Silene oreoploca Lidén, 2023

Lidén, Magnus & Oxelman, Bengt, 2023, FLORA OF NEPAL NOTULAE IV: NEW SPECIES AND RESURRECTED NAMES IN SILENE, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 80 (367), pp. 1-28 : 3-6

1. Silene oreoploca Lidén , nom. nov. Figure 1J–Q .

Replaced synonym: Melandrium linearifolium L.H.Zhou, Fl. Xizang. 1: 714 (1983), non Silene linearifolia Otth in A. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 374 (1824). – Type: Tibet, Nyalam, 4400 m, 20 vi 1966, Chang Yong-Tian & Lang Kai-Yong 4302 (holotype PE 01040479).

“ Silene caespitella ” sensu Zhou (1983) , non F.N.Williams (1909).

“ Silene moorcroftiana ” sensu Zhou et al. (2001) p.p. and Rajbhandari & Suzuki (2008) p.p., non Benth. (1839).

Densely caespitose perennial, forming tufts or tussocks, bright green, with thick rootstock with several short perennating stems ending in dense leaf rosettes surrounded at base by tough, long persistent, stramineus residues of old petiole bases with stiff antrorse marginal setae. Flowering stems (3–) 7–20 cm long, simple or branched, with (4–)7–12 nodes, densely pubescent with stout patent glandular hairs 0.2–0.3 mm long in upper part, below with reflexed eglandular hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaves of non-flowering rosettes narrowly linear-oblanceolate, 20–35 mm long. Cauline leaves linear, acute, 10–30

× 1–2 mm (uppermost leaf pair [bracts] sometimes smaller), thickish, stiff, glabrous, more or less antrorse-scabrid, bright green, sometimes bluntly purple-mucronate. Inflorescence terminal 1(–3)-flowered; 1-flowered lateral branches may grow from upper axils. Pedicels 1–10(–20) mm long. Bracteoles (if present), and sometimes bracts, minute. Flowers erect. Calyx 14–20 mm, gradually attenuate from middle to base; veins distinct, green or purple, without distinct anastomoses, with stout glandular hairs 0.2–0.3 mm long. Calyx teeth

2 mm, purplish, rounded, constricted at base, with broad scarious ± lacerate-dentate and ± ciliate margin, abaxially with glandular hairs. Androgynophore 8–10 mm (to 14 mm in fruit) long, finely retrorse-pubescent with acute hairs. Petal claw exserted; limb c. 10 mm, white or pale purple above, reddish below, obtriangular, divided to 1/3, rarely with a small basal sharp tooth on each side; coronal scales white, narrow, 1–1.5 mm. Styles 3. Seeds rounded-reniform in profile, 1.2 mm long; back very broad with prominent papillae.

Distribution. From Kumaon to the Mount Everest region.

Habitat and ecology. Rock crevices, among boulders, on gravel. Altitudinal range

3400–4800 m. Flowering June to October.

Etymology. From Greek ὄρος (‘mountain’) and πλΌΚα (‘tuft’).

Notes. The type collection of Melandrium linearifolium consists of disconnected shade-grown stems with flowers in bud stage. Hence, Zhou overlooked the identity of this plant with her “ Silene caespitella ”.

Additional specimens examined. INDIA. Uttarakhand: Kumaon, Rama Darma, s.d., J.R. Reid s.n. (E).

NEPAL. Darchula / Bajhang (?): Nyibe Karha , 19 xi 1936, F. M. Bailey s.n. ( E00138263 ) . Mugu: 25 xi 1995, s.col. 7451 ( KATH) . Dolpa: E side of Ya La (29°38′N, 82°50′E), 4800 m, on gravel, vi 1990, S. Miehe 99-49-10 ( GB) . Mustang: Tangte to Chusan , 3800 m, 3 viii 2001, M. N. Subedi 80088 ( KATH086602 ) ; Pongio Kharka to Phalyak (28°51′40′′N, 83°44′41′′E), 3870 m, 13 viii 2002, F. Miyamoto et al. 20210095 ( KUN 1264363 ) .

TIBET. Purang : 3950 m, 12 vii 1976, Qing-Zang exp. 13251 ( PE 00048039 ) ; 3900 m, s.d., Tibet investigation team 4002 ( HNWP 41065 ) ; Langazuo, 3700 m, 29 viii 1990, Fei Yong et al. 663 ( KUN 0514266 ). Gyirong : 3750 m, 21 vii 2016, Wei Lai & He Yi BNUXZ2016351 ( BNU 0028275 ) ; near Zhang Duo , 4000 m, 2 vii 1975, Wu Zhengyih et al. 75-440 ( PE 00580361 , HNWP) ; Butula 3700 m, 20 ix 1990, Li Hui, Li Bo-Sheng & Yang Yi 13903 ( PE 01486983 ). Nyalam : (28°29′N, 85°14′E), 3360 m, 19 xi 2011, Chen You-Sheng, Zhang Shu-Ren & Yu Sheng-Xiang 758 ( PE 01961620 ) ; Upper Trisuli gorge, NW Mt Xixabangma (28°42′N, 85°16′E), 3940 m, 25 viii 1993, G. & S. Miehe 9570/05 ( Miehe ); (28°10′N, 85°50′E) , 9 ix 2012, FLPH 12-0334 ( PE 01960774 ) ; Zhaxicongcun (28°19′N, 86°02′E), 4164 m, 26 vii 2015, Wei

Lai & Hao Jia-Chen 15281 ( BNU 0026019 ) ; 4100 m, hillside, 18 vii 2016, Wei Lai & He Yi 2016168

( BNU 0028275, XZ); 3900 m, 8 ix 1981, Ni Zhi-Cheng & Ci Duo-Deng 2116 ( PE 00580351 , XZ0001496 ) ; 3400 m, 1 ix 1981, Ni Zhi-Cheng et al. 1918 ( PE 00558375 , XZ0001507 ) ; 4100 m, 7 ix 1981, Ni Zhi-Cheng & Ci Duo-Deng 2081 ( PE p.p., XZ0001505 ) ; 4 km S Nyalam, 3700 m, 18 ix 1992, Chen Jia-Rui 92294 ( PE [1731392]) ; 3600 m, 31 viii 1972, Tibet herbal medicine census 1666 ( HNWP, PE 00048034 ) ; N Nyalam, c. 4100 m, 3 x 1967, Jiang Shu & Zheng Du 0182 ( PE). Tingri: Upper Arun valley , Everest E, Lower Kharta Chu , Yupar (28°5′N, 87°19′E), 3800 m, among granite boulders, 7 x 1989, B. Dickoré 6037 ( M). Rongxia: 3600 m, 30 vii 1959, s.col. 703 ( PE 00580348 ) .

Figures

Figure 1. Silene scoparia Lidén, sp. nov.: A, whole plant leaf rosettes; B, whole plant with flowers (two damaged flowers have been ‘mended’ for clarity, with the mended parts appearing lighter); C, calyx (insert: calyx teeth); D, hairs on calyx veins; E, hairs on pedicels; F, hairs on calyx teeth vein; G, petal; H, cauline leaf; I, seed. Silene oreoploca Lidén, nom. nov.: J, whole plant with flowers; K, calyx (insert: calyx teeth); L, hairs on calyx veins; M, hairs on pedicels; N, petal; O, cauline leaf; P, seed; Q, androgynophore pubescence. Silene moorcroftiana Wall. ex Benth.: R, whole plant with flowers; S, calyx (insert: calyx teeth); T, hairs on calyx veins; U, hairs on pedicels; V, petal; W, cauline leaf; X, seed; Y, androgynophore pubescence. Scale bars: A, B, J, R, 10 cm; G, H, N, O, V, W and C, K, S (excluding inserts), 1 cm; C, K, S (inserts), 2 mm; D–F, I, L, P, Q, T, X and Y, 1 mm. Vouchers: A, Y. Iokawa et al. 20020015 (E00826586); B, M. Minaki et al. 9104467 (E00231757); C–I, G. Miehe, S. Miehe & K. Koch 01-076-08 (GB); J, Tibet herbal medicine census 1666 (PE); K–O, Chen Jia-Rui 92294 (PE); P and Q, Miehe 99-49-10 (GB); R, S. Noshiro et al. 20106115 (TI); S–Y, S. Miehe 99-62-16 (GB). Drawings: Magnus Lidén.