Berberis schaaliae C.C.Yu & K.F.Chung, 2014

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 : 89

10. Berberis schaaliae C.C.Yu & K.F.Chung , sp. nov. ( Figs. 9G , 16 , 17 ).

Type:— TAIWAN. Hualien, Sioulin, Tatuanyaishan (The Great Cliff), 24°12’16.46”N, 121°34’47.52”E, 1500 m, 8 August 2008, Chih- Chieh Yu 147 (holotype TAI-284281!) .

Diagnosis: Berberis schaaliae is similar to B. chingshuiensis , differing from the latter by its densely spinose leaf margin (31–64 vs. 6–11 spinules).

Evergreen shrub, 1–1.5 m tall. Mature stem brown, subterete, not verruculose. Spines 3-fid, sometimes palmate, concolorous, 0.2–1.2 cm, sometimes absent. Leaves subsessile; leaf blade ovate or elliptic, abaxially pale green not pruinose, adaxially green; 5.4–10.5 × 1.4–3.3 cm, thickly-leathery; midvein abaxially raised and adaxially impressed, lateral veins raised, the secondary veins pinnate, jointly looped and multi-festooned, the tertiary veins stronglyreticulated; base acute to attenuate, margins sometimes slightly revolute, closely spinose with spinules of 31–64 with 0.5–2 mm apart on each side, apex acute or mucronate. Inflorescence a fascicle, 3–12-flowered. Bracts absent. Pedicel red, 0.7–2.3 cm. Bracteoles 1 or 2, red, triangular, 0.5 × 0.5 mm. Flowers yellow. Sepals in 3 whorls, outer sepals yellow with partially reddish-tinged triangular 2 × 1.5 mm, middle sepals yellow elliptic to ovate 3 × 2 mm, inner sepals yellow obovate 6.5 × 4 mm. Petals elliptic, 4.5 × 3 mm, base clawed with a pair of ovoid nectaries very close to each other, apex usually dentate. Stamens pale yellow 3 mm long, anther connective of stamen distinct, apex truncate. Pistil 4 mm long. Ovules 3 or 4. Berries dark purple to black, ellipsoid ca. 7 × 4 mm, not pruinose, estylose.

Phenology: — Flowering April–May; Fruiting March–June, August, and December.

Distribution & habitat: — Berberis schaaliae occurs in the limestone terrains of eastern Central Mountain Range of Hualien County ( Fig. 6D ). It is locally common in the understories of lower warm temperate montane forests at the elevation at 1100 to 2400 m.

Etymology:—This species is named in honor of Dr. Barbara A. Schaal, mentor of the senior author, for her enduring support, guidance, and encouragement, and for her prodigious contribution to plant evolutionary biology.

Chinese name: Ẽē小ª

Proposed IUCN conservation status: —Nearly Threatened. Berberis schaaliae is distributed in eastern Taiwan, especially common in Hualien County. It is abundant in the understory of warm temperate forests, growing into large colonies locally. However, because it appears to only grow in limestone areas, we propose a provisional IUCN category of NT for the species ( IUCN 2012).

Notes: — Berberis schaaliae is well collected and represented in the main herbaria in Taiwan and is easily recognized by its densely spinose leaf margin (31–64 spinules on each side) and reticulated third level veins; however, this species has long been misidentified as B. chingshuiensis , a much rarer species with remotely spinose leaf margin (6–11 spinules on each side). Across East Asia, only two other Chinese species, B. ferdinandi-coburgii Schneider (1913: 364) and B. acuminata Franchet (1886: 387) possess leaves with densely spinose margin comparable to B. schaaliae .

Additional specimen examined: — TAIWAN. Hualien: Chingshuishan, 1400–2200 m, 31 March 1961, Shimizu 11822 (TAI), 2300 m, 12 April 1984, Lu 14494 (TAIF), 2000–2400 m, 25 July 1986, Huang 12838 (TAI), 1500–2000 m, 3 June 1993, Leu 1806 (HAST), 1800 m, 7 December 2000, Chen 581 (HAST), 1910 m, 27 June 2005, Huang 2102 (HAST), 2200 m, 4 April 2011, Yu 673–679 (TAI), 681 (TAI), Chao 1783 (TCF), 2300 m, 30 April 2011, Yu 713 (TAI); Chuilushan, 1650 m, 30 March 2007, He 118 (TAIF); near the summit of Chingshuishan, 2350 m, 5 April 2008, Yu 56 & 57 (TAI); near the entrance of Chingshuishan, 2300 m, 12 August 2009, Yu 103 (TAI); Hoping Logging Trail, 1600 m, 24 May 1993, Huang 5131 (TAIF); Near Jhugushan, 2200 m, January 2011, Yu 695–697 (TAI); Pilu, 2300 m, 9 August 2000, Chen 10817 (TAIF); Sanchiaochuishan, 1800 m, 14 January 1990, Lu 24956 (TAIF); Sheauchingshoei, 900 m, 17 May 1986, Lu 19302 (HAST); on the way to Tashan, 2450 m, 19 April 2005, Yang 996 (TNM); Tatuanuaishan (The Great Cliff), 1700 m, 16 March 2008, Yu 21–22 (TAI) & 27–28 (TAI), 1600 m, 14 August 2008, Yu 147, 148 (TAI); 1800 m, 18 November 2009, Yu 496–502 (TAI); Yangtoushan, 2600 m, 21 March 2009, Yu 613 (TAI); Yanhai Logging Trail, 1450 m, 14 August 2002, Huang 1180 (HAST).

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 9. Berberis chingshuiensis T. Shimizu. A. Flowering branches. B. Branches with mature fruits. C. Fruiting branch, showing the complex-veined leaves and a fascicle of immature fruits. D. A portion of holotype, showing branches with adaxial surface of leaves. E. A portion of holotype, showing braches with abaxial surface of leaves. F. Leaf specimen of B. chingshuiensis, showing the sparsely toothed leaves. G. Leaf specimen of B. schaaliae C.C.Yu & K.F. Chung, showing the densely toothed leaves.A–C: Tatuanyaishan (the Great Cliff).

FIGURE 16. Berberis schaaliae C.C. Yu & K.F. Chung. A. Fruiting branch. B, C. Flower. D. The secondary-whorled sepal. E. Inner sepals. F. Petal with a pair of ovoid nectaries at base. G. Stamen. H. Pistil. I. Dissected pistil showing 3 ovules. Drawn by Han-Yau Huang.

FIGURE 17. Berberis schaaliae C.C. Yu & K.F. Chung. A. Flowering branch. B. Habitat and habit. C. Leaf, adaxial view showing the complex vein. D. Palm-like spine. E. Fruits. F. Flower, front view. G. Flowers, exterior view, showing the sepals. A–G: Tatuanyaishan (The Great Cliff).