Solenanthus strictissimus Brand (1915: 546)

Sutorý, Karel, 2017, Solenanthus strictissimus (Boraginaceae) - an overlooked mountain species from Central Asia, Phytotaxa 312 (2), pp. 293-297 : 294-296

Solenanthus strictissimus Brand (1915: 546) . Figs. 1 .

Type: —“Nördlich vom Hindukusch ( Giles, Herb. Griffith no. 5980)” (lectotype E 284800!–herb. G. Watt, selected here, isolectotypes K 22285!–herb. Hookerianum, K 22283!–herb. Hookerianum, possible isolectotype K 22284!–herb. Lehmann).

Perennial, erect, up to 50 cm tall, root massive, thick, up to 40 cm long. Stem often single, sometimes several, densely and slightly spreading pubescent, hairs– 0.5 mm long, slightly basal oriented. Basal leaves narrowly-oblong, with acute apex, attenuate into petiolate, up to 30 × 2.5 cm, leaves of non-flowering rosette (e.g. Rechinger 36353) 20 × 2.5 cm, cauline leaves sessile, often shortly decurrent, decurrent part up to 1.5 mm long, lower and upper leaves with the same type and density of indumentum, gradually passing into bracts, veins slightly emerged. Bracts ending below inflorescence or in its lower portion, covered by dense, stout appressed rigid trichomes. Inflorescence terminal, with up to 18 thin branches. Pedicels 2–3 mm long. Calyx 3.0– 4 mm long, lobes oblong, densely pilose, slightly pubescent also inside; corolla cylindrical, 4.5–6 mm long, corolla lobes tapering into a point up to 1.5 mm long, dark when dry, original violet color almost indistinguishable; scales in the middle of the corolla tube; stamens exserted for about 2 (–3) mm (about half the corolla length), anthers oblong, 1 mm long; style exceeding calyx, ca 7 mm long. Nutlets 5.5 × 4.5 mm, ovate, glochids on nutlets about 1.2 mm long, areola densely covered with small, hooked protuberances, hooks sometimes also at the ends of larger protuberances. Glochids and surface of areola conspicuously covered with small papillae.

Discussion:—The locality given in the protologue ( Brand 1915) is very short and lacks details: “Nördlich vom Hindukusch ( Giles, Herb. Griffith no. 5980)”. Riedl (1967) cited it as “Hindukush septentrionalis, Giles in herb. Griff. 5980”. The specimens of this collection are deposited in E and K (see above). The specimen from the herbarium Lehmann (K 22284) lacks the assigned collection number (5980), so its identity as type is unsure. All this material bears no sign of Brand’s study, so he probably based his name on another currently not known specimen. Riedlʼs (1967) and Podlech & Andersʼs (1977) designation of locality with “typus” can be considered as a recognition of syntypes. Neither of them selected a particular specimen and that is why their act cannot be accepted as lectotypification. I select here as lectotype the already with a type label provided specimen at Edinburgh (E 284800 http://data.rbge.org.uk/herb/ E00284800). All other above-mentioned vouchers from Kew should be considered as isolectotypes.

The similar S. stamineus has broader leaves, longer corollas 4–5 (–6) mm, which are dark violet when dry, stamens longer, exserted for ca. 5 mm, (about the length of the corolla), nutlets larger (10 × 9 mm), almost oval, glochids longer, about 2 mm long, areola glabrous and shiny, papillae on glochids less conspicuous ( Fig. 1 ).

Another narrow-leaved species of this genus occurring in Central Asia is S. kokanicus Regel (1882: 89) , a renaming of S. olgae Regel (1882: 60) . Its similarity with other species was expressed by Brand (1915: 547) in a rather confusing way: “Die Art scheint dem S. kokanicus Lipsky [sic!] nahe zu stehen, den ich allerdings nur aus der Beschreibung kenne. Letzterer ist danach durch die viel grösseren Grundblätter verschieden” [The species seems to be close to S. kokanikus Lipsky , … the latter is different by its much larger basal leaves]. The author’s name “Lipsky” could be a mistake, but it is neither excluded that instead of “ kokanicus ” he meant “ karateginus Lipsky” ( Lipsky 1904: 196). Its leaves are indeed larger. The similarity of S. strictissimus and S. kokanicus was also mentioned by Popov (1953). Their habits, particularly of young plants, are very similar, but the shape and size of the nutlets are strikingly different. S. kokanicus has smaller nutlets, only (4–) 3.5× 2.5 mm wide, possessing conspicuous areola covered with sparse, apparently longer glochids on the abaxial side ( Fig. 1 ).

Distribution:—The distribution of S. strictissimus is bound to the mountains belt running from West Pakistan and east Tajikistan, through north, east and central Afghanistan into east Iran. ( Fig. 2 ). It is distributed at higher elevations than S. kokanikus and S. stamineus . It was collected between 2300 and 4100 m a.s.l. The similar S. kokanicus is mentioned by Popov (1953) and Tchukavina (1984) as occurring in different regions (Pamiro-Alaj mountains in Tajikistan and from Turkmenistan) and from lower elevations, 2000–2500 (–3200) m a.s.l. The lowermost localities of S. stamineus are mentioned to be even lower, 1800 m a.s.l. for the “Flora Iranica” region ( Riedl 1967) and 980 m a.s.l. for Turkey ( Mill 1978).

Specimens examined:— PAKISTAN. Chitral: A-7 Serer [Servir], 10 800 ft. [= 3300 m], 4 June 1958, B. Lyon

791 (BM); Agram, Arkari Gol. 11 000 ft [= 3350 m], 10 June 1958, J.D. A. Stainton 2627 ( BM). Kazmi (1971) and

Stewart (1972) mention for Pakistan besides the two above-mentioned also localities of S. stamineus ( S. strictissimus is in synonymy) also the locality of “Kaghan Vy. Kamalban Forests (Kazmi); Narang (Champion)”. These localities lie in the lowlands, thus it is not likely that they relate to S. strictissimus . Later Nasir (1989) mention for the Flora of Pakistan only the material from Chitral under the name S. stamineus . TAJIKISTAN. Badakhshan: Dol[ina] Tokuz-Bulak prav[yj] bereg, ponad dolina v 3 km vyshe Disilandy [Dzilanda, Dzihilanda], Ploskaja zapadanka, 3750 m, 7 May 1957, S. Ikonnikov 3187 (LE); Dol[ina] r[eki] Tokuz-Bulak prav[iy] bereg, ponad dolina v 3 km vysche k Mordj [Morj], 4000 m, 7 May 1957, S. Ikonnikov 3199 (LE); Iter Schugnanicum, Dolina reki Tokuzbulaka nizhe Dzhilamdy. [Dzilanda, Dzihilanda], 21 May 1914, N.N. Tuturin, P.I. Besedin (LE); Iter Schugnanicum, Ushtschelye reki Bidzhun [Bidzhun-Dara, Pyandj River], 31 May 1914, N.N. Tuturin, P.I. Bessedin, (LE); Badakhshan, r[eka] Bartang, k. Bartang, dol. Chodorzchno, sklon s Cousinia , 3500 m, 30 July 1964, N.P. Litwinova 16254 (LE); Badakhshan, r[eka] Bartang, k. Bartang, dol[ina] Chodorschno, sklon s Cousinia rubiginosa (?), 3600 m, 28 July 1964, S.S. Ikonnikov 16552 (LE); Badakhshan, r[eka] Bartang, k. Bartang, k. Padrug, 4100 m, 1 August 1964, S.S. Ikonnikov 16552 (LE). Pamir: Oz[ero] Jashil-Kul u nachala Gunta, 12–24 June 1913, D.D. Bukinitsch (LE); Zapadn[yj] Pamir, Schugnan, Zapad[nye] sklony, urochischche Kok-Tchischmi, vysche Chorogskogo bot[anicheskogo] sada, 3500 m, 9 June 1948, Ju. Kri… 58 (LE); NW Pamir, basseyn r[eki] Jazgulem, Uschtschelye r[eki] Matraun, 3400 m, 31 June 1950, R. Krinickaja (MW). AFGHANISTAN. The distribution in Afghanistan was already outlined in Breckle et al. (2013). Prov. Badakhshan: Darrah-i-Parshui (Zentraler Hindukush), orographisch linker Ast (Chapkotala), 4100 m; nass, Granit, …. Zwischen 4000–4150 m weit verbreitet, seltener bis 3600 m herab, 16 June 1965, W. Frey 246 (M 79318); NO of Hindukush, Guschustan Dorah Pass, 11 500 ft [3500 m] Gilgit Expedition no. 244, Giles (K 22118); SO of Hindukush, Dorah Pass 9–12 000 ft [2740–3650 m], Gilgit Expedition No. 259, Giles (K22117). Prov. Bamian: mountain c. 20 km W of Panjao, rock ledges, 3000 m, 11 June 1969 I. Hedge, P. Wendelbo 8790 (E, GB); In declivibus borealibus jugi Shahtu, 2800–3000 m, 23–28 June 1967, K.H. Rechinger 36353 (M, W); Panjao: Inter Panjao et jugum Shahtu, 34°30 N et 66°58 E, 2800–3000 m, 23 June 1967, K.H. Rechinger 36283 (W, E); Deh Kundi [Daykundi] Sar e Nil [Koh-e Sar-e Nil], 3000 m, 7 June 1949, L. Edelberg (W); Bamyan, Ghorband Tal, 15 May 1962, E. Reiner 695 (KUFS 015271). Prov. Ghour: E of Laal Sar Jangal [La‘l wa Sar Jangal]. Stony slopes, 2800 m, 6 October 1969 I. Hedge, P. Wendelbo 8731 (E, GB); Sauzak [Sabzak?], 2400 m, 5 May 1949, M. Koie 3979 (K, W). Prov. Herat: Mountain above Chesmeh Obeh [Awbeh?], Kuh e Darunta. Stony slopes, N side of mountain, 2800 m, 5 November 1969, I. Hedge, P. Wendelbo7871, L. Ekberg (E, GB). Prov. Kabul: Sarai Sarkharit between the Unai and Hajigak Passes, dry stony slopes, 2950 m, 25 June 1962, I. Hedge, P. Wendelbo 4580 (E); Istalif, Motte 3538, 22 April 1941 (KUFS). Prov. Parwan: Osthänge des Shibar - Passes, 2800–2900 m, 13 May 1970, D. Podlech 17986 (KUFS, M); Osthänge des Kotale-Shebar [Kotal-e Shibar], 2800–2900 m, 13 May 1970, D. Podlech 17986 (M); Panjshi valley, Darrah Rastagal, above Mukeni, dry slopes, 3800 m, 1962, I. Hedge, P. Wendelbo 5174 (E). Prov. Takhar: Oberes Farkhar-Tal, Nordflanke des obersten Piu-Tales, 4100 m, in S-Exposition oberhalb des Piu Gletschers auf trockenem Boden, August 1963, E. Grötzbach (M). IRAN. Khorasan, Kuh e Bizg [Kuh Bezg], in saxosis, 2300 m, 4–6 July 1937, K.H. Rechinger 1470 (W).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Nutlet of S. kokanicus, Komarov 7.7.1893, (LE). B. Nutlet of S. strictissimus, Ikonnikov 16552, 1.8.1964, (LE). C. Nutlet of S. stamineus, Schmieda 14.6.1974 (M).

FIGURE 2. Distribution of Solenanthus strictissimus.