Ilex nothofagifolia Kingdon-Ward (1927: 195)

Hong, De-Yuan, 2015, A taxonomical revision of Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) in the Pan-Himalaya and unraveling its distribution patterns, Phytotaxa 230 (2), pp. 151-171 : 162

13. Ilex nothofagifolia Kingdon-Ward (1927: 195) . Type:— MYANMAR. Seinghku Wang (Advance Base), 2740 m, 08. Jun. 1926, F. Kingdon-Ward 6878 (lectotype here designated: K)

Ilex oblata (W. E. Evans) Comber (1933: 55) . Ilex intricata var. oblata W. E. Evans (1921: 163) . Type:— MYANMAR (Upper Burma). Lay Kam Valley, 2590 m, 19. Sept. 1919, R. Farrer 1299 (holotype: E).

The binomial, Ilex nothofagifolia , was validly published by Kingdon-Ward in 1927, not in 1930 as cited by Chen et al. (2008).

This species grows as a small tree in forests at altitudes from 1900 to 3400 m, and sometimes on trunks of large trees. It is very easily recognized by its branchlets which are densely covered with corky warts, the small, oblong and long-petiolate leaves, and small, subglobose fruit. The species is relatively uniform in morphology, without a large variation range. Its distribution pattern is noteworthy. It occurs from its NW end in Mêdog of S Tibet at ca. 30°N, 95°E southeastwards to the Kachin Range in NW Myanmar and to the Gaoligong Shan, and along this range down southwards to Tengchong in SW Yunnan at ca. 25°C, but it is found disjunctly in S Yunnan (Jinping) and Huanglian Shan in N Vietnam at ca. 22°N, 104°E. Therefore, its distribution appears to be a long but curved line ( Fig. 5).

Representative specimens examined:— YARLUNG ZANGBO-BRAHMAPUTRA: Bangxing , 1900 m, 08. Dec. 1982, S. Z. Cheng & B. S. Li 3322 ( PE) ; Gutang, Xingkai to Jiangbietang , 2200–2500 m, 26. Sept. 1982, B. S. Li & S. Z. Cheng 1083 ( PE) ; Lage to Hami , 2200 m, 03. Aug. 1974, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 74–3987 (KUN, PE) ; Lage to Paiqu ( Doxong ), 2600 m, 20. Sept. 1974, Qinghai-xizang Exped. 2686 ( PE) ; Delei Valley, 28°20 ′ N, 96°37 ′ E, 2440–2743 m, 05. May, 1928, F. Kingdon-Ward 8167 (K). S HENGDUAN: Fugong , Yaping , 27°9 ′ 47 ″ N, 98°47 ′ 4 ″ E, 2467m, 02. May 2004, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Surv. 20262 (E) ; Gongshan, Gongshan to Drungjiang , 2200–2400 m, 21. Jul. 1982, Qinghai-Xiznag Exped. 8252 ( PE) ; Lushui, N’ Maikha-Salween Divide , 26°N, 2134–2440 m, May 1919, G. Forrest 17847(E, K). U IRRAWADDY: Seinghku Wang (Advance Base), 2740 m, 24. May 1926, F. Kingdon-Ward 6750 (paratype of I. nothofagifolia : K) ; Tengchong, Shweli-Salween Divide , 25°30 ′ N, 98°58 ′ E, 2134–2440 m, May 1924, G. Forrest 24227 (K) ; Yengshin Ling , 3050 m, 21. Jul. 1920, Farrer 1744 (paratype of I. intricata var. oblata : E) .