Urtica fissa E.Pritz. ex Diels (1900: 301)

Becker, Karin, Grosse-Veldmann, Bernadette & Weigend, Maximilian, 2017, Weeding the nettles VI: Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the Southeast Asian Urtica fissa-clade (Urticaceae), Phytotaxa 323 (3), pp. 217-236 : 222

1. Urtica fissa E.Pritz. ex Diels (1900: 301) . Fig. 2

Type:—[ CHINA, Chongqing] Nan ch´uan, Lung mo ai, B. v. Rosthorn 866 (holotype WÛdestroyed). Neotype (here designated):— CHINA. Zhejiang: Hangzhou , Longjing Village , SE of Beili Lake, valley from Longjing to Jiuxicun , stream-sides in a valley with tea plantatios and bamboo forest, 40 m, N 30,201 83 E 120,10825; source collection by N. M. Nürk 2012, cultivated in the Botanical Gardens of the University of Bonn , B. Grosse-Veldmann, K. Becker & A. Mustafa 134-C (neotype BONN!, isoneotypes B!, HUH!, K!, MO!).

= Urtica pinfaensis H. Lév. & Blin. in H. Lév. (1912: 371). Type: [ China, Kouy-Tchéou = Guizhou] 9 Oct. 1902, J. Cavalerie 771 (holotype E! (E_00275397)).

Erect, perennial herb 0.7–2.5 m, form perennial root and with pleiokorm of perennating underground stems; stem indumentum of stinging hairs with pluricellular base 2.0–4.0 mm long overall, setae 1.8–3.3 mm and simple trichomes ca. 0.1 mm long; leaf lamina suborbicular, 70–130 × 50–110 mm, palmately lobed margin with 2–6 large lobes on each side, lobes 5–50 mm long; lobe margins with two orders of dentation, 2–15 teeth on each lobe side, teeth 1–15 mm, leaf base subcordate to rounded, leaf apex apiculate; leaf indumentum of stinging hairs with pluricellular base 2.0– 3.5 mm long overall, setae 1.6–3.2 mm, simple trichomes 0.1–0.5 mm long; leaf surface with punctiform cystoliths; petioles 25–70 mm long; 4 stipules forming 2 fused pairs per node, 10–15 mm long, elongated; plant monoecious, usually staminate flowers basal, carpellate flowers apical.; staminate flowers with all tepals ca. 1.0 mm long, pubescent; pistillate flowers with tepals ca. 0.5 mm long, pubescent; infructescence 40–70 mm; mature fruits with longer tepals 1.0– 1.2 mm long, achenes suborbicular in outline, laterally flattened, ca. 1.0 × 1.0 mm.

Distribution and Habitat:— U. fissa is widespread in central to eastern China, and is here reported from the provinces of Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Zhejiang. It is also found in northeast Vietnam, on Taiwan and the Philippines, thus replacing U. himalayensis essentially on the eastern side down to the Philippenes, whereas the latter describes a more south-easterly pattern ranging from Kashmir south to Sumatra. U. fissa is commonly found on roadsides, waste grounds and disturbed sites, in the understory of forests growing in rich and moist soil, near streams, on fields and meadows, and is usually found at low and intermediate elevations.

Phenology:— U. fissa flowers throughout the year.

Conservation status: —Using IUCN criteria ( IUCN 2016), Urtica fissa E.Pritz. ex Diels is considered “Least Concern” (LC).

Representative specimens:— CHINA. Guangxi: Jinxiu , in a valley, sparse woods, wet soil, 1000 m, 24 Sep. 1981, Collector unknown (IBK_00193189!) ; Lingle, Gangle , in hilly woods as understory, in the shade, 22 Jun. 1959, Z. Li 603489 (IBK_00130574!) ; Lingle , riverside, hillside, in the shade, 04 May 1960, C. Liang 32952 (IBK_00130573!) ; Longjin, Gebu, Riverside in a forest with hills and valleys, 800 m, 20. Oct. 1953, Z. Zhang 10229 (IBK_00130571!) ; Roadside , in the shade, 28 Apr. 1956, Collector unknown (IBK_00130575!) ; Yao Shan , 8 Dec. 1936, C. Wang 40582 (HUH!) ; Guizhou: [ Kouy-Tchéou = Guizhou] 9 Oct. 1902, J. Cavalerie 771 (E_00275397!) ; Bieyang, Luho , 333 m, Y. Tsiang 7202 (K_000229280!) ; Daozhen, Huilong Town , back river, in the grass by a stream, 720 m, 16 Oct.1995, L. Zhengyu 16123 (MO_04485995!) ; Jiangkou Xian, Daiyenpeng along the Kaitu River on the SW side of the Fanjing Shan mountain range , Elevation ca. 750–1000 m, on moist slope in farmyard, 11 Sep. 1986, Sino-American Guizhou Botanical Expedition 1135 (HUH!) ; Songtao Xian, vicinity of Lengjiaba in the vicinity of the confluence of the Xiaohe and Dahe rivers, NE side of Fanging Shan mountain range , Elevation 820–1120 m, 5–9 Oct. 1986, Sino-American Guizhou Botanical Expedition 2239 (HUH!) ; Zheng’an, Dalou Mountains, Qingding , in the grass by a stream, 560 m, 20 Aug. 1996, L. Zhengyu 20237 (MO_04485996!) ; Hunan: Baojing, Kapeng , a valley in mountainous regions, 500 m, L. Linhan 9735 (MO_04732502!) ; Dongkon, Fulong Zhou , by the roadside of flatland in the hill, 300 m, 11 Nov. 1963, L. Linhan & H. Guanzhou 016628 (MO_04732142!) ; Ma-Ling-Tung, Sinning Hsien , 600 m, shade, 24 Jun. 1935, C.S. Fan & Y.Y. Li 704 (L_1640100!) ; Hupeh : Feb. 1887, A. Henry 2900 (K_000229279! & P_06854464!) ; Shaanxi: Baocheng (now Nanzheng), Bao’s Shop , by the roadside, 11 Oct. 1952, F. Kunjun s.n. (MO_04486901!) ; Shaanxi: Foping, Lianghe Township , a shady wet place in the field, 500 m, 15 Aug. 1998, L. Weiqing s.n. (MO_ 04563053!) ; Sichuan: Chengtu , 12 Nov. 1938, W.P. Fang 13173 (HUH_00240969!) ; Chengtu , 21 Sep. 1943, C.Y. Wang 7438 (HUH_00240974!) ; Kiating , 1 Oct. 1943, H.H. Chung 3 (HUH_00240970!) ; Kiating , by the roadside, 12 Oct. 1939, H.H. Tai 269 (HUH_00240971!) ; Kiating , outside of the city, by roadside, 23 Nov. 1938, H.C. Chow 8868 (HUH_00240973!) ; Lifan : Mung-twin-ko, 7,500 ft. alt .; abundant in waste place, 14 Aug. 1941, S.Y. Hu 2108 (HUH_ 00278063!); Mt. Omei , by the slope of hill, 14 Oct. 1939, S.C. Sun & K. Chang 1551 (HUH_00240972!) ; Omei-hasien: Mt. Omei , alt. 1700 m, 29 Sep. 1941, W.P. Fang 17820 (HUH_00240967!) ; reg. bor.-occid.: Hsu-Tsing , in rupibus supra Ta-chin-ho, ca. 2100 m, 9 Oct. 1922, H. Smith 4595 (MO_4383339!) ; W. Sichuan, By the roadside, 30 Sep. 1942, L.Y. Tai 1420 (HUH_00240968!) ; Hangzhou, Pearl Temple , in the grass by the roadside, 09 Oct. 1981, P.L. Chiu 2224 (MO_04491527!) ; Mu-gan Shan , 25 Sep. 1998, S.Y. Hu ZJ 43 (MO_5307228! & HUH!) ;— PHILIPPINES. Benguet: Between Mts. Abbocot & Libbung, Kabayan, Luzon , 14 Dec. 1960, D.R. Mendoza (L_1629152!) ; Cordillera: Mt. Polis, Bontoc Sub-Provinve , Luzon , Feb. 1920, M. Ramos & G.E. Edaño 37725 (P_06456161!) ; Mt. Pulog , 2200 m, clearing, mossy forest, 14 Mar. 1961, M.L. Steiner 2096 (L_1629153!) ; Davao: Mindanao , 4 Sep. 1946, G.E. Edaño 1084 (L_1629154!) ; Mindanao , Aug. 1909, A.D.E. Elmer 11583 (K_000229284!, L_1629155!, MO_3535020!) ;— TAIWAN. Musya , 30 Sep. 1929, T. Tanaka 355 (P_06855929!) ; Ilan County, Nanhu Shan Mt., 2500 m, on the way from central highway to Nanhu Peak , near Nanhu River Cabin in a dense Abies forest. Seeds from original collection from T. Henning (Apr. 2005), cultivated in Berlin, 02 Oct. 2006, M. Weigend 8129 (B!) ; Kaohsiung Hsien: Taoyuan Hsiang. Paoshan Village, Chuyunshan Forest Trail : en route from Shelter to the Yunshan Bridge. 23°02’ N, 120° 46’ E, Elev. Ca. 740 m, On shady and wet forest trail with abundant herbs, 30 Dec. 1992, H.L. Ho 951 (MO_4327087! & HUH!) ; Natou , 2295 m, Nov. 1997, J. Chen 91453 (PE_00509587!) ;— VIETNAM. Northeast: Tonkin , 20 Dec. 1887, B. Balansa 2527 (K_000229278!, P_06855808!, P_06855802!) ;— Unidentified localities. 24 Oct. 1985, Q.S. Wang 2924 (MO_04512800!) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Urtica fissa (A, C–G: B. Grosse-Veldmann, K. Becker & A. Mustafa 134-C): A. Habit, B. Typical deeply incised palmately lobed leaf (Smith, 4595), C. Typical weakly incised palmately lobed leaf, D. Node with fused stipules, E. Female inflorescence, F. Male inflorescence, G. Infructescence. Scale bar:A = 5 cm; B–G = 1 cm.