Chloranthus nervosus Collett & Hemsley (1889: 118)

Lu, Yong-Bin, Huang, Zhang-Ping, Qin, Xin-Mei & Zhang, Qiang, 2022, Combination of Chloranthus flavus into C. nervosus based on morphological and molecular evidence, Phytotaxa 564 (2), pp. 230-238 : 234-235

Chloranthus nervosus Collett & Hemsley (1889: 118) .

Type:— BURMA. C.B. Collett s. n. [holotype: K000802671 (digital image!) ; isotype: K000802672 (digital image!), K000802673 (digital image!) ].

= Chloranthus flavus D. T. Liu & G. Chen (2019: 273) . syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Guangxi, Baise City, Tianlin County, Zhemiao Town, Baxiang Village, elev. ca. 472 m, 24.424 o N, 105.779 o E, under forest on hillside (cultivated in Kunming Botanical Garden), in flowering, 29 September 2018, D.T. Liu, 2018LDT001 (holotype KUN!, isotype KUN!).

Note:— None morphologies, including those listed comparatively between C. flavus and C. nervosus in the original publication are not discrete according to our continual and extensive observations ( Fig. 2 ). In the previous study, the authors stated that the root of C. nervosus has no smell but C. flavus has strong smell. We found that the root of both species have smells that are not readily distinguishable and so do the other Chloranthus species. Another stated difference of ovate or rectangular versus ovate-triangular or triangular scale leaves between C. nervosus and C. flavus are factually labile, and we observed ovate-triangular or triangular scale leaves for both as well as for other Chloranthus species. The authors stated differences of shrub versus herb, branching versus not branching stems, more than four versus four whorled leaves, and one-four spikes versus four spikes between C. flavus and C. nervosus , but we found that they are factually homogeneous in these characters and the alleged differences might come from partial observation of few individuals at specific growth stage. According to our continual and extensive observations, we found that both of the newly germinating stems are tender, ordinarily not branched, commonly four leaves whorled or nearly so on top of the stems and usually one spike (but sometimes two lateral spikes grow much overlapped in times with the first central spike) when they begin to flower in March; when at later stage after the first inflorescence turns into infructescence or decay, more spikes germinate, and branches begin to stem out from axillae or nodes, which bear leaves and inflorescences, too. So that, these morphological characters may vary largely even for a same individual at different stages in a growth season. Similar morphological plasticity at different growth stages have also been observed in other Chloranthus species (e.g. Lu et al. 2020). The most striking diagnostic character, the color of stamen connectives from which the species epithet was derived, is also variable and gradually changing with intermediate yellowish or whitish yellow to occasionally even reddish-orange stamen connectives for some plants ( Fig. 3 ). In conclusion, all the stated differential morphological characters are more or less continuously variable between C. flavus and C. nervosus , suggesting they are the same morphologically plastic species.

Description of Chloranthus nervosus

Herbs perennial, 25–55 cm high, glabrous. Rhizomes thick, short, with many fibrous roots. Stems erect, one or several in a fascicle, sometimes branching at late growth stage, 2–5 nodes, each with a pair opposite scale-like leaves, Ovate to triangular. Leaves opposite, usually 4 (nearly) whorled at the apex of stem or branches; petiole 0.5–2.0 cm; leaf blade broadly elliptic or ovate, papery, glabrous, base broadly cuneate, margin dentate, crenate or serrate, apex acuminate, 7–19 cm long, 4–13 cm wide. Spikes terminal and axillary, unbranched, 6–10 cm with peduncle. Flowers white, yellow or whitish yellow to occasionally reddish orange. Androecium 1, tripartite; stamen connectives elongated, (nearly) lanceolate to linear, or rodlike, 6–12 mm, connate at base; central connective with a two-loculed anther; lateral connectives with an one-loculed anther each, anther at base of connective. ovary ovoid. Drupes green, subglobose or obovoid.

Phenology:— Flowering from March to November; fruiting from May to December.

Habitats:— Thickets, forests; 400–2800 m.

Distribution:— China (Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan), Thailand, Vietnam and Burma.

Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. GUANGXI: Baise, Y.Z. Chen 54050 (IBK00015288); Y.Z. Chen 4306 (PE01980257); H.H. Su 67901 (IBK00015289, IBK00015295, IBSC0130997); H.H. Su 67767 (IBSC0130998); C.F. Liang & D.L. Wu 32581 (IBK00015291, IBK00015293, IBSC0130996). B.Y. Huang, Y.Y. Xie & J.J. Yao 451031140410001LY (GXMG0115447); Y.D. Peng, X.Y. Hu & Z.S. Yang 451031140415012LY (GXMG 0115448); Hechi, Tianecaijidui 451222130427020LY (GXMG0160998); Debaoxianpuchadui 451024170404001LY (IBK00409247); B.Y. Huang, X.Y. Hu, J.J. Yao & W. Liu 451028130425117LY (GXMG0144698); Q. Zhang & Y.B. Lu ZQ0425001 (IBK00441921); Z.P. Huang & J.H. Li ZQ0515003 (IBK00441922, IBK00441923). Nanning, X.C. Huang 7187 (GXMG0008411). SICHUAN: G.L. Qu 3116 (IBSC0131002, IBSC0131000); D.H. Du 4210 (IBSC0131001); Sichuanjingjizhiwudiaochadui 5005 (CDBI0010091); Sichuanyaoyuanpuchadui 4533 (CDBI0010092); S.G. Wu 1472 (CDBI0010057); Hu 0067 (SM701400079); Yanbiandui 0245 (SM701400080); Huidongdui 0224 (SM701400081). Zhaojue, Zhibeidui 12737 (CDBI0010088, CDBI0010090); C.J. Xie 40726 (IBSC0131004). Liangshan, Sichuanyaoyuanpuchadui 25754 (NAS00278710). Baoxing, Z.P. Song 38240 (NAS00278711). Leibo, Q.S. Zhao, J.B. Shi & D.G. Fan 120789 (CDBI0010095); Y.M. Fang 117796 (CDBI0010096, CDBI0010097). YUNNAN: Mengla, P.Z. Zhu 8678 (IBSC0130999, HITBC004975); G.D Tao 16768 (HITBC099206); J. Li 19402 (HITBC004964); L.C. Yan C090081 (HITBC0030756). Yuanjiang, G.D Tao 38173 (HITBC004974); G.D Tao 38786 (HITBC004968); G.D Tao 38112 (HITBC004969); Y.H. Li & Z.L. Dao 3610 (KUN1265433). Lanchang, B.X. Wu 6492 (HITBC004967). Jinghong, Y.H. Li 3333 (HITBC004971); J.H. Zhang 18550 (HITBC004966); Jinghongshipuchadui 5328010368 (IMDY0002532). Jinghongshipuchadui 5328010494 (IMDY0002537). Yuxi, T. Zhang, J. Cai, C. Liu & Y.J. Guo 08CS162 (KUN1234088, KUN1234089, KUN1234090, KUN1234091). Jiangdong, S.C. Li 159 (HITBC080860, HITBC080861, HITBC080857, HITBC080858, HITBC080859). Jiangcheng, Jiangchengxianpuchadui 5308260559 (IMDY0002530). GUIZHOU: S.Z. He 19851209 (GZTM0004288). Xingren, Z.S. Zhang & Y.T. Zhang 8759 (NAS00278704, NAS00278709); Guizhoudui 4509 (NAS00278705). Anlong, Z.S. Zhang 4590 (HGAS014483); Z.S. Zhang & Y.T. Zhang 5546 (NAS00278706); Z.S. Zhang & Y.T. Zhang 5547 (NAS00278703). Zitong, Chuangyidui 5586 (SM701400060). Xingyi county, Z.S. Zhang & Y.T. Zhang 6389 (NAS00278707). THAILAND: CHIANG MAI, Maxwell JF 10-10 (Naturalis Biodiversity Center L.2058824). Saim, Garrett HBG 1243 (Naturalis Biodiversity Center L.1538693).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Chloranthus flavus (A–F), Chloranthus nervosus (G–L). A, G Plants in cultivation; B,H Infructescences; C, I Stems; D, J Scale-like leaves; E, K Stamen connectives; F, L Fruits. Photographs taken by Yong-Bin Lu.

FIGURE 3. Inflorescence and floral diversity of Chloranthus nervosus from different places. A Xilin, Guangxi, China; B, E Debao, Guangxi, China; C Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China; D Lingyun, Guangxi, China. Photographs taken by Yong-Bin Lu (A–D) and Ying Qin (E).