Epimedium jinchengshanense Y.J. Zhang & J.Q. Li, 2014

Zhang, Yanjun, Dang, Haishan, Li, Jianqiang & Wang, Ying, 2014, The Epimedium wushanense (Berberidaceae) species complex, with one new species from Sichuan, China, Phytotaxa 172 (1), pp. 39-45 : 40-41

2. Epimedium jinchengshanense Y.J. Zhang & J.Q. Li , sp. nov.

Species E. ilicifolium affinis, sed ab eo lobis basalibus folioli termianlis rotundatis, lobo basalibus parvo foliolorum lateralium rotundatis, lobo magno acuminata vel acutis; sepalo interno minore, 5-6 mm longo, ca. 2.5 mm lato; petalo subulato, gracili differt.

Type:— CHINA. Sichuan: Nanchong, Jinchengshan , alt. 1120 m, 26 Apr. 1959, Sichuan Econ. Pl. Exped. Nan 2 (holotype, CDBI!; isotypes, KUN!, PE!, SAU!, SM!). Figures 1 , 3 .

Herbs 40-80 cm high. Rhizome short, stout, nodose. Leaves basal and cauline, trifoliolate; leaflets lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 11.5-17.6 × 2.7-4.1 cm, apices long acuminate, margins spiny-serrate, bases shallowly cordate, terminal leaflet with equal rounded lobes, lateral leaflets conspicuously oblique with inner lobes small and rounded, outer lobes larger, deltoid and acuminate or acute, leathery, adaxially glabrous, abaxially glabrous or with sparse erect hairs. Flowering stem with 2 opposite leaves. Inflorescence paniculate, 20-40 cm long, 20-100-flowered, glandular; pedicels 1.5-2 cm. Flowers yellow, 3.5-4 cm in diam. Outer sepals green or grayish purple, caduceus; outer pair ovate, 3-3.5 × ca. 1.5 mm, apices obtuse; inner pair broadly ovate, ca. 4 × 3 mm, apices obtuse. Inner sepals pale yellowgreen, ovate, 5-6 × ca. 2.5 mm, apices acute or obtuse. Petals pale yellow or sometimes purplish at base, horn-shaped and without basal lamina, 1.5-2.5 cm. Stamens exposed, 3.5-4 mm; anthers ca. 3 mm, anthers and pollens pale yellow. Capsules ca. 2 cm.

Etymology: —Named after its type locality, Jinchengshan, Sichuan, China.

Distribution and habitat: — E. jinchengshanense occurs in montane forests and thickets in northeastern Sichuan, at elevations of 600 to 1500 m.

Phenology: — E. jinchengshanense flowers from April to May, and fruits from May to June. IUCN Red List category: —At present, E. jinchengshanense has a relatively widespread distribution in mountain areas in northeastern Sichuan. However, E. jinchengshanense should be designated as Vulnerable (VU) according to IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2013) because of overharvesting for medicinal use.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of E. wushanense, E. jinchengshanense, E. ilicifolium, and E. pseudowushanense.

FIGURE 3. E. jinchengshanense. A. Flowering stem with stem leaves. B. Rhizome. C. Flower. D. Petal. E. Inner sepal. F. Stamen. G. Gynoecium. (from Sichuan Econ. Pl. Exped. Nan 2, CDBI, KUN, SM).