Heteropolygonatum anomalum (Hua) Floden, 2014

Floden, Aaron J., 2014, New names in Heteropolygonatum (Asparagaceae), Phytotaxa 188 (4), pp. 218-226 : 222

Heteropolygonatum anomalum (Hua) Floden , comb. nov.

Basionym: Polygonatum anomalum Hua (1892: 420) . Type:— CHINA. Western Sichuan and Tibetan Frontier : chiefly near Tachienlu , at 9000–15000 feet, s.d., Pratt 41 (holotype P!; isotypes BM!, K!) .

Distribution:— China, Sichuan, only known from Gongga Shan, 2400–4000 m.

Taxonomic relationships:—Hua (1892) doubted his initial placement of this species in Polygonatum due to the imbricate perigone and the combination of the ovary to style ratio and the short filaments which are not known in the alternate leaved species (see also Hayata, 1911 who doubted his own generic placement of the recently transferred H. altelobatum ). Heteropolygonatum anomalum is sympatric with H. pendulum , but H. anomalum is much rarer at the lower elevation where H. pendulum grows ( Liu & Hu 1984, B. Olsen pers. comm., Yang et al. 2012). These two species are clearly distinguishable based on morphology. Heteropolygonatum anomalum is also geographically proximal and morphologically similar to H. ogisui which grows on Wawu Shan 100 km to the southeast where it is syntopic with the highly dissimilar one or two-leaved and one-flowered H. xui . Heteropolygonatum anomalum differs from H. ogisui by the following characters: a scabrellous stem (vs. smooth); non-glaucous abaxial leaf surfaces (vs. distinctly white-glaucous); perigone length 9–12 mm (vs. 14–15); a cylindric perigone (vs. campanulate); and different intrafloral measurements ( Table 1). It also differs in having a slightly scabrellous stem whereas H. ogisui is reportedly smooth.

Other specimens examined: — CHINA. Sichuan: 29 June 1982, Lang 307 ( KUN!, PE!); ibidem , 2 June 1983, Veg. Grp. 30873 ( CBDI!) ; ibidem, 8 June 1980, Wang & Liu 22168 ( CBDI!) ; ibidem, 1 June 1980, Wang and Liu 22434 ( CBDI!) ; ibidem, May 1904, Wilson 4663 (P!, K!); ibidem, 9 June 1981, Xu 25517 ( CBDI!) ; ibidem, October 1981, Xu 26317 ( CBDI!) .