Calamagrostis hongii Paszko & Bing Liu, 2020

Liu, Bing & Paszko, Beata, 2020, Calamagrostis hongii (Poaceae, Agrostidinae), a new species from southwestern China, PhytoKeys 166, pp. 41-55 : 41

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.161.53010

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6B66FAE0-254E-5097-9F8A-F3D6A13D330F

treatment provided by

PhytoKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Calamagrostis hongii Paszko & Bing Liu
status

sp. nov.

Calamagrostis hongii Paszko & Bing Liu sp. nov. Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3

Deyeuxia zhongdianensis L. Liou ( Liou 1994: 2235), nom. nud. (Art. 39.1 of the ICN, Turland et al. 2018; no Latin description and/or diagnosis). Cited material: "[CHINA. Yunnan] Zhongdian Co. [now Shangri-La] (K.M. Feng 3326), grassland under forest, riversides, 2700 m".

Diagnosis.

Calamagrostis hongii is similar in habit and spikelet morphology to C. arundinacea and C. effusiflora , but differs in color and hairiness of the upper (adaxial) leaf blade surface. The upper leaf surface of Calamagrostis hongii is characterized by the grey color (vs. green or grey-green in C. arundinacea and C. effusiflora ), the presence of moderately impressed veins forming ribs (vs. leaf surface flat or veins only slightly impressed in C. arundinacea or veins moderately or distinctly impressed, forming ribs in C. effusiflora ), the presence of numerous prickle hairs covering the ribs (vs. lack of prickle hairs on veins or ribs of C. arundinacea and C. effusiflora ) and the absence of hairs (vs.moderately or densely hairy in C. effusiflora and slightly or not hairy in C. arundinacea ). Calamagrostis hongii is characterized by glabrous leaf sheaths, blades and collars.

Type.

China • Yunnan: Shilin Co., Guishan, Haiyi village to Yumeidu village; alt. 2095 m; 24.647N, 103.542E; 18 August 2006; Y.M. Shui et al. 64471 (Holotype PE! [herb. no. 2308966], Isotypes PE! [herb. no. 2058824, 2070270].

Description.

Perennial grass, cespitose, without rhizomes. Culms 55-140 cm tall, erect, unbranched above, 3-4.5 mm in diameter near the base, nodes 3-5, glabrous below the panicle. Leaf sheaths glabrous; collar glabrous; ligules 1.9-10 mm long, acute; blades 5-55 cm long, 4.3-9.5 mm wide, flat, slightly ribbed with glabrous furrows and scabrous ribs, upper (adaxial) surface scabrous owing to the presence of short stiff prickles on ribs, gray or gray-green, lower surface slightly scabrous, green, scabrous along margins. Panicles 13-25 cm long, erect, open, or loosely contracted at maturity; proximal internode 0.6-3.7(-4.5) cm long; rachis with 3-7 branches per node; branches 4-10 cm, slightly scabrous, spikelet-bearing only beyond mid-length. Spikelets 3.8-6.6 mm long, 1-flowered, with one fertile floret with rachilla extension, laterally compressed, disarticulation above the glumes; glumes subequal or equal, glabrous, very weakly scabrid on keel, apex acuminate; lower glumes 3.8-6.6 mm long and 0.9-1.4 mm wide, 1-veined; upper glumes 3.5-5.9 mm long and 1.1-1.6 mm wide, 3-veined, 0.8-1.1 times as long as the lower glume; callus hairs 1.0-2.9 mm long, 0.3-0.6 times as long as the lemmas; lemmas 3.5-4.8 mm long, 5-veined, 0.7-1.0 times as long as the lower glumes, apex 4-toothed; lemmatal awn 5.3-7.8 mm long, arising from near base (0.06-0.15 way up the back) of the lemmas, exserted, slender and easily distinguished from the callus hairs, geniculate, with twisted column; paleas 2.8-4.5 mm long, subequal or equal to the lemma, 0.8-1.0 times as long as the lemmas; rachilla extensions 1.0-2.8 mm long, densely bearded with hairs 2.4-4.2 mm; stamens 3, anthers 1.3-2.6 mm long. Fl. Jul-Aug. Fr. Aug-Sep.

Taxonomic note.

Although Calamagrostis and Deyeuxia were revised for China only fourteen years ago in the "Flora of China" ( Lu and Phillips 2006, Lu et al. 2006) it is necessary to present a new taxonomic account of these species because of the changes in generic circumscription and the description of new species. Calamagrostis hongii is the third new species of Calamagrostis reported from China since the publication of the "Flora of China". This new species is probably a member of the C. arundinacea complex and it is similar to C. arundinacea and C. effusiflora in habit and spikelet traits, including size of glumes, lemmas and paleas, presence of well-developed rachilla prolongation and a geniculate lemma awn with a twisted basal column, lemma awn length and its insertion on the lemma back (near the base to the lower 1/3). However, they differ in several diagnostic characteristics. Prior to this study, most of the specimens currently identified as C. hongii had been identified as Deyeuxia pyramidalis [= Calamagrostis arundinacea ]. The detailed revision of this group of species by the present authors showed that the upper surfaces of the leaves of C. hongii are unique. They are gray in color and moderately or densely scabrous and characterized by the presence of moderately impressed veins forming ribs that are slightly or densely covered by numerous prickle hairs (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). Such prickle hairs are absent from the upper surfaces of the leaf blades of C. arundinacea and C. effusiflora . The upper surface of the leaf blade of C. arundinacea has veins that are only slightly impressed and the leaf blade surface is almost flat and hairless or covered by scattered macro hairs (Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ), whereas C. effusiflora has veins slightly to distinctly impressed, forming ribs that are usually moderately to very densely hairy (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ). All three species have prickly leaf edges. The prickle hairs have thick walls that can be silicified. For additional diagnostic characteristics see Table 1 View Table 1 .

The designation Deyeuxia zhongdianensis L. Liou ( Liou 1994: 2235) was described without Latin description or diagnosis. From January 1, 1935, to December 31, 2011, one or both had to be in Latin, thus Deyeuxia zhongdianensis is nomenclaturally invalid and therefore unavailable under the Article 39.1 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018). Liou (1994: 2235) cited Feng’s collection no. 3326 from Zhongdian County (now Shangri-La) in Yunnan Province, but the herbarium was not specified by the author. In PE we located three herbarium sheets (PE01854125, PE02108399, PE02108400) collected at Mt. Wuzhujun at Shangri-La City (former Zhongdian Co.) in Yunnan Province. We identified Feng’s collection as C. hongii . Lu et al. (2006) incorrectly synonymized Calamagrostis zhongdianensis with Deyeuxia pyramidalis (= C. arundinacea ).

Vernacular name.

洪氏野青茅 (Chinese), Hong’s Bent-grass (English).

Etymology.

The specific epithet honors Professor De-Yuan Hong, the Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, CAS, Beijing, China) for his outstanding achievements in systematics, morphology, cytology, ecology and molecular evolution. The second author thanks Professor De-Yuan Hong for his continuous support during her multiple research visits to the Chinese herbaria as part of an exchange program between the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in order to study the herbarium collections of Calamagrostis and Deyeuxia for the "Flora of Pan-Himalaya".

General distribution.

China (S Chongqing, W Guizhou, Sichuan, SE Xizang, Yunnan).

Distribution and habitat.

Calamagrostis hongii is endemic to south-western China. It is centered on the northern part of Yunnan and southern part of Sichuan and adjacent regions in south-western and central China, such as southern Chongqing, western Guizhou, central Sichuan and south-eastern Xizang. Its distribution covers the Southern Hengduan Mts and western and northern part of Yungui Plateau. A dot map provided here (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ) shows it to be common (or at least commonly collected) in northwestern Yunnan, with three dots along the Chinese border with Kachin State of Myanmar, where it may also occur. Calamagrostis hongii is restricted to the Sino-Himalayan subkingdom, primarily the Yunnan Plateau and Hengduan Mountains ( Peng and Wu 2013, Tang 2015). The species occurs in the montane belt from circa 1800 m to 3350 m a.s.l., in grasslands, among bushes, forest edges and in mixed Pinus yunnanensis forests.

Phenology.

Calamagrostis hongii flowers from July to August and is in fruit from August to November.

Additional specimens examined.

China - Chongqing • Nanchuan Distr.; [29.168N, 107.105E]; 31 Oct. 1960; Nanshuibeidiao Exped. Team 4852 leg.; KUN (KUN0079536). - Guizhou • [Panzhou City (Panxian Co., Pan Co.)]; Mt. Bada; mountain top, bushy and sunny place; alt. 2620 m; [25.975N, 104.839E]; 22 Aug. 1959; Anshun Exped. Team 1119 leg.; KUN (KUN0081068), PE. - Sichuan • Dechang Co.; [27.405N, 102.173E]; 1 Sept. 1959; S.F. Zhu 20177 leg.; PE (PE01726895); • Kangding City, Guzan; alt. 2200 m; [30.12N, 102.177E]; 6 Aug. 1961; Nanshuibeidiao Exped. Team 9903 leg.; PE (PE01726896) • Kangding City, [Xinduqiao Township], (Thibet Orient.) Tongolo [东俄洛, Dong’eluo] ( Principauté de Kiala); [30.079N, 101.48E]; Jun.-Jul. 1892; R.P. Soulié s.n. leg.; P (P02650457, P02650453), PE (PE00449806) • Meigu Co.; mixed forest; alt. 2220 m; [28.325N, 103.127E]; 3 Aug. 1959; Z.T. Guan 7448 leg.; PE (PE00449784) • Muli Co., Zhongmi; alt. 2700 m; [27.925N, 101.263E]; 18 Jul. 1978; K.H. Mou, Y.B. Yang 7390 leg.; CDBI (CDBI0154069) • Muli Co., alt. 2800-3350 m, [27.934N, 101.28E], 15 Sept. 1959, S.K. Wu 3261 leg.; KUN (KUN0081354), PE (PE00449779) • Puge Co., Tuomugou; forest, slope; alt. 1800 m; [27.381N, 102.54E]; 28 Aug. 1959; s.c. 5589 leg.; KUN (KUN0079385), PE (PE00449783) • Puge Co., Li’an; sunny slope; [27.312N, 102.508E]; 18 Aug. 1959; s.c. 5427 leg.; KUN (KUN0079386), PE (PE01726900) • Puge Co., Qiaowo Farm; alt. 1600 m; [27.489N, 102.483E]; 7 Aug. 1976; s.c. 14197 leg.; CDBI (CDBI0154083); PE (PE01727010) • Yuexi Co., Bao’an; alt. 2000 m; [28.79N, 102.561E]; 12 Jul. 1959; s.c. 3863 leg.; CDBI (CDBI0154071), PE (PE01726894) • unknown locality; alt. 2700 m; 30 Oct. 1965; Xizang Exped. Team s.n. leg.; PE (PE01727001). - Xizang: • Zayü Co. [formerly known as Tsarung], Tsawarung, Nar-jou; Pinus yunnanensis forest; alt. 3300 m; [28.675N, 97.476E]; Sept. 1935; C.W. Wang 66441 leg.; KUN (KUN0081350) • Zayü Co., Xiachayu; alt. 2400-2600 m; [28.499N, 97.02E]; 30 Aug. 1983; B.S. Li et al. 7165 leg.; PE (PE01726905) • Zayü Co., Zhuwagen; alt. 2500 m; [28.64N, 97.425E]; 8 Aug. 1973; s.c. 652 leg.; PE • Zayü Co., Shangchayu; alt. 2000 m; [28.718N, 96.777E]; 20 Aug. 1979; T.P. Yi 79153 leg.; KUN • Zayü Co., Shangchayu; alt. 2200 m; [28.718N, 96.777E]; 24 Jul. 1980; Z.C. Ni et al. 0724 leg.; PE (PE00449813, PE00449814) • Zayü Co.; Hougou; alt. 2300-2600 m; 26 Aug. 1983; B.S. Li et al. 6827 leg.; PE (PE01727016)). - Yunnan: • Anning City, Mt. Bijia, bushes, limestone, alt. 2200 m, [24.993N, 102.459E]; 2 Sept. 1977; B.Y. Qiu 77844 leg.; CDBI (CDBI0154080), KUN (KUN0097423) • Anning City, Wenquan Town; pine forest; alt. 1880 m; [24.962N, 102.45E]; 14 Aug. 2006; E.D. Liu 1807 leg.; KUN (KUN0397297) • Anning City, Anfengying; [24.966N, 102.289E]; 22 Jul. 2007; Y.C. Liu, J. Xu 119 leg.; KUN (KUN1221260) • Dali City, Ta-li Hsien; pine forest; alt. 2400 m; [25.589N, 100.226E]; 28 Jul. 1933; H.T. Tsai 53898 leg.; KUN (KUN0081049), PE(PE00449810) • Dali City, Mt. Cangshan; grassland; [25.589N, 100.226E]; 3 Aug. 1963; Zhongdian Exped. Team 63-3845 leg.; KUN (KUN0081048) • Dali City, Mt. Cangshan; alt. 3000 m; [25.589N, 100.226E]; 1 Oct. 2002; H.Y. Ma 153 leg.; KUN (KUN0081035) • Dali City, Mt. Cangshan; [25.467N, 100.56E]; 20 Jul. 1906; F. Ducloux 4223 leg.; PE • Dali City, Mt. Cangshan, Zhonghe Temple; [25.68N, 100.132E]; 30 Nov. 1948; T.N. Liou 17405 leg.; PE (PE00449804) • Dali City; without precise locality; Sept. 1941; H.C. Wang 1386 leg.; PE (PE00449803) • Dongchuan Distr., Kunming, Fazhecun, Damufang; [26.023N, 103.021E]; 16 Aug. 1964; Diandongbei Exped. Team 811 leg.; KUN (KUN0081296) • Eryuan Co.; alt. 2600 m; [26.113N, 99.949E]; 31 Sept. 1963; W Yunnan-Jinsha River Exped. Team 63-6292 leg.; KUN • Eryuan Co., without precise locality; alt. 2600 m; [26.113N, 99.949E]; W Yunnan-Jinsha River Exp. Team 63-6292 leg.; KUN (KUN0081353), PE (PE01726887, PE01726893) • Fugong Co., Famufang, forest; alt. 2700 m; [26.901N, 98.88E]; 23 Jun. 1978; Bijiang Exped. Team 715 leg.; KUN (KUN0097433) • Gongshan Co., Suroula; alt. 3000 m; [27.748N, 98.662E]; Sept. 1935; C.W. Wang 66586 leg.; PE (PE00449807) • Guandu Distr., Kunming, Shuanglong; grassland; alt. 1900 m; [25.119N, 102.862E]; 1 Sept. 1977; B.Y. Qiu 77700 leg.; CDBI (CDBI0154079), KUN (KUN0079418, KUN0079425) • Heqing Co., Huangping, Junle, Shangdapingzi; alt. 2500 m; [26.559N, 100.179E]; 16 Aug. 1963; Jinshajiang Exped. Team 6555 leg.; KUN (KUN0081171), PE (PE01726857, PE01726891) • Heqing Co., Les paturages au col de Koua-la-po, pres Hokin; alt. 3000 m; 1883-1885; M. Delavay 2465 leg.; P (P02650445), PE (PE01938085, PE01663486), W (1916-38022) • Huize Co., Liangwang Shan, ca. 15 km E of Dongchuan ca. 120 km NNE of Kunming, on new rd. to Zhoatong via Zhehai; shallow grassy valley in low, red clay hills, with limestone substrate surrounded by 2nd growth Pinus yunnanensis , Alnus nepalensis , Quercus variabilis and Q. glaucoides forest, Capillipedium abundant; alt. 2280 m; 26.167N, 103.25E; 14 Sept. 1997; R.J. Soreng et al. 5309 leg.; KUN (KUN0079581), PE (PE00487541), US (US00895217) • Huize Co., Liangwang Shan, ca. 20 km E of Dongchuan, ca. 110 km NNE of Kunming, on new rd. to Zhoatong via Zhehai; low, erroded, red clay hills, with limestone substrat, scrubby Pinus yunnanensis / Alnus nepalensis forest, shrubs and grasses, around corn and tobacco fields, among trees; 26N, 103.25 E; 14 Sept. 1997; R.J. Soreng et al. 5293 leg.; KUN (KUN0079580), US (US00844386) • Jiangchuan Distr., Yuxi City, Cuifeng, Yongsheng; limestone; [24.355N, 102.533E]; 9 Aug. 1975; B.Y. Qiu 60633 leg.; KUN (KUN0081051) • Lanping Co., Yingpan, Luomuping; alt. 2300 m; [26.464N, 99.149E]; 21 Jun. 1981; PE Mt. Hengduan Exped. Team 683 leg.; PE (PE01663487) • Lushui City, Pianma Town; grassland of forest edge; alt. 2100 m; [26.012N, 98.63E]; 30 Jul. 1978; Bijiang Exped. Team 1542 leg.; KUN (KUN0081066) • Panlong Distr., Kunming, Heilongtan; [25.141N, 102.751E]; 1945; K.M. Feng 10636 leg.; KUN (KUN0081054) • Panlong Distr., Kunming, Heilongtan; shady slope among high herbs; [25.141N, 102.751E]; 26 Jul. 1941; F.T. Wang 2286 leg.; KUN (KUN0081089) • Weishan Co., Huangshucun; alt. 2370 m; 22 May 1965; CAS Integrated Exped. Team for SW China 449 leg.; PE • Weixi Co., Wei-si Hsien, Yeh-Chih [Yezhizhiang]; ravine; alt. 2400 m; [27.699N, 99.044E]; Jul. 1935; C.W. Wang 67940 leg.; KUN (KUN0081351) • Wuhua Distr., Kunming, Xiaoshao; 25.186N, 102.735E; 18 Jul. 2007; H. Peng et al. 68 leg.; KUN (KUN1221262) • Zhongdian Co. [now Shangri-La City], Mt. Wuzhujun; forest; alt. 2700 m; [27.817N, 99.707E]; 12 November 1939; Feng 3326 leg.; PE (PE02108400, PE02108399, PE01854125) • Zhongdian Co. [now Shangri-La City], Xiaozhongdian, East Mt.; alt. 3250 m; [27.55N, 99.835E]; 13 Aug. 1981; s.c. W16 leg.; PE (PE01726860) • Zhongdian Co. [now Shangri-La City]; alt. 2900 m; 9 Jul. 1962; Zhongdian Exped. Team 2106 leg.; PE (PE01726889) • Xishan Distr., Kunming, Hsi-Shan [Xishan], near San-Ching-Ke; grassland; alt. 2100 m; [24.97N, 102.627E]; 11 Aug. 1945; T.N. Liou 14085 leg.; PE (PE00449812) • Xishan Distr., Kunming, Western Hills; [24.974N, 102.628E]; 1941; T.N. Liou 19823 leg.; PE (PE00449802) • Yao’an Co., Daxingshan; alt. 2180 m; [25.514N, 101.242E]; 11 Jul. 1965; CAS Southwest Exped. Team 484 leg.; PE • Yi-liang Co., way to Yangzonghai; alt. 1800 m; [24.911N, 103.142E]; 6 Sept. 1977; B.Y. Qiu 771257 leg.; CDBI (CDBI0154088) • Yulong Co., Yangtze Watershed, Prefectural District of Lijiang, eastern slopes of Lijiang Snow Range; [26.877N, 100.234E]; May-Oct. 1922; J.F. Rock 5911 leg.; PE • same collection data as for preceding; J.F. Rock 5908 leg.; P (P02650461), W • Yulong Co., Lijiang (Likiang), Mt. Yulong-schan; Jun-Sept. 1914-1916; Handel-Mazzetti s.n. leg., Inter Sinense 1914-1918 no. 3790; W • Yongsheng Co., Boluo; edge of Pinus yunnanensis forest; alt. 2600 m; 16 Jul. 1960; Sino-Russia Exped. Team 6205 leg.; PE (PE01726892).

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Liliopsida

Order

Poales

Family

Poaceae

Genus

Calamagrostis