Geum rubrum (Ludlow) A. A. Khuroo, K. Hussain & R. Gulzar

Khuroo, Anzar Ahmad, Hussain, Khalid, Gulzar, Ruquia & Ganai, Mansoor R., 2022, Geum rubrum comb. nov. (Rosaceae), elevation of Geum elatum forma rubrum to species rank, Phytotaxa 541 (1), pp. 66-72 : 69-70

Geum rubrum (Ludlow) A. A. Khuroo, K. Hussain & R. Gulzar , comb. nov.

Geum elatum f. rubrum Ludlow , Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Bot. 5(5): 276 (1976)

Type : NEPAL. Hills south of Jumla, 3500 m 2 July 1952, Polunin, Sykes and Williams 4419 (holotype: BM, digital image!)

Specimens examined: INDIA. Kashmir: District Kupwara, Bangus Valley , 32°21′ 24″ N, 74° 00′ 29″E, elevation 3326 m, 19 August 2021, Anzar A. Khuroo, Khalid Hussain & Ruquia Gulzar 46285 & 46286 ( KASH!); Kashmir: District Kupwara, Bangus Valley , 32° 21′ 24″N, 74° 00′ 29″E, elevation 3454 m, 16 August 2019, Anzar A. Khuroo 46321 ( KASH!) .

Diagnosis

G. rubrum resembles with G. elatum in few characters, such as shape of basal leaves and stem. However, G. rubrum can be clearly distinguished from G. elatum on the basis of several distinctive characters which include: flower diameter (2.2–2.8 cm in G. rubrum vs. 3.0– 3.5 cm in G. elatum ), shape of pseudo-sepal (elliptic or lanceolate vs. ovate), type of hairs on calyx (glandular vs. aglandular), color of petals (red vs. yellow), anther attachment (dorsifixed vs. basifixed), number of carpels (6–8 vs. 10–24) and achene size (7.8–8.0 × 1.6–1.8 mm vs. 3.7–3.9 × 0.9–1.1 mm) ( Figures 2 & 3 ). A detailed comparison of these delimiting characters between G. rubrum and G. elatum is provided in Table 1 .

Description

Perennial herb, root fibrous, terete, 0.6–0.8 cm in diameter, fascicled. Stem erect, 22–28 cm tall, pubescent, hairs glandular. Radical leaves imparipinnate, 12–18 cm long; leaflets in 8–10 pairs, opposite, unequal with terminal leaflet deeply trilobed, margin incised, coarsely serrate, apex round, venation reticulate, base truncate. Cauline leaves simple, ovate, trilobed, 2.4–3.5 cm long, margin entire, veins prominent on abaxial surface. Inflorescence terminal, 2–5 flowers borne on the branch ends. Flowers showy, 2.2–2.8 cm in diameter, actinomorphic, bisexual and pedicellate. Pedicels 1–1.2 cm long, hirtellous. Sepals 5, triangular-ovate, green, 3.4–3.6× 1.8–1.9 mm, apex acuminate; pseudo-sepals (epicalyx) alternate with sepals, elliptic or lanceolate, minute, 1.3–1.5× 0.5–0.6 mm, apex acuminate, both glandular hairy. Petals 5, scarlet red, obovate with an apical notch, imbricate, 3.0–3.1 × 3.1–3.2 mm. Stamens 76–84, purplish red, ca. 3 mm long; filament linear ca. 1.9 mm long; anthers ellipsoid ca. 1.1 mm long, dorsifixed, longitudinally dehiscent. Carpels 6–8, green, ovary hairy, 3.0–3.1× 1.3–1.5 mm, style upto 4.9 mm long, curved at varied angles at the point of attachment. Fruit aggregate of achenes, ovoid to ellipsoid, 6–8-seeded; achenes ovoid, hirtellous, 7.8– 8.0× 1.6–1.8 mm. ( Figure 2 )

Phenology: Flowering from June–July; fruiting from August–September.

Habitat: Occurs in mesic habitats, rocky slopes, meadows, mountain summits, steppes and open glades of alpine and sub-alpine regions.

Distribution: Bangus Valley, Kaj Nag Range, Kashmir Himalaya, India; Babaria Lekh, Hills South of Jumla, Maharigaon, Sirtibang Lekh, Nepal.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Geum rubrum. A. Habit; B. Flower; C. Sepal; D. Petal; E. Stamen (2x); F. Carpels (2x); G. Achene.

FIGURE 3. Geum elatum. A. Habit; B. Flower; C. Sepal; D. Petal (2x); E. Stamen (2x); F. Carpels (2x); G. Achene.