Suaeda olufsenii Paulsen, Vidensk. Meddel. Naturhist. Foren. Kjobenhavn [s.n.]: 194 (1903)

Sukhorukov, Alexander P., Liu, Pei-Liang & Kushunina, Maria, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet, PhytoKeys 116, pp. 1-141 : 96-98

1. Suaeda olufsenii Paulsen, Vidensk. Meddel. Naturhist. Foren. Kjobenhavn [s.n.]: 194 (1903) Fig. 41

Suaeda olufsenii Paulsen, Vidensk. Meddel. Naturhist. Foren. Kjøbenhavn [s.n.]: 194 (1903). Holotype. [TAJIKISTAN, Badakhshan] Pamir, in angustiis Chargush [Khargush], in litore salso lacus [on the saline shore of a little lake], 4200 m a.s.l., 2 Sep 1898, O. Paulsen 1230 (C10009368, image seen! isotype LE n.v.).

≡ S. corniculata (C.A.Mey.) Bunge var. olufsenii (Paulsen) G.L.Chu in Kung & Tsien, Fl. Reipubl. Pop. Sin. 25(2): 128 (1979).

Taxonomic notes.

The examined specimens have perianth with unequal projections at the fruiting stage that is consistent with the species description by Paulsen (1903). However, Lomonosova and Freitag (2008) indicated equal projections of the perianth segments based on the specimens collected in the Altai Mountains. We assume that plants from Altai are different from the populations growing in Pamir, Tibet and North Himalaya.

Description.

Annual up to 25 cm, glabrous or young parts are slightly pubescent with curved hairs, branched from the base with prostrate stems. Leaves up to 15.0 × 2.0-4.0 mm, semi-terete without or with an inconspicuous mucro. Inflorescence bracteous. Bracts rather flat, ovoid or elliptical. Flowers 3-12 in clusters. Perianth at fruiting stage with unequal horizontal wing-like projections (Fig. 39D ). Stigmas 2. Seeds dimorphic: dark-red seeds 0.9-1.0 mm in diameter, marginally acutish, surface with remarkable polygonal sculpture (Fig. 39E, F ), brown seeds 1.1-1.5 mm, with rugose surface.

Habitat.

Screes, sands and disturbed places; 3400-5300 m a.s.l.

Phenology.

Flowering: July-September; fruiting: September-October.

Distribution.

See Fig. 40 .

Specimens examined.

CHINA: Xizang: Ngari Prefecture: [Gar ( Ga’er) County] Shiquanhe, 4300 m a.s.l., 30 Jul 1974, Biological Institute Tibet Expedition Team 3750 (PE00527157); Burang (Pulan) County, Mapam Yumco (Lake), 4530 m a.s.l., 23 Aug 1974, Biological Institute Tibet Expedition Team 4153 (PE00527139); Gêrzê (Gaize) County, Datan, 4400 m a.s.l., 8 Sep 1974, Biological Institute Tibet Expedition Team 4319 (HNWP40537); Gar (Gaer) County, Moincêr (Menshi), 4300 m a.s.l., 10 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 76-7987 (KUN0587544), Qinghai-Tibet Team Meadow Group 76-102 (PE00541009); Gar (Gaer) County, Moincêr (Menshi), 4400 m a.s.l., 10 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 13223 (PE00527117); Zanda (Zhada) County, 4400 m a.s.l., 19 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 12696 (PE00527119); Rutog (Ritu) County, Domar (Duoma) Distr., 5200 m a.s.l., 15 Aug 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 76-9078 (PE00527154); Gê’gyai (Geji) County, Yagra (Yare) Distr., 4780 m a.s.l., 20 Aug 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 76-8686 (KUN0587535), Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 13516 (PE00527118); Gê’gyai (Geji) County, Yanhu Distr., 4350 m a.s.l., 24 Aug 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Meadow Group 13528 (PE00527125); Rutog (Ritu) County, Rabang (Rebang), 4360 m a.s.l., 28 Aug 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 13658 (PE00527120); Rutog (Ritu) County, nr Banmozhang, 4250 m a.s.l., 4 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 76-8753 (PE00527134, KUN0587541); Rutog (Ritu) County, Ni Yagezu, 4500 m a.s.l., 5 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 76-9147 (PE00527155, KUN0587547); Gêrzê (Gaize) County, Marmê (Mami) Distr., 4500 m a.s.l., 8 Sep 1976, Gansu Agriculture University 158 (PE00541006); Gêrzê (Gaize) County, Marmê (Mami) Distr., 4500 m a.s.l., 8 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 10422 (PE00527151); Gêrzê (Gaize) County, Kangtog (Kangtuo), 4570 m a.s.l., 10 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 10208 (PE00527153, KUN0588258); Gê’gyai (Geji) County to Shiquanhe, 4400 m a.s.l., 21 Aug 1990, Y. Fei et al. 429 (KUN0275068); Burang (Pulan) County, E of Hor, 4787 m a.s.l., 30°41'48.48"N, 81°58'4.93"E, 3 Sep 2012, FLPH Tibet Expedition 12-0064 (PE01967962); Nagqu Prefecture: Baingoin ( Ban’ge) County, Bangkog Co ( Ban’ge Lake), 4400 m a.s.l., 16 Jul 1961, Wang 3555 (PE00527127); Nagqu County, 4490 m a.s.l., 16 Aug 1961, Wang 3763 (PE00527128); Shuanghu County, 4800 m a.s.l., 18 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 10197 (PE); Shuanghu County, 4850 m a.s.l., 21 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 9767 (PE00527147, KUN0587537); Shuanghu County, Laiduo, 4850 m a.s.l., 22 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 10200 (PE00527140); N Xizang, Jialin, 5100 m a.s.l., 24 Jul 1976, Gansu Agriculture University 092 (PE00541005); Shuanghu County, 4800 m a.s.l., 26 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 12039 (PE); Baingoin ( Ban’ge) County, 20 km NE of Bangkog Co ( Ban’ge Lake), 4700 m a.s.l., 29 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 10680 (PE00527123); Xiketang Lake, 32°01'N, 90°57'E, 4560 m a.s.l., 28 Jul 2005, Nölling & Hanspach NX05-017-04 (herb. Miehe); Xigazê Prefecture: [Gyangste County] Kala [Tso], 14000 ft a.s.l., 8 Aug 1936, Chapman 500 (K000899752); Qomolangma (Mount Everest), 28 Jul 1960, Fu 508 (PE00527133); Zhongba County, Gaqoi (Gangjiu) distr., 4600 m a.s.l., 29 Jul 1975, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 7420 (PE00527124);

INDIA: Jammu & Kashmir: [nr Parang river] valley below Haule, 17 Sep 1847, T.T. Thomson s.n. (K); Ladakh, Tso Kar, Rupshu, 4500 m a.s.l., 5 Sep 1970, U.C. Bhattacharyya 41013 (BSD); Ladakh, Shyok, 4200 m a.s.l., 30 Aug 1975, M.V. Viswanathan 55058 (BSD); Ladakh, Muklip, 3975 m a.s.l., 29 Aug 1976, B.M. Wadhwa 60151 (BSD); Ladakh, Karu, 3400 m a.s.l., 12 Aug 1980, U.C. Bhattacharyya 71610 (BSD); Ladakh, Chusul valley, Aug 1982, P.K. Hajra 74219 (BSD); Tso Kar, Rupshu, 4600 m a.s.l., 22 Aug 1995, H. Hartmann 5035 (MSB160553); Pangong Tso, 4120 m a.s.l., 13 Aug 1997, H. Hartmann 6081 (MSB160552); Ladakh, Zanskar Region, Markha Hankar vill., 4500 m a.s.l., 21 Aug 1998, L. Klimeš 106 (PRA); Ladakh, Indus valley, Stot (E) [Stod River valley], 4180 m a.s.l., 16 Aug 1999, L. Klimeš 540 (PRA); Ladakh, Indus valley, Stot (E), 4850-4940 m a.s.l., 2 Aug 2001, L. Klimeš 01-5-12 (PRA); Ladakh, Rupshu Region, Tso Moriri, between Karzok & Peldo, 4650 m a.s.l., 11 Aug 2001, L. Klimeš 1320 (PRA); Ladakh, Rupshu Region, Chumur, 4660-4860 m a.s.l., 21 Aug 2001, L. Klimeš 1382 (PRA); Ladakh, Shyok (W & C), 3710-3780 m a.s.l., 15 Sep 2001, L. Klimeš 1845 (PRA); Ladakh, Pangong Region, Spangmik to Pangong Lake, 4300 m a.s.l., 10 Sep 2002, L. Klimeš 2704 (PRA); Himachal Pradesh: Lahaul, Kenlung, 15000 ft a.s.l., 19 Jul 1941, N.L. Bor 15182 (DD).

General distribution.

W China, N India, N Pakistan and Tajikistan; also reported from E Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Mongolia and Russia (Altai).

Figures

Figure 39. SEM micrographs: A Agriophyllum tibeticum, hairs from the stem B A. tibeticum, concave side of the seed C A. tibeticum, convex side of the seed D Suaeda olufsenii, fruit enclosed in the perianth; E, F S. olufsenii, red seed. Magnification: 50 x (A, B), 75 x (C, D), 100 x (E), 500 x (F).

Figure 40. Distribution map of Agriophyllum tibeticum (stars) and Suaeda olufsenii (circles).

Figure 41. Suaeda olufsenii at fruiting stage. Photograph by Prashant Awale (ca. 4300 m a. s. l., near Pangong Lake, Jammu & Kashmir, India, September 2011).