Epimedium membranaceum Epimedium rhizomatosum Five new synonyms in Epimedium (Berberidaceae) from China Zhang, Yanjun Dang, Haishan Li, Shengyu Li, Jianqiang Wang, Ying PhytoKeys 2015 2015-04-22 49 1 12 6F608FF2-B129-1E09-11E2-C3E718DD8314 K. Mey. K. Mey. Magnoliopsida Berberidaceae Epimedium CoL Plantae Epimedium membranaceum Ranunculales 3 4 Tracheophyta species membranaceum   Epimedium membranaceumK. Mey., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih., 12: 380. 1922. Type: China. Sichuan: Dujiangyan, Limpricht 1293(isotypes, K!, WU!).  Epimedium rhizomatosumStearn, Kew Bull., 53(1): 226. 1998. Syn. nov. Type: China. Sichuan: Leibo, Selenggong, alt. 2040 m, cult. England. Hampshire: Kilmeston, Blackthorn Nursery, July 1997, Ogisu 92114(holotype, K!).  Description. Herbs 20-65 cm tall. Rhizome compact or elongated. Leaves basal or cauline, trifoliolate; leaflets broadly ovate or narrowly ovate, 4-6 x2-3 cm, apex acute oracuminate, margin with spines 1-1.5 mm, base cordate with lobes rounded or acute, those of lateral leaflets conspicuously oblique, subleathery, adaxially glabrous, abaxially glaucous, with scattered minute erect hairs. Flowering stem with 2 opposite or alternate leaves. Inflorescence paniculate, 9-40 cm long, 5-35-flowered, glandular; pedicels 1.5-2 cm. Flowers yellow, 4-6 cm in diam. Outer sepals green with base purplish. Inner sepals red, ovate-elliptic or narrowly ovate, 6-7 x2.5-3 cm, apex acute. Petals pale yellow, much longer than inner sepals, subulate, 1.5-3.5 cm, lamina-less base. Stamens ca. 4 mm; anthers ca. 3 mm, yellow. Capsules ca. 2.5 cm.  Distribution and habitat.   Epimedium membranaceumoccurs in montane forests and thickets of Sichuan and the adjoining region of northern Yunnan, at elevations of 1200 to 2500 m.  Phenology.   Epimedium membranaceumflowers from April to June, and fruits from May to July.  IUCN Red List category.   Epimedium membranaceumshould be designated as Least concern (LC) according to IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2013).  Notes.  Ying (1975)placed  Epimedium membranaceuminto synonymy of  Epimedium davidiiFranch., which was adopted by the Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae ( Ying 2001) and the Flora of China ( Ying et al. 2011). However, the two species can be easily distinguished by petal shape, with the petals of  Epimedium davidiibearing obvious lamina while those of  Epimedium membranaceumhave no lamina. Additionally,  Epimedium davidiiwas treated as the type species of series  DavidianaeStearn while  Epimedium membranaceumwas referred to series  DolichoceraeStearn in the updated taxonomic system of  Epimedium( Stearn 2002).   Epimedium rhizomatosumis much like  Epimedium membranaceum. In the protologue for  Epimedium rhizomatosum, Stearn (1998)distinguished it from  Epimedium membranaceumin rhizome shape, closeness of spines along the leaflet margin, inflorescence morphology, and number of flowers.  Epimedium membranaceumhad a compact rhizome with annual-growth shoots 1-2 cm long while  Epimedium rhizomatosumhad an elongated rhizome and annual-growth shoots about 3-5 cm long; the leaflets of  Epimedium membranaceumhad about 9-11 spines to 3 cm of leaflet margin whereas leaflets of the same size in  Epimedium rhizomatosumhad about 15-17 spines to 3 cm of margin;  Epimedium membranaceumhad a 30-40 cm long inflorescence with numerous well-separated flowers whereas  Epimedium rhizomatosumhad a much shorter inflorescence with fewer, more crowded flowers. However, based on extensive investigation in herbaria and the field, it was found that  Epimedium membranaceumcontinuously varies in the morphology of these organs and the diagnostic features of  Epimedium rhizomatosumcan fall into the variation range of  Epimedium membranaceum. For instance,  Epimedium membranaceumnot only has compact but also slender and elongated rhizome in the type locality (even in one collection X.J. Heet al. 131825(SZ)).Therefore,  Epimedium rhizomatosumis here reduced as a new synonym of  Epimedium membranaceum.  Specimens examined.  China. Sichuan:Beichuan,  SichuanEcon. Pl. Exped. Mian 530(SAU, SZ), 1149(KUN, SM, SZ), S. Jianget al. 7050 (PE); Butuo, Butuo Med. Pl. Exped. 19(SM); Dechang, Grade 1974, SW Normal Univ. 12067(CDBI, HWA, PE); Dujiangyan, B.L. Guo 603(IMD), 604(IMD), Z. He 12229(HWA, PE), F.T. Wang 20851(KUN, PE), X.J. Heet al. 131825(SZ), Y.J. Zhang 391(HIB); Huidong, Huidong Med. Pl. Exped. 1(SM), S.K. Wu 1433(KUN, SM, SAU, SZ); Jiangyou, Jiangyou Med. Pl. Exped. 223(SM); Jinyang, B.L. Guo 612(IMD), Jinyang Med. Pl. Exped. 440(SM), Y.J. Zhang 307(HIB); Leibo, M.Y. Fang 11740(SZ), S. Jianget al. 7534(KUN, PE, SZ), Sichuan Econ. Pl. Exped. Liang 26(PE, KUN), Sichuan Med. Pl. Exped. 27948(SM), K.P. Yin 83(SZ), Y.J. Zhang 303(HIB); Maoxian, B.L. Guo 529(IMD), 88187(IMD), B.L. Guo & W.K. Bao 97017(IMD), C. Zhanget al. 2004010(PE), Maowen Med. Pl. Exped. 183(SM), 275(SM), S.H. Ma 65-331(CDCM), Sichuan Econ. Pl. Exped. E 166(IMD), 5189(CDBI, KUN, SAU, SM), Z.L. Shen 89024(IMD); Meigu, Meigu Med. Pl. Exped. 154(SM), Sichuan Econ. Pl. Exped. Liang 6001(PE); Ningnan, Ningnan Med. Pl. Exped. 254(SM); Pengzhou, G.H. Jiang 200606001(SM), Q. Wanget al. yc013(SZ), yc017(SZ), W.Z. Zeng 25(CDCM), X.M. Lu 18(CDCM); Pingwu, Sichuan Econ. Pl. Exped. Mian 2195(SM), X.L. Jiang 10231(PE, SZ); Qingchuan, Qingchuan Exped. 594(SM), 595(SM), Qingchuan Med. Pl. Exped. 2222(SM), 3130(SM); Shifang, B.L. Guo 536(IMD), X.J. Heet al. 138339(SZ), Shifang Exped. 118(SM); Wanyuan, Sichuan Econ. Pl. Exped. Da 2323(SAU); Xichang, Q.E. Yang 93032(PE); Yanbian, Yanbian Exped. 295(SM); Yanyuan, Yanyuan Exped. 218(SM); Zhaojue, Zhaojue Exped. 90(SM). Yunnan:Dongchuan, S.B. Lan 250(PE); Kunming, J.H. Chen 679(SM); Lijiang, Y.Z. Zhao 20510(KUN); Suijiang, B.X. Sunet al. 233(PE, KUN); Weixi, K.M. Feng 3510(PE, KUN), 3383(PE, KUN), 4371(PE, KUN), Qing-Zhi Exped. 6300(PE, KUN), 6595(PE, KUN), Q.W. Wang 63581(PE, KUN), 63697(PE, KUN), 64285(PE).