Carex puberuliutriculata Y.F.Lu & X.F.Jin, 2022

Lu, Yi-Fei & Jin, Xiao-Feng, 2022, Notes on Carex (Cyperaceae) from China (VIII): five new species and a new variety from southern and south-western China, PhytoKeys 188, pp. 31-47 : 31

2. Carex puberuliutriculata Y.F.Lu & X.F.Jin sp. nov.

Figure 2A-E

Latin diagnosis.

Affinis C. pseudohumili F.T. Wang & Y.L. Chang ex P.C. Li, a qua utriculis superne puberulis, apice pubescentibus, squamis pistillatis atro-purpureis vel brunneis manifeste longioribus, nucibus obovoideis recedit.

Type.

China. Sichuan: Baoxing, Fengtongzhai Natural Reserve, from Sandaoniupeng to Yuanyanyao , roadside grasses, alt. 3400-3700 m, 9 Jul 2017, X.H. Xiong 1129 (holotype: ZM; isotypes: ZJFC, ZM) .

Rhizomes short, woody. Culms central, caespitose, 6.5-20 cm tall, obtusely trigonous, smooth, base with yellow-brown or dark brown fibrous sheaths. Leaves almost equal to or shorter than culms; blades flat, 0.7-1.5 mm wide, margin slightly revolute, scabrous, apex curved or slightly circinate. Bracts spathe-like, shorter than inflorescence, base with 0.3-1.2 cm long sheaths. Spikes 2-4, upper ones aggregated, sometimes with lowest one exserted from basal culms; terminal spike staminate, oblong or clavate-cylindrical, 1.1-2 cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide, base with 0.8-1.2 cm long peduncles; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or ovoid, 0.6-1 cm long, 3-3.5 mm wide, densely 7-15-flowered, peduncles erect, exserted from sheaths, 0.5-1.9 cm long. Staminate glumes obovate, purple-black or brown, 4-4.5 mm long, apex acute or obtuse, with pale yellow 1-veined pubescent costa excurrent into a mucro. Pistillate glumes ovate, purple-black or brown, 2.3-2.5 mm long, apex acute or obtuse, with yellow-brown 1- or 3-veined pubescent costa excurrent into a 0.5-1 mm long scabrous awn. Utricles pale yellow-brown, obovoid, obtusely trigonous, 3-3.3 mm long, membranous, obliquely patent, puberulent on upper part, laterally 2-veined, inconspicuously thinly veined, base cuneate and shortly curved stipitate, apex abruptly contracted into a ca. 0.3 mm long beak, orifice emarginate or obliquely truncate. Nutlets tightly enveloped, pale yellow, obovoid, trigonous, 2.2-2.3 mm long, base shortly stipitate, apex beakless; style base not thickened; stigmas 3.

Etymology.

The specific epithet ‘puberuliutriculata’ refers to the puberulent utricles of the new species.

Phenology.

Flowering and fruiting is in early July.

Additional specimen examined.

China. Sichuan: Baoxing, Fengtongzhai Natural Reserve, from Sandaoniupeng to Yuanyanyao, in grasses, alt. 3400-3700 m, 9 Jul 2017, X.H. Xiong 1128 (ZJFC, ZM).

Conservation status.

Least Concern (LC). The new species is a common grass in the meadow of Fengtongzhai at an elevation from 3300 to 4000 m. Local animal grazing may have an impact on this species ( IUCN 2019).

Notes.

The new species is somewhat morphologically similar to Carex pseudohumilis in having hairy utricles, inconspicuous beaks and leaves curved or slightly circinate at the apex ( Dai et al. 2000, 2010), but it differs from the latter in having pistillate glumes purple-black or brown, utricles puberulent on upper part and longer than pistillate glumes and nutlets obovoid. Herein, it is placed in sect. Carex Clandestinae , which is part of the poorly resolved Hallerianae-Digitatae clade ( Roalson et al. 2021).

Figures

Figure 2. A-E Carex puberuliutriculata sp. nov. A habit B staminate glume C pistillate glume D utricle E nutlet F-J Carex paratatsiensis sp. nov. F habit G staminate glume H pistillate glume I utricle J nutlet (Drawn by Xiao-Feng Jin; based on holotype: X. H. Xiong 1129 for C. puberuliutriculata in ZM and holotype: X. H. Xiong 999 A for C. paratatsiensis in ZM).