Microgynoecium tibeticum Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5(13): 9 (1890)

Sukhorukov, Alexander P., Liu, Pei-Liang & Kushunina, Maria, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet, PhytoKeys 116, pp. 1-141 : 44-46

1. Microgynoecium tibeticum Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5(13): 9 (1890)

Lectotype

(designated by Sukhorukov and Kushunina 2014): [INDIA, Uttarakhand State, Kumaon Division] Topedunga, 15000 ft a.s.l., S. Strachey & J.E. Winterbottom 1 (K000898740! image of the lectotype available at http://apps.kew.org/herbcat/getImage.do?imageBarcode=K000898740, isolectotypes K! P04921830! P04930937!).

Description.

See the genus description. Microgynoecium tibeticum is often confused with Chenopodium pamiricum ; both species are present in North Himalaya at high altitudes. In the early blooming stage, M. tibeticum differs by having unisexual flowers and long (2.0 mm) filaments of stamens protruding from the perianth ( Chenopodium pamiricum has bisexual flowers and shorter filaments). The fruit and seed characters greatly differ between the genera.

Habitat.

Screes, grassy slopes or ruderal sites; 3500-5500 m a.s.l.

Phenology.

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

Distribution.

See Fig. 17 .

Specimens examined.

CHINA: Xizang: Ngari Prefecture: Gêrzê (Gaize) County, 4250 m a.s.l., Aug 1972, Li 065 (PE00526697); Burang (Pulan) County, Mapam Yumco (lake), 4500 m a.s.l., 24 Aug 1974, Biological Institute Tibet Expedition Team 4204 (HNWP40746); Coqên (Cuoqin) County, Cêri (Cishi) Distr., 4600 m a.s.l., 17 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Lang 10331 (PE00526701); Burang (Pulan) County, E Hor (Huoer), 30°42'52.86"N, 81°42'54.21"E, 4682 m a.s.l., 3 Sep 2012, FLPH Tibet Expedition 12-0067 (PE); Nagqu Prefecture: Xainza (Shenzha) County, 4580 m a.s.l., 19 Jul 1961, Wang 3582 (PE00526695); Amdo County, 4750 m a.s.l., 14 Aug 1963, Yang 2233 (WUK); Amdo (Anduo) County, 4750 m a.s.l., 14 Aug 1963, Z.Y. Qin 10163 (HNWP000180); Baingoin ( Ban’ge) County to Lake Qilin (Siling County), 4500-4600 m a.s.l., 17 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 10630 (PE00526693, KUN0587747); Shuanghu County, 4850 m a.s.l., 21 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 9751 (PE00526700, KUN0587762); Shuanghu County, 4800 m a.s.l., 2 Aug 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 12121 (PE00235029), Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 12122 (PE00235045); Xainza (Shenzha) County, 4750 m a.s.l., 1 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 10099 (KUN0587755); Biru County, 3 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 11180 (KUN0587749); Amdo, Upper Salween basin, 4 Sep 1989, B. Dickoré 4675 (MSB157861); Central/East Plateau, Amdo (Ragnag), 32°17'N, 91°43'E, 4820 m a.s.l., 10 Aug 1993, G. & S. Miehe 9461/05 (herb. Miehe); Nagqu County, 30°48'N, 92°36'E, 4750 m a.s.l., 31 Jul 2004, G. Miehe et al.. 04-060-05 (herb. Miehe); [Amdo (Anduo) County] Lake Xiketang, 32°04'N, 91°11'E, 4710 m a.s.l., 2 Aug 2005, Nölling & Hanspach NX05-039-03 (herb. Miehe); Xigazê Prefecture: [Yadong County] Phari [Pagri], 14000 ft a.s.l., 12 Sep 1912, R. Lepcha 253 (E, G); [Gamba County] Kamba Jong [Kamba Dzong], Sep 1903, Prain 1172 (B-100655561, K); [Ngamring (Angren) County] Tsabsang Tso, 29°24'N, 86°14'E, 4900 m a.s.l., 2 Sep 2003, G. & S. Miehe 03-060-03 (herb. Miehe); Lhasa City: Lhünzhub (Linzhou) County, Poindo (Pangduo), 4050 m a.s.l., 7 Oct 1972, Tibet Chinese Herbal Medicine Survey Team 1945 (PE00526692); NW of Lhasa, Nyainqentanglha Shan, 30°17'N, 90°38'E, 4850 m a.s.l., 9 Aug 1989, B. Dickoré 3489 (K, MSB157862); [Damxung (Dangxiong) County] Namtso Lake, 30°54'N, 90°47'E, 4720 m a.s.l., 14 Sep 2005, Nölling & Hanspach NX05-256-01 (herb. Miehe); Shannan Prefecture: Nêdong (Naidong) County, Zêtang (Zedang) to [Qusum (Qusong) County] Yardoi Chagla (Yaduizhala), 4370 m a.s.l., 16 Jul 1975, Wu et al. 75-794 (PE00526704, KUN0587753); [ Nagarzê County] Nagarze-Lozhak, 28°29'N, 90°33'E, 5060 m a.s.l., 23 Jul 1994, B. Dickoré 9879 (MSB157863); Qamdo Prefecture: Baxoi (Basu) County, N of Mt. Dêmo La, 4200 m a.s.l., 17 Aug 1980, Ni et al. 1216 (PE00526698);

INDIA: Jammu & Kashmir: Ladakh, Rupshu, Rachogba, 13400 ft a.s.l., 24 Jun 1931, W. Koelz 2105 (E, K); Ladakh, Gya, Aug 1933, W. Koelz 6461 (H1037932); Ladakh, Chushul, 5500 m a.s.l., 24 Aug 1975, M.V. Viswanathan 55021 (BSD); Ladakh, Taglang La, 18 Aug 1988, H.J. Chowdhery & B.P. Uniyal 86208 (BSD); Ladakh, Zanskar Region, Zara, Jakang vill., 4580 m a.s.l., 25 Aug 1998, L. Klimeš 194 (PRA); Himachal Pradesh: Lahaul, Kyelong [Kilang], 15000 ft a.s.l., 19 Jul 1941, N.L. Bor 15184 & R.E. Cooper 5462 (B, DD, K); [Simla distr.] Manan, 4500 m a.s.l., 14 Aug 1972, U.C. Bhattacharyya 49452 (BSD); Uttarakhand: [Kumaon division] Topedunga, 15000 ft a.s.l., S. Strachey & J.E. Winterbottom 1 (K, lectotype!); Kumaon, Kutti valley, 14000-15000 ft a.s.l., 1 Aug 1886, J.F. Duthie 5952 (K, WU); Sikkim: Gholamo [Tso Lhamo lake], 6 Sep 1911, R. Lepcha 5469 (E); Gongchungchu, 17820 ft a.s.l., 16 Aug 1972, Pradhan et al. 118 (E);

NEPAL: Midwestern: Karnali Zone: Below Namja La, 15500 ft a.s.l., 22 Aug 1952, O. Polunin, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 5387 (BM); Western: Dhaulagiri Zone: Mustang Distr., Lo-Manthang, NW of Lo-Manthang, 4500 m a.s.l., 29°15'N, 83°55'E, 21 Aug 2002, F. Miyamoto et al. 20220226 (E00238922); Central: Bagmati Zone: [Rasuwa Distr.] Langsisa Kharka, 15000 ft a.s.l., 15 Jun 1949, O. Polunin 348 (BM).

General distribution.

Himalaya (rare in Central Himalaya) and Tibet (common). The populations from Tian Shan and Pamir belong to another (undescribed) species ( Sukhorukov 2014).

Figures

Figure 17. Distribution map of Atriplex pamirica (circles), A. hortensis (stars) and Microgynoecium tibeticum (triangles).