Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants, Ukr. Bot. Zhurn. 59(4): 382 (2002)

Sukhorukov, Alexander P., Liu, Pei-Liang & Kushunina, Maria, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet, PhytoKeys 116, pp. 1-141 : 50-53

1. Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants, Ukr. Bot. Zhurn. 59(4): 382 (2002) Fig. 19

≡ Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Sp. Pl.: 219 (1753). Lectotype (designated by Brenan 1954): Herb. Linn. 313.13 (LINN! image of the lectotype available at http://linnean-online.org/3087/).

≡ Ambrina ambrosioides (L.) Spach, Hist. Nat. Veg. 5: 297 (1836);

≡ Vulvaria ambrosioides (L.) Bubani, Fl. Pyren. 1: 178 (1897);

≡ Botrys ambrosioides (L.) Nieuwl., Am. Midl. Naturalist 3: 275 (1914);

≡ Neobotrydium ambrosioides (L.) M.L.Zhang & G.L.Chu [Zhu], Pl. Diversity 38(6): 327 (2016).

Taxonomic notes.

In the species circumscription, we follow the opinion of Mosyakin and Clemants (2002) and Iamonico (2011) and maintain separation from D. anthelmintica (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants.

Description.

Annual or short-lived perennial up to 1.5(2.0) m, very aromatic, covered (at least the young parts of the plant) with curved simple hairs, yellow (subsessile) glands and glandular hairs with a prominent stalk. Leaves long-petiolate, 5.0-16.0 × 1.0-4.0 cm, elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, dentate or sinuate; upper leaves often entire. Inflorescence usually highly branched, spike-like, bracteate or aphyllous in the upper part. Flowers sessile. Perianth segments (4)5, green, ca. 1.0 mm long, (nearly) half concrescent, concave near the apex, completely enclosing the fruit (Fig. 20A ). Pericarp thin, hyaline, tightly adjoining the seed coat but separating from it when rubbed, in its upper part covered with glandular hairs (up to 0.12 mm long) with a large terminal cell (Fig. 20B ). Seed dark red or almost black, 0.7 × 0.5-0.6 mm, not keeled. Embryo horizontal, rarely oblique or vertical.

Habitat.

Disturbed places and riversides, gravelly substrates; 0-2300 m a.s.l.

Phenology.

Flowers and fruits year-round. Fruits develop only at elevations up to 2300 m. At higher elevations, the plants, even if occasionally present, do not produce flowers and fruits ( Sukhorukov and Kushunina 2014).

Distribution.

See Fig. 21 .

Specimens examined.

BHUTAN: Torsa river, Phuntsholing, 200 m a.s.l., 1 May 1979, A.J.C. Grierson & D.G. Long 743 (E); Gaylegphug [Gelephu], 300 m a.s.l., 29 May 1979, A.J.C. Grierson & D.G. Long 1432 (E00168232, K); Tashigang, 27°19'N, 91°34'E, 1330 m a.s.l., 18 Jun 1979, A.J.C. Grierson & D.G. Long 2066 (E00168230, K); Wangdue Phodrang, 1450 m a.s.l., 12 Jul 1979, A.J.C. Grierson & D.G. Long 2674 (E00037493); Punakha Distr., Wangdue Phodrang, 1250 m a.s.l., 12 Jul 1991, C. Parker 4962 (E);

CHINA: Xizang (new record for Xizang): Nyingchi Prefecture: Bomi County, Tangmai (Tongmai) vill., 2300 m a.s.l., 14 Aug 1960, anonym 756 (KUN0587049);

INDIA: Jammu & Kashmir: Jammu city, 29 Mar 1966, I.A. Gubanov 88 (MW); nr Jakhbar vill., 5 Aug 1986, P.K. Hajra 82448 (BSD); Doda, 16 Aug 1986, B.D. Naithani 82708 (BSD); Himachal Pradesh: nr Rampur Bushahr, 21 Aug 1963, N.C. Nair 28289 (BSD); Jeoni, 1400 m a.s.l., 26 Aug 1963, N.C. Nair 29924 (BSD); Hatkoti, 14 Jul 1965, N.C. Nair 35764 (BSD); Bilaspur Distr., Ner Chowk, 1000 m a.s.l., 24 Jun 1972, P. Uotila 18175 (H1101254); Rakh, 1175 m a.s.l., 3 Jul 1974, B.M. Wadhwa 49482 (BSD); Hamirpur, 1 Aug 1977, M.V. Vishwanathan 61408 (BSD); Baggi canal area, Mandi, 17 Jun 1984, H.J. Chowdhery et al. 75811 (BSD); Simla Distr., Suni, 2 Jun 1986, P.C. Pani 80906 (BSD); Sirmaur Distr., Sataun, 10 Aug 1986, R.S. Karki 82287 (BSD); Sikkim: [without exact location] 22 Jul 1874, Treuler 383 (K); [without exact location] 4000 ft a.s.l., 11 Jun 1884, anonym s.n. (G); Feb 1909, anonym 525 (M); Uttarakhand (selected specimens): Dehradun, Sep 1930, Krishnan 131 (K); Dehradun, 26 Oct 1956, T.A. Rao 1055 (BSD); Dehradun, 9 Jun 1972, B.D. Naithani 3623 (BR); Kumaon, 7 Sep 1973, anonym 52430 (BSD); Mussoorie, 12 Aug 1978, G. Pongrohi et al. 64940 (BSD); Kumaon, Guptakashi, Sep 1978, G. Panigsahi 65168 (BSD); Tehri Garhwal Distr., Chamiyala, 10 Mar 1979, A.K. Goel 65955 (BSD); Tehri Distr., Jogiana, 640 m a.s.l., 19 Sep 1979, A.K. Goel 64717 (BSD); Tehri Garhwal [Distr.], Athoor [Athhoorwala], 7 Jun 1983, B.S. Aswal 11998 (G452574, K); Uttarkashi Distr., Mori, 17 Sep 1995, S. Singh 89835 (BSD); Dehradun, Guchhupani, 16 Feb 2018, A. Sukhorukov 76 (K, MW);

NEPAL: Far-Western: Seti Zone: Bajhang Distr., 19 Aug 1991, M. Suzuki et al. 9160762 (BM); Midwestern: Karnali Zone: Mugu Distr., 1 km S of Rara Lake, 2900 m a.s.l., 29 Sep 2013, A. Sukhorukov 108 (MW); Western: Dhaulagiri Zone: Myagdi [Distr.], Annapurna conservation area, trekking route Jomosom-Ghorepani, Tatopani vill., Kali Gandaki river, 1200 m a.s.l., 11 May 2010, A. Sukhorukov 120 (W2010-0015369, E00428104); Gandaki Zone: [Syangja Distr.] Andhi Khola, 2500 ft a.s.l., 1 Oct 1954, J. Stainton, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 8700 (BM); [Kaski Distr.] Pokhara, 17 Oct 1973, Schwabe s.n. (B); Gorkha Distr., Gorkha, nr Gorkha Kali temple, 28°00'N, 84°37'E, 1200 m a.s.l., 22 Aug 2008, H. Ikeda et al. 20812007 (E00640133); Lumbini zone: [Palpa Distr.] Tansing [Tansen], 3000 ft a.s.l., 5 Oct 1959, J. Stainton, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 8747 (E, BM, LE); Central: Bagmati Zone: Phulchoki, 8500 ft a.s.l., 8 Sep 1967, Manadhar 7397 (BM); Dhulikel, 30 Oct 2000, C.R. Fraser-Jenkins et al. 4631 (H1723699); [Kathmandu Distr.] Godawari, 1400 m a.s.l., 15 Nov 2005, A. Sukhorukov s.n. (H1735140, MW); Eastern: Koshi Zone: [Dhankuta Distr.] Dhankuta, 26°58'N, 87°20'E, 980 ft a.s.l., 6 Jul 1969, L.H.J. Williams 1155 (BM); Dhankuta Distr., 27°00'N, 87°15'E, 2 Jul 1988, M. Suzuki et al. 8820036 (BM); [Sunsari Distr.] Dharan, 26°50'N, 87°20'E, 1500 ft a.s.l., 3 Sep 1967, L.H.J. Williams & J. Stainton 8341 (BM); Sankhuwasabha Distr., nr Hatiya, Upper Arun valley, 27°44'N, 87°20'E, 1600 m a.s.l., 13 Oct 1991, D.G. Long et al. 769 (E); Bhojpur distr., 1610 m a.s.l., 1 Nov 1995, M. Mikage et al. 9558269 (E00229908).

General distribution.

The Americas (native to South and Central America), Eurasia, Africa and Australia. Frequently found in many parts of Central Himalaya.

Figures

Figure 19. Dysphania ambrosioides: A general view B close-up of the inflorescence branch. Photographs by A. Sukhorukov (Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, February 2018).

Figure 20. SEM micrographs: A perianth of Dysphania ambrosioides B pericarp of Dysphania ambrosioides C perianth of D. himalaica D pericarp of D. himalaica E perianth of D. bhutanica F pericarp of D. bhutanica G perianth of D. kitiae H pericarp of D. kitiae. Magnification: 150 x (A), 250 x (C, E, G), 500 x (B, D, F, H).

Figure 21. Distribution map of Dysphania ambrosioides (circles) and D. himalaica (stars).