this species to the memory of Chao Chien Chang (1900–1972), one of the early modern Chinese botanists. He worked at the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and studied Chinese Asteraceae, in particular of Yunnan.
Ze-Huan Wang, Norbert Kilian, Ya-Ping Chen and Hua Peng. 2020. Sinoseris (Crepidinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae), A New Genus of Three Species endemic to China, one of them new to science. Willdenowia. 50(1); 91-110. DOI: 10.3372/wi.50.50109