Berberis ravenii 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 : 88

9. Berberis ravenii C.C.Yu & K.F.Chung , sp. nov. ( Figs. 14 , 15 ).

Type:— TAIWAN. Kaohsiung: Maolin, Shuangguie Lake Major Wild Life Habitat, Lake Upunuhu (Wan-shan-shen Lake), 22°54’53”N, 120°49’41”E, 2150 m, 7 February 2009, Chih-Chieh Yu 267 (holotype TAI-284282!) .

Diagnosis: Berberis ravenii differs from all Taiwanese species of sect. Wallichianae in having purplish or red mature shoots of the first year, and lanceolate to narrowly-lanceolate leaves. It is similar to B. mingetsensis , differing from the latter by its sparsely spinose margin of leaves with 17–28 spinules, and between each is 2–3 mm apart (v.s. leaf margins remotely spinose, with 6–16 spinules of 3–9 mm apart).

Small evergreen shrub, more or less decumbent, 0.5–1 m tall. Mature stems purplish red, terete, not verruculose. Spines 3-fid, concolorous, 0.8–2.3 cm. Leaves subsessile; leaf blade elliptic to lanceolate, abaxially green or dark green not pruinose, adaxially green or dark-greenish; 5.5–9.5 × 1.2–2.0 cm, slightly leathery; midvein abaxially raised and adaxially impressed, lateral veins slightly raised, the secondary veins pinnate, jointly looped and muliti-festooned, the tertiary veins reticulate; base cuneate, margins sometimes slightly revolute and remotely spinose with spinules of 16–28 with 2–3 mm apart on each side, apex acuminate or mucronate. Inflorescence a fascicle, 4–7-flowered. Bracts absent. Pedicel pale green, 1.3–1.5 cm. Bracteoles absent or 2, pale yellow or greenish-yellow triangular 1 × 1 mm. Flowers pale yellow, greenish-yellow. Sepals in 3 whorls, outer sepals yellow or reddish tinge or pale green ovate 2.5 × 2 mm, middle sepals yellow ovate 4 × 2.5 mm, inner sepals yellow obovate 5 × 4.5 mm. Petals obovate, 4.5 × 3 mm, base clawed with a pair of ovoid nectaries close to each other, apex incised. Stamens pale yellow ca. 3 mm, anther connective of stamen distinct, apex truncate. Pistil 4 mm long. Ovules 2 or 3. Berries black, ellipsoid ca. 7 × 4 mm, not pruinose, estylose.

Phenology: — Flowering April; Fruiting February.

Distribution & habitat: — Berberis ravenii occurs in the coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests of Shuanggui Lake Major Wildlife Habitat of southern Central Mountain Range at 1400 to 2300 m ( Fig. 6A & 6D ).

Etymology:—The specific epithet commemorates Dr. Peter H. Raven, mentor of the senior author, for his enduring support, guidance, and encouragement, and for his tremendous contribution to botanical research and the conservation of global biodiversity.

Chinese name: ⁂武小ª

Proposed IUCN conservation status: —Data Deficient (DD). Berberis ravenii is currently known only from the mid-elevation cloud forests in Shuanggui Lake Major Wildlife Habitat and its precise distributional range remains to be explored ( IUCN 2012).

Additional specimen examined:— TAIWAN. Kaohsiung: Chunyunshan, 700 m, 7 March 1996, Liou 5 (TAIF); mountains near Lake Dalubaling, 2150 m, 8 February 2009, Yu 265, 277, 279 (TAI); Peak 2080 near Lake Upunuhu, 2080 m, 6 February 2009, Yu 271 (TAI); Shihsueitoushan Front Peak, 2200 m, 7 February 2009, Yu 282 (TAI); Lake Upunuhu, 2150 m, 7 February 2009, Yu 287, 293 (TAI); Damumushan, 2400 m, 21 May 2009, Yu 322, 323 (TAI). Pingtong: Chutunshan Japanese Subpolice Office, 12 August 1937, Ito 516 (TAI); Kuaiku, 23 January 1988, Kuoh 13554 (TNM); en route to Tawushan, 2100-3090 m, 16-17 July 1988, Huang et al. 13678 (TAI); Linpalapalashan, 2300 m, Apr. 2008, Yu 127, 130, 132, 134, 327 (TAI); Wantoulanshan, 1900 m, 6 February 2009, Yu 289 (TAI); Paiwanese historical trail (south line), 1400 m, 27 December 2009, Yu 269, 270, 272, 276, 362 (TAI); Southern flank Wutoushan, 2000 m, 28 December 2009, Yu 380 (TAI); trail to North peak of Tawushan, 2305 m, 29 December 2009, Yu 278, 294, 299 (TAI); near South peak of Tawushan, 2200 m, 2 May 2009, Yu 329 (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 14. Berberis ravenii C.C. Yu & K.F. Chung. A. Flowering branches. B. Flower, front view. C. Flower, exterior view, showing the sepals. D. Secondary-whorled sepal. E. Inner sepal. F. Petal with a pair of ovoid nectaries at base. G. Stamens. H. Dissected pistil showing 4 ovules. I. Fruit. Drawn by Han-Yau Huang.

FIGURE 15. Berberis ravenii C.C. Yu & K.F. Chung. A. Habitat and habit. B. Habit. C. Leafing branch. D. Color of shoot on a new branch. E. Fruits. F. Flower, front view. G. Flowers, exterior view.A, B: Wantoulanshan; C–G: Linpalapalashan; E: courtesy of Chi-Kai Yang.