Gagea angelae Levichev et Schnittler, 2011

Levichev Jens Peterson Doerte Harpke Martin Schnittler, Angela Peterson Igor G., 2011, New insights into the phylogeny and taxonomy of Chinese species of Gagea (Liliaceae) - speciation through hybridization, Organisms Diversity & Evolution (New York, N. Y.) 11 (5), pp. 387-407 : 393-394

Gagea angelae Levichev et Schnittler sp. nov. [Sect. Gagea ]

Diagnosis A Gagea calyptrifolia Levichev inflorescentia compressa, folio radicali angusto (3–5 mm lt., nec ca. 6 mm), longe acutato, a G. praemixta Vved. bulbillis vegetativis aliquot stolonem longum terminantibus (nec bulbillo solitario), a alii speciebus ceteris G. sect. Gagea stolonem longum differt.

Type China, Xinjiang, Tian-Shan, Bogda-Shan, Heaven-Lake ( Tianchi Lake ), 43°53′38″N, 88°06′59″E, 1,980 m, 25.04.2009, Schnittler, A . and J. Peterson, 200913 (holotypes: HAL108470 , isotypes: LE00002135 , B100375627 ) .

Paratype China, Xinjiang, Tian-Shan, Bogda-Shan, Heaven-Lake ( Tianchi Lake ), 43°53′31″N, 86°06′02″E, 2,173 m, 28.04.2009, Schnittler, A. and J. Peterson, 200915 ( LE 00002137 , HAL108471 , HAL108472 , HAL108473 , HAL108474 , HAL108475 , HAL108476 ) .

Plants solitary or in small groups, 5–8 cm tall. Bulbs of flowering plants 6–8 mm in diameter (data from 70 flowering plants: 4.5–11.5 mm, mean 7.2 ± 1.3 mm), tunic coriaceous, pale chestnut brown. Flowering plants nearly always without bulbils. Older vegetative plants develop a horizontal, white to cream stolon of 15–50 mm length, very rarely and usually in weak plants the bulbils are nearly sessile (data from 223 non-flowering plants: stolon 0.1– 79.0 mm long, mean 23.3 ± 14.5 mm). This stolon carries at its end 2–5 (1–10, mean 3.0±2.4) globose bulbils protruding from the leaf tunic. Usually the first bulbil grows significantly larger than the surrounding bulbils. Peduncle 4–7 cm tall, tetrangular in cross section, 1–1.5 mm in diameter. Basal leaf solitary, exceeding the inflorescence but usually curved backwards; 10–17(− 23) cm long and 3– 5(− 6) mm wide (measurements from 70 flowering plants: length 92–231 mm, mean 152± 36 mm; width 2.3–7.3 mm, mean 4.3±1.0 mm). Floral leaf slightly shorter than, rarely exceeding the inflorescence, 3–7(− 9) mm wide (length 14.9–75.4 mm, mean 35.6 ± 13.4 mm; width 1.8–8.8 mm, mean 6.0± 1.5 mm), narrowly lanceolate and gradually pointed into a long tip. True bracts 1 − (2–3), obliquely opposite, significantly shorter. Inflorescence with 2–4 (range 1–10, mean 3.7 ±2.0) flowers, fasciculate, pedicels ranging from 0.7 to 2.0 cm in length. Perianth leaves narrowly lanceolate, with hooded ends, 9–11 mm long and 1.8–2.2 mm wide; inner side yellow; outer side greenish with a yellow mid rib. Ovary sessile, oblong ovate. Anthers yellow, 3.5–5 mm long and cylindrical when still closed, after dehiscence globose, 1.5–2 mm long. Capsule barely approaching more than half of the perianth length, ovoid, sessile. Seeds terete ( Fig. 1 , Appendix 3 of Electronic supplementary material).

Similar species The species differs from Gagea calyptrifolia Levichev by compressed inflorescences, the very narrow basal leaf (usually 3–5 mm wide, not exceeding 6 mm) with an attenuate tip. In contrast to G. praemixta Vved. the new species develops several, not a single, bulbil at the end of a long stolon. This long stolon tells the species apart from all other taxa of G. sect. Gagea , including G. xiphoidea Levichev as the taxon most similar in habit.

Widespread at open, preferentially S-exp. slopes at the upper forest belt of the eastern Tien-Shan, around Heaven Lake, 1,600 –1,900 m, more rarely exceeding up to 2,300 ma.s.l.

The species is named in honour of Angela Peterson (Halle/Saale, Germany), investigator of the molecular phylogeny of the genus.

Gagea jensii Levichev et Schnittler sp. nov. [Sect. Plecostigma (Turcz.) Pascher ]

Diagnosis A G. alberti Regel inflorescentia angusta (non diffusa), 1(− 2)-flora (non 5–7-flora), folio pedunculo infimo brevi (non inflorescentia longius).

Type China, Xinjiang, Urumqi , hills near a cemetery, 43° 43′53″N, 87°35′46″E, 987 m, 30.04.2009, Schnittler, A . and J. Peterson, 200917 (holotypes: HAL108483 , isotypes: HAL108481 , HAL108482 , LE 00002138 , B100375626 ) .

Paratype China, Xinjiang, Urumqi, Yamalik Hill Forest Park, 43°47′26″N, 87°34′21″E, 1,027 m, 23.04.2009, Schnittler, A . and J. Peterson, 200918 ( HAL108480 ) .

Plants solitary, 10–20(− 22) cm tall, one- or two flowered, covered with short silvery hairs. Bulbs of flowering plants 8–10 mm in diameter and 8–15 mm long, round to elongate, with a 2–7 cm long, dull grey brown tunic extending into a long neck, lower part densely covered by numerous sclerified roots. Flowering plants do not grow bulbils, strong vegetative plants with bulbs exceeding 3 mm in diameter seem to grow one bulbil per year. Bulbils 1.5–2.5 mm in diam., 2–3 mm long, halfdroplet shaped and laterally compressed, often dormant within the old tunicae of the mother plant for several years. Peduncule 10.5–21.0 cm long, round in cross section, with a blunt abaxial rib, 0.5–1.3 mm in diameter, developing 3–4 − (5) alternately arranged leaves (including these of the inflorescence). Basal leaf solitary, 11.5–21.5 cm in length, as long as the inflorescence or slightly exceeding it, 0.8–1.3 mm in diameter, cross-section round, caniculate, with an expanded base. Stem leaves alternate, the lowermost originating close to the ground, the uppermost half as long as the inflorescence, the first 1.7–7.5 cm, the second 0.6–1.5 cm in length, cross-section superficially concave. Inflorescence with 1–2 flowers, the second flower often underdeveloped or absent. Perianth leaves lanceolate with obtuse tips, 10.0–15.0 mm long and 0.8–2.2 mm wide, inner side yellow, outer side greenish, at maturity of the capsule with pale translucent margins and greenish mid-ribs. Anthers yellow, linear, 3–4 mm long, after dehiscence nearly globose, 1 mm long. Style as long as the sessile ovary, 3.5–5.0 mm tall, stigma capitate. Capsule sessile, round to bluntly triangular, 7.0– 10.5 mm long and 2.5–6.0 mm in diameter, seeds crescent shaped, pale brown, with warty surfaces ( Fig. 2 , Appendix 3 of Electronic supplementary material).

Similar species Gagea alberti Regel has a more diffuse (not narrow) inflorescence and develops usually 5–7 flowers, lateral flowers are much smaller.

The plant was found at two steppe remnants in the outskirts of Urumqi, with small populations comprising not more than 50 individuals. We thus did not attempt quantitative measurements. Due to extreme overgrazing in the foothills around Urumqi, further searches were not successful.

The plant is named in honor of its collector, Jens Peterson (Halle/Saale, Germany).

Figures

Fig. 1 a—g Gagea angelae spec. nov. a Whole flowering plant lacking bulbils; b bulb of a strong vegetative plant, devel- oping a stolon with a group of bulbils at the tip; remnants of the stolon of the previous year are visible at the opposite side of the parent bulb (arrow); c tetrangular cross section of the peduncle of a flowering plant below the inflorescence; d cross-section of the middle part of the basal leaf; e tip of the basal leaf; f cross-section of the lower floral leaf, arrows in c, d, and f indicate subepidermal sclerenchyma; g flower, two perianth leaves removed to show the ovary

Fig. 2 a—k Gagea jensii spec. nov. a Flowering plant; b peduncle, cross-section; inner channel partly filled with dry parenchyma; c cross-section of basal leaves at various levels; d cross-section, lower part of a middle stem leaf; e juvenile plant originating from a bulbil in its 1st year; f cross-section through the single basal leaf; g bulb of a weak vegetative plant with one bulbil; h, h′ the same in dorsal and lateral view, outer tunic removed; i inflorescence with one mature capsule, the second flower often fails to set seed; j capsule seen from above; k seed in lateral view; chalaza at the right; k′ seed seen from the chalazial end