Prangos akymatodes Rechinger & Riedl

Lyskov, Dmitry & Samigullin, Tahir, 2017, Resurrection of the enigmatic species Prangos akymatodes (Apiaceae) from Central Afghanistan, Phytotaxa 326 (3), pp. 202-210 : 208

Prangos akymatodes Rechinger & Riedl in Køie & Rechinger (1963: 111)

Type :— AFGHANISTAN. Shanbashak Pass, Prov. Darra-i-Suf, 9000 ft., dry rocky slopes, 31.08.1939 (31 Aug. 1939), Koelz 13875 (lectotype: US catalog No.: 3151765, barcode 00289235 [image!], designated here by Lyskov; isolectotype: W! barcode W 1988- 0010066 ) .

Polycarpic, herbaceous plants with thick tap-root ( Fig. 3 ). Stems 60–80 cm tall and 5–6 mm Ø at base, mainly single, thin-grooved, scabrous, alternately branched from middle part, covered with remains of petioles and sheaths. Basal leaves formed rosette, petioles up to 8 cm long, scabrous; leaf blades 18–22 cm long, 10–15 cm wide, 3–4 times pinnate; leaf segments from first to second with petiolules; terminal lobes 3–7 mm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, subulate, acute; stem leaves significantly smaller than basal leaves. Terminal umbels 8–10 cm Ø, with 13–16 rays; rays 4–5 cm long, thickened, glabrous, unequal; umbellets up to 2.5 cm Ø, 10–15 flowers, with 2–4 linear, prickly, entire, bracteoles. Pedicels equal, 0.8–1.2 cm long, terete, glabrous. Mericarps broadly elliptic ( Fig. 1A ), 10–15 × 7–8 mm, homomorphic, dorsally compressed; only primary ribs presented, all ribs straight, suberose, with continuous margin, lateral ribs more wide and well-developed; commissure intermediate; mesocarp divided into an outer “epimesocarp” and inner mesocarp; inner mesocarp divided into five completely separated parts, consisting of parenchymatous cells with thickened and pore walls, “epimesocarp” consisting of parenchymatous, nonlignified cells; endosperm with mushroom-like groove at commissural side.

Distribution:— The species is known only from the locus classicus: Afghanistan, Darah Sof district, Shanbashak Pass.

Figures

FIGURE 1 General view of mericarps, scale bars 5 mm: A. Prangos akymatodes (Afghanistan, Shanbashak Pass, Prov. Darra-i-Suf, 31 Aug. 1939. Koelz 13875 (W 1988-0010066); B. P. pabularia (Kyrgyzstan, NW spur of the Fergana Range, 06 Jul. 1985. Kljuykov 16 (MHA); C. P. tschimganica (Uzbekistan, Tashkent prov., 17 Aug. 1958, Pavlov 19 (MW); D. P. pabularia subsp. gyrocarpa (Kyrgyzstan, The Alay Valley, 25 Aug. 1975. Pimenov et al. 1348 (MW); E. P. uloptera (Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, 05 Jun. 1947. Grossheim et al. s.n. (TBI).

FIGURE 3 Lectotype of Prangos akymatodes (US 00289235). Photo courtesy of United States National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution.