Berberis tarokoensis Lu & Yang (1996: 581)

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 : 92

11. Berberis tarokoensis Lu & Yang (1996: 581) . Type:— TAIWAN. Hualien, Yenhai Logging Trail, Lu 23713 (holotype TAIF-76154!) ( Fig. 12D–F ).

Evergreen shrub ca. 0.5 m tall. Mature stems reddish-brown, subterete, not verruculose. Spines 3-fid, concolorous, 0.3–1.4 cm. Leaves subsessile; leaf blade elliptic, abaxially pale green not pruinose, adaxially dark green; 2.7–4.6 cm × 0.8–1.2 cm, leathery; midvein abaxially raised and adaxially impressed, lateral veins indistinct, the secondary veins usually obscure but if present, pinnate not jointly looped; base cuniform, margins sometimes slightly revolute, entire or remotely spinose with spinules of 1–8 with 4–10 mm apart on each side, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence a fascicle, 2–7-flowered. Bracts absent. Pedicel red to reddish purple, 1.2–1.4 cm. Bracteoles 1–3 if present, yellow or sometimes reddish tinge triangularly-ovate 1.5 × 1.5 mm. Flowers bright yellow. Sepals in 3 whorls, outer sepals yellow usually with reddish-tinged elliptic or ovate 3 × 2.5 mm, middle sepals yellow elliptic 4.5 × 3 mm, inner sepals yellow obovate 5 × 4.5 mm. Petals obovate, 4 × 3 mm, base clawed with a pair of ovoid nectaries close to each other, apex incised or acutely emarginated. Stamens pale yellow ca. 4 mm, anther connective of stamen distinct, apex slightly apiculate. Pistil 5 mm long. Ovules from 6 or 8. Berries dark purple, ellipsoid ca. 7 × 5.5 mm, more or less pruinose, stylose ca. 1–1.3 mm.

Distinguishing features: Berberis tarokoensis is characterized by its obscure leaf venation; though this particular characteristic can also be found in B. nantoensis and in the highly variable B. brevisepala . Nevertheless, B. tarokoensis can also be distinguished by its unusually large number of ovules and its dark purple fruits with a pronounced style ( Fig. 12F ).

Phenology: — Flowering February–April; Fruiting April–June, August.

Distribution & habitat: — Berberis tarokoensis is a low growing shrub rarely more than 50 cm tall and is sparsely distributed in the Syue and Central Mountain Ranges, with most populations being found on bare limestone terrains exposed to constant rainfall on the side of the Taroko Gorge ( Fig. 6E ), from 1200 to 2200 m, with one exceptionally low collection from 500 to 800 m (Lu 22029) and a disjunct population from northern Taiwan (Yang 2843).

Chinese name: *ḛø小ª

Proposed IUCN conservation status: —Endangered [EN B1ab(iv)]. Most individuals of Berberis tarokoensis are found in eastern limestone area of Taiwan, restricted to a few peaks in Taroko Gorge where it occurs as scattered individuals. The narrow distribution and dependence on limestone means that a provisional IUCN category of EN is appropriate, despite the area being protected by the national park ( IUCN 2012).

Additional specimens examined: — TAIWAN. Hsinchu: Chenghsipao , 2200 m, 20 April 2003, Yang 2843 (TNM) . Nantou: Shalihsien Stream , 2500–2600 m, 13 August 2011, Lu 22642 (TAIF) . Chiayi: Nansi Forest Logging Trail , 2000 m, 14 March 1986, Kuoh 13022 (TNM) . Hualien: Yenhai Forest Road, 1100 m, April 1991, Yang 5469 (TNM); the terminus of cable way of the Yenhai Forest Road, 1200 m, March 2009, Huang 3717 (HAST); Chuilushan, 1800 m, 15 March 2010, Yu 489 (TAI); Chuilu Historical Trail, 500–800 m, 22 May 2011, Lu 22029 (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 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.