Epimedium platypetalum K. I. Meyer

Liu, Shaoxiong, Liu, Linjian, Huang, Xiaofang, Zhu, Yuye & Xu, Yanqin, 2017, A taxonomic revision of three Chinese spurless species of genus Epimedium L. (Berberidaceae), PhytoKeys 78, pp. 23-36 : 26

Epimedium platypetalum K. I. Meyer Figs 2E-H , 3H-L

Epimedium platypetalum K. I. Meyer, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih., 12: 380. 1922. Type: China. Sichuan: Wenchuan, alt. 1600 m, Limpricht 1386 (Syntypes, WRSLE, WU).

Description.

Flowering stem 25-35 cm long. Rhizome thin, short or long-creeping, 1-3 mm in diameter. Leaves basal and cauline, trifoliolate; leaflets subrounded, ca. 4.5 × 4 cm, apex rounded, base deeply cordate with regularly rounded lobes, terminal leaflet with equal rounded lobes, lateral leaflets oblique with outer lobe large and rounded, inner lobe smaller and rounded, margin spinose-serrate, abaxially pilose. Flowering stem with 1 trifoliolate (rarely 5-foliolate) leaves, sometimes 2 opposite trifoliolate leaves, occasionally 2 opposite unifoliolate leaves. Inflorescence raceme, 2-6-flowered, 7-12 cm long, almost glabrous. Flowers ca. 10 mm in diameter, yellow, pedicels 0.5-1 cm long, glandular hairs. Outer sepals 4, green, triangular-lanceolate, ca. 2 × 1 mm. Inner sepals 4, purple-red, ovate, ca. 4 × 1.5 mm. Petals 4, yellow, spurless, ca. 6-8 × 4-5 mm, oblong, apex rounded. Stamens ca. 3 mm; anthers yellow, ca. 2 mm.

Distribution and habitat.

Epimedium platypetalum occurs in Sichuan and Shanxi, often on mountain slopes with elevations ranging from 1300 m to 2800 m.

Phenology.

Epimedium platypetalum flowers from April to May, and fruits from May to June.

IUCN Red List category.

Epimedium platypetalum should be designated as Vulnerable (VU) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria ( IUCN 2015), because of habitat destruction.

Specimens examined.

China. Sichuan: Maoxian, S. Y. Chen 5210 (NAS). Nanjiang, B. L. Guo A 56 (IMD) . Shanxi: Nanzheng, J.X. Lv, Y.P. Lv & X.F. Zhuo E84009 (PE), E84010 (PE), E84052 (PE), S.X. Liu, J.X. Zhu & L.J. Liu 2016020 (JXCM) .

Figures

Figure 2. Photos of E. ecalcaratum, E. platypetalum, and E. campanulatum. A-B Flower of E. ecalcaratum C Rhizome of E. ecalcaratum D Morphology of E. ecalcaratum E-F Flower of E. platypetalum G Rhizome of E. platypetalum H Morphology of E. platypetalum I-J Flower of E. campanulatum K Rhizome of E. campanulatum L Morphology of E. campanulatum.

Figure 3. Population variation of leaves morphology in E. ecalcaratum, E. platypetalum, and E. campanulatum. A-G E. ecalcaratum H-L E. platypetalum M-Q E. campanulatum.