Smelowskia sunhangii T. Deng, X.J. Zhang & J.T. Chen, 2021

Zhang, Xin-jian, Chen, Jun-Tong, Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan A., Liu, Qun, Li, Li-Juan, Liu, Peng-Ju, Huang, Xian-Han & Deng, Tao, 2021, Smelowskia sunhangii (Brassicaceae), a new species from China, with a re-evaluation of the S. tibetica complex, PhytoKeys 178, pp. 179-191 : 179

Smelowskia sunhangii T. Deng, X.J. Zhang & J.T. Chen sp. nov. Figs 3 , 4

Type.

China. Qinghai. Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yushu City, Longbao Town , 33°30'13.54"N, 96°24'38.79"E, 4,602 m, 26 July 2019, J.T. Chen, X. Zhang & T.H. Kuang HuangXH025-13 (holotype: KUN1498313!; isotype: KUN1498314!) .

Diagnosis.

Smelowskia sunhangii is easily distinguished from its closest relative S. tibetica by having densely hirsute (vs. glabrous or sparsely pubescent), elliptic to ovate-lanceolate (vs. oblong, suborbicular, or lanceolate) fruits undulate (vs. straight) along margin.

Description.

Herbs 5-15 cm tall, covered with simple trichomes, canescent. Stems procumbent or ascending, densely white hirsute. Basal leaves densely hirsute; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm long, often ciliate basally; leaf blade ovate or narrowly oblong in outline, 1-pinnatifid, 1-4 × 1-2.5 cm; cauline leaves similar to basal, reduced in size upwards. Racemes bracteate throughout, distal bracts subsessile. Sepals oblong, 1-2 × 0.5-0.8 mm, hirsute. Petals obovate, 2-3.2 × 0.9-1.4 mm, claw ca. 1.5 mm long. Fruit elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, densely white hirsute, 5-10 × 3-5 mm, undulate along margin, appressed to rachis. Seeds light to dark brown, oblong, 0.9-1.2 × 0.4-0.6 mm. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct.

Etymology.

Smelowskia sunhangii is named after Prof. Sun Hang (1963-), director of the Kunming Institute of Botany (China) who conducted extensive research on plant taxonomy, biogeography, and evolutionary biology and made outstanding contributions towards understanding the plant diversity of China. Vernacular name: The Chinese name is given as “毛果藏荠” ( máo guǒ zàng jì), referring to the densely hirsute fruit of the new species.

Distribution.

China (Qinghai, Tibet [Xizang], Fig. 1 ).

Paratypes.

China. Tibet: Lhasa, Damxung County, Gangla Mountain, 30°41'6.77"N, 91°6'16.88"E, 4,802 m, 27 July 2018, D.G. Zhang DengT051-14 (KUN). Qinghai: Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yushu City, 32°17'20.62"N, 95°50'15.29"E, 4,848 m, 23 July 2019, P.J. Liu & H.H. Shi deng7262 (KUN); Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Chindu City, 31 July 2019, T. Deng, X.H. Huang, Z.Y. Lv & L.J. Li DengT128-9 (KUN); Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, T. Deng, X.H. Huang, Z.Y. Lv & L.J. Li DengT105-23 (KUN); Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qumarlêb County, 2 September 2013, J.W. Zhang, B. Yang & H.L. Chen Zh641 (KUN).

Figures

Figure 1. Distributions of sampling sites (red triangles) of Smelowskia sunhangii, known localities (blue dots) and sampling sites (red dots) of Smelowskia tibetica in China.

Figure 3. Smelowskia sunhangii T. Deng, X. J. Zhang & J. T. Chen A flower B fruit C leaves and flowers D inflorescence E infructescence F, G plants and habitat.

Figure 4. Photograph of the holotype of Smelowskia sunhangii T. Deng, X. J. Zhang & J. T. Chen (KUN 1498313).