Lespedeza hengduanshanensis (C.J. Chen) B. Xu, X.F. Gao & Li Bing Zhang

Xu, Bo, Gao, Xin-Fen & Zhang, Li-Bing, 2015, Lespedeza hengduanshanensis comb. & stat. nov. (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Desmodieae) from the Hengduan Mountains of SW China, Phytotaxa 202 (2), pp. 165-168 : 166-168

Lespedeza hengduanshanensis (C.J. Chen) B. Xu, X.F. Gao & Li Bing Zhang comb. & stat. nov. ( Figs.1 , 2 ).

(CDBI), B–C from B. Xu & W.G. Tu 405 (CDBI); D from B. Xu & A.N. Egan 474 (CDBI); E–F from B. Xu & W.G. Tu 405 (CDBI)].

Basionym:— Lespedeza fasciculiflora Franchet var. hengduanshanensis C.J. Chen (1992: 375) .

Type: — CHINA. Sichuan: Batang City, the back mountain of Suwalong, on the eastern bank of the Jinsha River, in thickets of the bank, 2600 m, 30 Aug. 1981, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 81-5214 (holotype PE-01432541!, isotype KUN).

Subshrub, perennial, 10–50 cm tall. Stems much branched at base to middle, ascending, stems and branchlets densely adpressed strigulose. Leaves alternate, petiolate, 3-foliolate; Stipules persistent, linearly triangular, 2–4 mm long, distinctly 3-veined; petioles 1–10 mm, densely strigulose; leaflets obovate, terminal leaflets 4–10 × 3–6 mm, slightly larger than lateral ones, abaxially densely hoary, adaxially sparsely or sometimes densely pubescent, base cuneate, apex emarginate, mucronate, rachis less than 2 mm long. Cleistogamous flowers in leaf axils, sessile, fruitbearing. Chasmogamous flowers in axillary racemes, distinctly longer than subtending leaves; peduncles 0.3–2 cm, densely pubescent, 2–6-flowered, two flowers per bract; pedicels 1–2 mm long, densely pubescent; bracteoles 2 at base of calyx, lanceolate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, equal to or slightly longer than calyx tube. Flowers 7–11 mm long. Calyx 5–8 mm, 5-lobed, upper 2 lobes connate, outer surface densely hirsute, lobes 2–3× as long as tube, linear-lanceolate. Corolla white or yellowish, with pink and purple markings, slightly longer than calyx; standard obovate, 6.5–10.8 × 4.5–6.5 mm (including claw ca. 2 mm long), claw with auriculate appendage at upper part; wings narrowly oblong, 5–9 × 1.5–2.5 mm (including claw ca. 2.5 mm long); keel petals narrowly elliptic, slightly shorter than or subequal to standard and slightly longer than wings, with purple markings at apex. Fruit brown, densely hirsute, reticulate veined. Pods from chasmogamous flowers elliptical, ca. 5 mm long × 2.7 mm wide, apex rostrate, 1–1.5 mm. Pods from cleistogamous flowers elliptical, ca. 3.5 mm long × 2.5 mm wide, apex acuminate, ca. 0.3 mm. Seeds pale green and narrowly ovate.

Geographical distribution and habitat: — Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan; in thickets of hot, arid river valleys.

Phenology: —Flowering (June–) July to August (–September); fruiting (late July–) August to September (–October).

Additional specimens examined: — CHINA. Sichuan: Derong , 14 Jul. 2014, B. Xu et al. XB2014-96 ( CDBI!) ; Kangding , 12 Jul. 2007, X. F. Gao et al. 9384 ( CDBI!) ; Kangding , 14 Jun. 2010, X. F. Gao et al. 11886 ( CDBI!) ; Kangding, 7 Nov. 2007, B. Xu & W. G. Tu 405 ( CDBI!) ; Maoxian, 9 Jun. 1959, S. Jiang & C. L. Jin 00657 ( PE!) ; Maoxian , 26 Jul. 1983, Z. X. Tang 1516 ( PE!) ; Maoxian, 16 May 2001, X. F. Gao & W. P. Zhang 1021 ( CDBI!) ; Xiaojin , 1 Sep. 2012, Y. D. Gao et al. ABA015 ( CDBI!). Xizang: Chayu, Aug. 1935, Q. W. Wang 65470 ( PE!). Yunnan: Deqing, 5 Nov. 2007, X. F. Gao 16314 ( CDBI!) ; Deqing , 4 Sep. 2007, S. S. Zhou 4204 ( HITBC!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Morphological comparison of living material of Lespedeza hengduanshanensis (A, C, and E) and L. fasciculiflora (B, D, and F). A–B, habit. C–D, portion of flowering branches. E–F, inflorescences. [A, C, and E from X.F. Gao et al. 11886 (CDBI); B from B. Xu et al. XB2014-49 (CDBI); D and F from B. Xu & A.N. Egan 474 (CDBI)].

FIGURE 2. Morphological comparison of herbarium material Lespedeza hengduanshanensis (A–C) and L. fasciculiflora (D–F). A and D, herbarium specimens. B and E, pods of chasmogamous flowers. C and F, pods of cleistogamous flowers. [A from X.F. Gao et al. 11886