Achnatherum staintonii (Bor) M.Nobis & P.D.Gudkova, comb. nov.

Nobis, Marcin, Gudkova, Polina D. & Pendry, Colin A., 2019, Synopsis of the tribe Stipeae (Poaceae) in Nepal, PhytoKeys 128, pp. 97-119 : 110

Achnatherum staintonii (Bor) M.Nobis & P.D.Gudkova, comb. nov.

Stipa staintonii Bor, Bull. Bot. Surv. India 7: 133 (1965) (Basionym).

≡ Stipella staintonii (Bor) Röser & Hamasha, Pl. Syst. Evol. 298: 365 (2012), nom. inval.;

≡ Stipellula staintonii (Bor) Röser & H.R. Hamasha, Schlechtendalia 24: 92 (2012).

Type.

Nepal, near Seng Khola, 12500 ft [3810 m.], exposed cliffs, 4 Okt 1954, Stainton, Sykes & Williams 4677 (holotype K!, isotype BM!).

General distribution.

Nepal (endemic; Bor 1965; Freitag 1985).

Distribution in Nepal.

Baglung, Dolpa, Manang, Mustang, Rukum.

Habitat.

open rocky or stony sandy slopes and scrublands.

Altitude.

3000-4200 m.

Note.

Although Achnatherum staintonii has been confused with Stipa przewalskyi , the latter species does not occur in Nepal. Achnatherum staintonii is easily distinguished from Stipa przewalskyi by having maize-like vs. saw-like LEPs and in having unequal glumes and distinctly longer lemma than palea vs. glumes as well as lemma and palea subequal, respectively. Röser (2012) transferred five species of Stipa , including Stipa staintonii , into their new genus Stipellula on the basis of his earlier molecular analysis ( Hamasha et al. 2012). Stipellula is characterized by its maize-like lemma epidermal pattern which clearly distinguishes it from Stipa and confirms that these species belong to the achnatheroid group of grasses within the Stipeae . However, there are no unique, diagnostic morphological characters to separate Stipellula from Achnatherum which is itself polymorphic and highly polyphyletic ( Romaschenko et al. 2012; Hamasha et al. 2012). Thus, we prefer to treat Stipa staintonii as a member of Achnatherum .

Selected specimens studied.

Baglung: Sing Khola, wet rocky cliff, 18 Sep. 1976, H. Tabata, K.R. Rajbhandari & K. Tsuchiya 3711 (KATH). Dolpa: Ringmo, dry hillslope, 29°10'20"N, 82°55'50"E, 3400 m, 2 Aug. 1973, S. Einarsson, L. Skärby & B. Wetterhall 3128 (BM); Barbung Khola, 28°52'N, 83°15'E, 3030 m, 18 Jul. 1963, J.D.A. Stainton 4417 (BM); Barbung Khola, 28°52'N, 83°18'E, 3030 m, 13 Jul. 1963, J.D.A. Stainton 4417 (E); Suligad, Rhagaon, rocky slope, 29°28'N, 82°55'E, 2600 m, 25 Sep. 1982, K.R. Rajbhandari & K.J. Malla 6740 (KATH); Karnali, Ringmigaon, on dry hilslope, 3400 m, 2 Aug. 1973, S. Einarsson, L. Skärby, B. Wetterhall 3126 (UPS); Karnali, Manang: Bhraka, Humde, open rocky slope, 28°38'24"N, 84°5'36"E, 3400 m, 3 Aug. 1983, K.R. Rajbhandari 8814 (KATH); Marsyandi valley, Tangi above Manangbhot, on stony sandy places, 28°39'56"N, 84°1'33"E, 3800 m, 12 Oct. 1969, T. Wraber 36427 (E); Tangi, above Manangbhot, Tangje, on stony sandy places, 28°39'22"N, 84°2'2"E, 3800 m, 12 Oct. 1969, T. Wraber 479 (BM). Mustang: Entre Marpha et Syang; Syang, Marpha, 28°45'11"N, 83°41'28"E, 2650 m, 16 Sep. 1981, M.A. Farille 81-340 (E); Entre Larjung et Tukuche, 2550 m, 14 Sep. 1981, M.A. Farille 81-313 (E); Cha Lungpa, in E-facing Cupressus forest, 3030 m, 3 Oct. 1977, G. Miehe 80 (BM); Phalyak, dry place 28°49'24"N, 83°44'23"E, 4110 m, 9 Aug. 2002, F. Miyamoto, N. Kurosaki, S. Akiyama, H. Ikeda, Y. Iokawa, Y. Takahashi, M. Tsusaka & M.N. Subedi 20210022 (KATH); Phalyak to Pongio Kharka, 28°49'0"N, 83°45'0"E, 3800-4000 m, 9 Aug. 2002, F. Miyamoto, N. Kurosaki, S. Akiyama, H. Ikeda, Y. Iokawa, Y. Takahashi, M. Tsusaka & M.N. Subedi 20220034 (KATH); Chele - Samar, 28°57'43"N, 83°48'6"E, 3450-3670 m, 4 Aug. 2001, S. Noshiro, M. Amano, Y. Iokawa, T. Kurosawa, & M.N. Subedi 20105005 (KATH); Tukuche, open rocky slope, 28°42'33"N, 83°38'37"E, 2630 m, 19 Jul. 1983, K.R. Rajbhandari 7991 (KATH); Jomsom, open slope, 28°46'51"N, 83°43'27"E, 2760 m, 21 Jul. 1983, K.R. Rajbhandari 8072 (KATH); Jomsom to Sayang, cliffs in dry valley with scrub ( Caragana , Clematis, Rosa etc.), 28°46'51"N, 83°43'27"E, 2700 m, 19 Sep. 1999, Shrestha et al. 1014 (E); Tukuche, 28°42'33"N, 83°38'37"E, 3180 m, 21 Aug. 1954, J.D.A. Stainton, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 7352 (BM). Rukum: Sen Khola, 28°42'54"N, 82°57'21"E, 3790 m, 4 Oct. 1954, J.D.A. Stainton, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 4677 (BM).