Gamblea ciliata C.B. Clarke

Shang, C. - B., Lowry Ii, Porter P. & Frodin, David G., 2000, A taxonomic revision and re-definition of the genus Gamblea (Araliaceae), Adansonia (3) 22 (1), pp. 45-55 : 48-49

1. Gamblea ciliata C.B. Clarke

In Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 739 (1879); Biswas, Pl. Darjeeling Sikkim Himalaya 1: 400 (1966); Hara et al., Enum. Flow. Pl. Nepal 2: 191 (1979); J. C. Grierson, Fl. Bhut. 2: 340 (1991). — Lectotype (here designated): Gamble 25 A, India, Sikkim, Tongloo , 2750 m, 5 Oct. 1875, fr. ( K!).

Tress or rarely shrubs (1-)2-12(-20) m tall, occasionally epiphytic, trunk ca. 10-60 cm dbh. Leaves (1-)3-5-foliolate, central leaflet broadly elliptic to ovate, sometimes narrowly elliptic, (5-) 6-18(-21) × (2.5-)3-7(-8) cm at maturity, (1.8-) 2-3 times as long as wide, with 5-14 secondary veins on each side of midvein, domatia obscure on abaxial surface at base of secondary veins, 0.5- 1 mm in diam., tertiary veins distinctly raised on abaxial surface, margins entire to minutely serrulate, often with distinct ciliate-hispid teeth to 1.5(-2) mm long. Inflorescence a compound umbel or panicle of umbellules, primary axes (3-)4-10, each (4-) 5-18 cm long, terminating in an umbellule and sometimes also with 1-2 lateral secondary axes each bearing an umbellule; calyx a narrow rim, occasionally with 4-5 minute, persistent teeth; styles 2-5, united for 1/4-3/4 of their length. Fruit 4-5.5(-6) × 4.5-6(-6.5) mm, terete in cross section (occasionally slightly compressed laterally), with a narrow, sometimes hyline rim.

As circumscribed here, Gamblea ciliata extends over 3500 km from the eastern Himalayas across northern Myanmar, southern China and extreme northern Viet Nam to Anhui, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in east-central China. Populations in the western part of the species’ range, from India, Nepal, and Bhutan were traditionally ascribed to G. ciliata , and are virtually identical to those found in southeastern Xizang province, China and in northern Myanmar. They are characterized by having flowers and fruits mostly with 3 or 4 style branches, leaves in which the largest leaflet measures (8-) 10-20 cm long and has (6-)8-14 secondary veins on each side of the midvein, and fruit surmounted by a disk that is (1-) 1.5-3 mm in diameter. By contrast, populations from the eastern part of the range (Guizhou and Guangxi to Anhui, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces), heretofore assigned to Acanthopanax evodiaefolius , have flowers and fruits with only 2 (or rarely 3) style branches, leaflets to 5-9(-14) cm in length with 5-8 secondary veins on each side of the midvein, and a disk in fruit that measures 0.8-1.5(-1.7) mm in diameter. However, careful examination of material from the intervening area in Sichuan and especially Yunnan provinces reveals a broad tran- sition zone within which co-occurring or neighboring populations appear to exhibit a range of character combinations that makes it very difficult to circumscribe well delimited species on the basis of morphology or biogeography. Therefore, despite the rather clear differences that can be seen between plants from the western and eastern portions of the range of G. ciliata , we have chosen to recognize these taxa at the rank of variety because of the many specimens from Sichuan and Yunnan that are much less clearly differentiated.

C. B. CLARKE (1879) cited several syntypes for Gamblea ciliata , the most complete of which (Gamble 25A) contains well developed infructescences and leaves, along with a number of detached fruits, and has therefore been selected as the lectotype.

Key to the varieties of Gamblea ciliata 1. Flowers and fruits with (2-)3-4(-5) style branches, largest leaflets (8-) 10-20 cm long, with (6-)8-14 secondary

veins on each side of the midvein, fruit with a disk (1-) 1.5-3 mm in diam. ....1a. Gamblea ciliata var. ciliata 1’. Flowers and fruits with 2 (rarely 3) style branches, largest leaflets 5-9(-14) cm long, with 5-8 secondary veins on

each side of the midvein, fruit with a disk (0.8-) 1.5-1.7 mm in diam. .... 1b. Gamblea ciliata var. evodiaefolia