Ticanto szechuenensis (Craib) R. Clark & Gagnon, 2022

Clark, Ruth P., Jiang, Kai-Wen & Gagnon, Edeline, 2022, Reinstatement of Ticanto (Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae) - the final piece in the Caesalpinia group puzzle, PhytoKeys 205, pp. 59-98 : 59

7. Ticanto szechuenensis (Craib) R. Clark & Gagnon comb. nov.

= Caesalpinia kwangtungensis Merr., J. Arnold Arbor. 8: 7. 1927; Herkl. in Hong Kong Naturalist ix. 32. 1938, descr. ampl. Type: China. Kwangtung, Wilson in Canton Christ. Coll. 12838 (lectotype, designated here: (GH [A00059893!], isolectotypes: BM [BM000958803!], E [E00313522!], LU, NAS, [NAS00071304!, NAS00071305!], P [P02142689!], US [US00002578!]).

Basionym.

Caesalpinia szechuenensis Craib, Pl. Wilson. (Sargent) 2(1): 92. 1914.

Type.

China. Western Szechuan , Kiating Fu, May 1908, E.H. Wilson 3255. (lectotype, designated here: K [K000980490], isolectotypes: A [A00059895!, A00059896!], BM [BM000958802!], E [E00313523!], GH, NY [NY00003572!], US.)

Description.

Habit a scandent shrub. Stems with sparse, scattered recurved prickles, glabrous. Stipules minute, ca. 0.5 × 0.25 mm, triangular, subglabrous. Leaves with 3-6 pairs opposite to strongly subopposite pinnae; petiole 1.8-7 cm, leaf rachis with prickle at the base of each pinna and scattered in between pinnae insertions, 6-22 cm; pinnae 3.8-8.5 cm, occasionally with prickle at base of petiolule; leaflets 3-6 opposite pairs per pinna, elliptic to slightly ovate, the apex usually acute, occasionally slightly rounded; terminal leaflets 2-6 × 1-3 cm, lateral leaflets 1.2-6 × 0.8-3 cm, upper surface glabrous, lower surface glabrous or with a few ferruginous tomentose hairs on midvein at base or with sparse short ferruginous hairs; venation prominent on both surfaces, reticulate, anastomosing. Inflorescence a terminal, few-branched panicle, 11-15 cm long, axes subglabrous to sparsely to moderately ferruginous tomentose; pedicels (5-)9-11 mm, articulated, glabrous to sparsely ferruginous tomentose; bracts not seen; bracteoles caducous, 1 × 0.25 mm, lanceolate-acuminate. Flowers with a hypanthium ca. 1-2 × 3-4 mm, sparsely ferruginous tomentose; lower calyx lobe 8 mm long, other lobes 5 mm long; median petal 6-9.5 × 2.5-5 mm, with a patch of hairs at base of blade and few hairs on the claw; upper laterals ca. 5-10 × 3-4 mm, glabrous or with a few hairs on inner surface of the claw; lower laterals ca. 5-10 × 3-4 mm, glabrous or with a few hairs on inner surface of claw; stamen filaments flattened, ca. 9 mm long, densely orange villous on basal ½; ovary ca. 2.5 mm long, sparsely to moderately densely pale orange tomentose; style 10-12 mm, with a few hairs at the base, otherwise glabrous, ovules 2; stigma funnel-shaped, papillate, ca. 1 mm wide. Fruit indehiscent, coriaceous, strongly asymmetrical, sub-lunate to sub-circular or teardrop-shaped, stipe 0-1 mm, beak 1-5 mm, venation prominent, glabrous, 1.5-3.4 × 1.5-3 cm × 0.4-0.6 cm, wing sometimes present along part of length of ventral suture, 1-3 mm wide. Seed 1, circular, dark brown, 1.4-1.7 cm diameter (Fig. 3B ).

Ecology.

Mountain forest, thicket, on limestone, elevation 260-1500 m.

Phenology.

Flowering April-August, fruiting June-October.

Distribution.

China (Chongqing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Hunan, Sichuan) (Map 1 ).

Notes.

The current authors have seen no specimens or specimen records from Hong Kong and inclusion of the species in that area follows Vidal and Hul Thol (1976).

Selected specimens examined.

China. Chongqing: Jiangjin, Mt. Simianshan, Sunzigang, Z.Y. Liu, J. Zhang et al. S-2006 (IMC). Nanchuan, Mt. Jinfoshan, Sanquan, Lengshuixi, Z.Y. Liu 960468 (IMC). Fujian: Yunxiao, Xiaban, Mt. Dachenshan, G.D. Ye 2038 (PE). Zhangzhou, Yunxiao, Mt. Liangshan, Yunliang Reservoir, X.F. Zeng ZXF36083 (CZH). Guangdong: Gaoyao, at the foot of Mt. Dinghushan, C. Huang 161752 (IBSC). Ruyuan, Daqiao, Yue71 466 (IBSC). Guangxi: Jingxi to Longbang, R.P. Clark 422 (K, IBK). Liuzhou, Rongan, Banqiao, Guban Village, Rong’an Exped. 450224170806001LY (GXMG). Hunan: Yizhang, Changle, Mt. Xinpingshan, S.K. Lau 29560 (IBSC). Yongzhou, Jiangyong, Lanxi, Shangjin Village, X.C. Jiang, G.H. Tang & X.W. Pan SCSB-HNJ-0051 (KUN). Sichuan: Changning, Xiangling, Liushuiyan, s. coll. 704 (SM). Gongxian, Luobiao, Wangjia, s. coll. 278 (SM). Hongya, Liujiang, Shuguang, Laoyingzui, Hongya Group 420 (SM). Junlian, Tuanjie, Lüzhu Temple, Sichuan Economic Plants 0281 (PE). Leibo, Zhongshanping, Xining, Sichuan Economic Plants 487 (CDBI). Mt. Emei, Heilongjiang, K.T. Fu 12134 (WUK). Pingshan [Ping-shan], F.T. Wang 22721 (PE). Tongliang, Xiquan, Xiafeng, Tongliang Exped. 267 (SM). Xuyong, Shuiwei, Guandou Village, across the Qiaogoutou River, X.F. Gao, Y.D. Gao & W.B. Ju HGX10640 (CDBI).

Figures

Map 1. Distribution of all species (excluding T. crista).

Figure 3. A T. sinensis (i) habit (ii) leaves (iii) flowers (photos by Xin-Xin Zhu, Guizhou, China, unvouchered) (iv) habit (v) fruit (R. P. Clark 429, Guangxi, China, (IBK, K )) (vi) leaves (R. P. Clark 415, Guangxi, China (IBK, K) B T. aff. szechuenensis (i) habit (ii) inflorescence and leaves (R. P. Clark 422, Guangxi, China (IBK, K )).