Berberis nantoensis Schneider (1939: 252)

Yu, Chih-Chieh & Chung, Kuo-Fang, 2014, Systematics of Berberis sect. Wallichianae (Berberidaceae) of Taiwan and Luzon with description of three new species, B. schaaliae, B. ravenii, and B. pengii, Phytotaxa 184 (2), pp. 61-99 : 84-85

7. Berberis nantoensis Schneider (1939: 252) = Berberis densifolia Byhouwer (1928: 133) [non B. densifolia Rusby (1920: 16) ]. Type:— TAIWAN. Nanto, Mount Kiraishui, 3500-3600 m, 6 March 1918, Wilson 10074 (holotype A- 00038729!, isotype BM-000810310!, PNH-28859!, US-1053600, n.v., image seen) ( Fig. 12A–C ).

Evergreen shrub, 1–2 m tall. Mature stems red-brownish, subterete, inconspicuous verruculose. Spines 3-fid, concolorous, 1.0– 2.3 cm. Leaves subsessile; leaf blade elliptic, abaxially pale green sometimes pruinose, adaxially green; 1.2–3.4 × 0.4–1.7 cm, leathery; midvein abaxially raised and adaxially impressed, lateral veins slightly raised, the secondary veins pinnate but not jointly together; base cuniform, margins usually strongly revolute, entire or remotely spinose with spinules of 1–4 with 4.0–18.0 mm apart on each side, apex acute, mucronate to obtuse. Inflorescence a dense, congested fascicled of 7–9 flowers. Bracts absent. Pedicel pale green, 0.2–0.3 cm. Bracteoles absent. Flowers bright yellow. Sepals in 3 whorls, outer sepals yellow with partly reddish-tinged ovate 4 × 3 mm, middle sepals yellow obovate 6 × 3 mm, inner sepals yellow obovate 8 × 4 mm. Petals elliptic, 6 × 4 mm, base clawed with a pair of ovoid nectaries close to each other, apex incised or emarginated with acute lobes. Stamens pale yellow ca. 3 mm, anther connective of stamen distinct, apex truncate. Pistil 4 mm long. Ovules 2 or 3. Berries black or dark blue, sub-globose ca. 6 × 5 mm, sometimes pruinose, estylose.

Distinguishing features: Berberis nantoensis is easily recognized by its dense, congested fascicle inflorescence, short-pediceled flowers, and revolute leaf margins, although the last feature is occasionally found in B. chingshuiensis , B. kawakamii , and B. schaaliae .

Phenology: — Flowering January, March–June; Fruiting January, July–December.

Distribution & habitat: — Berberis nantoensis are shrubs or occasionally tree-like shrubs mainly distributed in subalpine meadows, exposed rocky habitats, and the understories of coniferous forests from 2000 to 3300 m in Syue and Central Mountain Ranges ( Fig. 6C ).

Chinese name: NJ投小ª

Proposed IUCN conservation status: —Vulnerable [VU B1b(iii)c(iii)]. Berberis nantoensis usually occurs as scattered individuals in subalpine and alpine regions in major high mountains of Taiwan. Although most high mountain areas are under protection in Taiwan, this species is potentially under risk due to its restricted and scattered distributional ranges. We propose a provisional IUCN category of VU for the species ( IUCN 2012).

Additional specimens examined: — TAIWAN. Yilan: Taipingshan , 2200 m, 24–29 April 1930, Sasaki s.n. (TAI); Gilitin-Denshankou, 1200–2580 m, 20 August 1969, Hsu 5912 (TAI); Nanhutashan, July 1940, Nakamura 3040 (TAI), 2800–3100 m, 4 May 1990, Liou 560 (HAST); Loyehweishan, 2800 m, 8 December 2008, Yu 192 (TAI) . Miaoli: en route from “99 villa” to Tapachienshan, 2700–2800 m, 11 August 1985, Peng 8482 (HAST); ca. 10 km from entrance of on Hsuehshan No. 230 forest road, 2400 m, 4 May 1999, Wu 1201 (HAST, KUN) . Taichung: Shenmachanshan , 3100 m, 28 May 1974, Huang 5925 (TAI); Shenmachenshan to Yunling Lodge, 3400 m, 18 July 1996, Liu 1021 (HAST); Hsiaohsuehshan, 2900 m, 14 January 1997, Lu 25178 (HAST) . Nantou: Nengkoshan, 6 March 1918, Sasaki s.n. (TAI); Patunkuan , 2500 m, 20 March 1987, Yang 82 (TNM); Hohuanshan, 2900 m, 10 November 1989, Lu 24977 (HAST); Chilaichunanfeng, 3200 m, 4 September 1998, Yang 11189 (TNM); Tayuling 820 Forest Road, about 1.4 km from entrance, 2530 m, 13 May 2004, Wu 588 (HAST); Yangtoushan, 2900 m, 13 October 2008, Yu 159 (TAI) . Kaohsiung: Shunyun Lodge , 2500 m, 10 January 2011, Yu 701 (TAI) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Distributions of Berberis sect. Wallichianae of Taiwan and Luzon. A. Major mountain ranges in Taiwan, with possible type localities of B. aristatoserrulata and B. brevisepala. NR: Nature Preserve. MWH: Major Wildlife Habitat. Mts: Mountain Range. B. Distributions of B. aristatoserrulata, B. hayatana, and B. pengii. C. Distributions of B. chingshuiensis, B. mingetsensis, and B. nantoensis. D. Distributions of B. kawakamii, B. ravenii, and B. schaaliae. E. Distributions of B. brevisepala and B. tarokoensis. F. Distribution of B. barandana in Luzon Island of the Philippines.

FIGURE 12. Berberis nantoensis C.K. Schneid. (A–C) and B. tarokoensis S.Y. Lu & Yuen P. Yang (D–F). A. Flowering branches. B. Flowers, front view. C. Fruiting branch. D. Habitat and habit. E. Flowers, front view. F. Stylose fruits. A, B: Hsiaochilai Trail; C. Nanhutashan, courtesy of Cheng-Dao Lin; D, E: Yenhai Logging Road; F: Tatuanyaishan (the Great Cliff), courtesy of Chi-Kai Yang.