Ilex yunnanensis Franchet (1889: 28)

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 : 165-166

16. Ilex yunnanensis Franchet (1889: 28) . Type :— CHINA. Yunnan, 17. Jun. 1887, Delavay 2673 (holotype: P; isotype: K)

Ilex yunnanensis var. gentilis (Loes.) Rehder (1927: 544) , syn. nov. Ilex yunnanensis f. gentilis Loesener (1901: 132) . Type:—not designated.

Ilex yunnanensis var. paucidentata S.Y. Hu (1949a: 340) , syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Wei-si (Weixi), 2000m, Sept. 1935. C. W. Wang 67855 (holotype: A; isotypes: KUN, PE).

Ilex rockii S.Y. Hu (1949a: 336) , syn. nov. Type :— CHINA. Tsarung, Solo-la, 3810 m, May–Jun. 1932. J. F. Rock 22299 (holotype: A; isotypes: E, K).

Ilex subcoriacea Z.M. Tan (1983: 79 & pl. 3), syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Sichuan, Butuo, Diluo , ca. 1000 m, 08. Jul. 1979, Butuo Exped. 617 (holotype: SM); Jinyang, Weidong , 950 m, 20. Jun. 1979, Jinyang Exped. 272 (paratype: SZ) .

For three reasons, I here reduce I. rockii as a synonym of I. yunnanensis . First, Hu (1949a) stated that “it resembles Ilex yunnanensis , which differs in having 4-merous flowers…”. I observed four flowers of the isotype of I. rockii, J. F. Rock 22299, and found that they are all 4-merous, not 5-merous as Hu described. Second, in the key Hu provided, the fruiting pedicel of I. rockii is stated to be less than 4 mm long (vs. 10–15 mm in I. yunnanensis ). However, in I. rockii , they may actually be 3 mm (T. T. Yü 23150), 4 and 5.5 mm (K. M. Feng 8808), 4.7 mm (C. W. Wang 66727), 6 mm (K. M. Feng 5475), 8 mm (K. M. Feng 8687), and 9 mm (K. M. Feng 6840) long, while in I. yunnanensis they are 6 mm (H. T. Tsai 59911), 5 and 7 (C. W. Wang 67868), 9 mm (H. T. Tsai 63045), and 5, 7 and 11 mm (H. T. Tsai 57995) long, which shows that the pedicel of I. yunnanensis and “ I. rockii ” varies continuously from 3 to 11 mm long. Third, I found six collections of this group, which have two duplicates. Each had been identified as two different “species” by different authors or even the same author. Thus, there is no diagnostic character which may distinguish one species from the other.

In the protologue of Ilex subcoriacea, Tan (1983) stated that his new species differs from I. yunnanensis in having villous branchlets, and leaf blades that are subcoriaceous, 3–5.2 cm long, 1.6–2.7 cm wide, villous, and acuminate or caudate at the apex. Ilex yunnanensis is a rather common species, and villous branchlets and subcoriaceous, villose, and acuminate or caudate leaf blades are characteristic of the species. The size of leaf blade varies greatly: in Baoxing, Sichuan, it varies from 1.8 × 0.8 (T. T. Yü 4698) to 3.5 × 2 cm (T. H. Yu 4874) via 2.5– 1.3 cm (K. L. Chu 3907) and in Mt Taibai, Shaanxi, it varies continuously from 2.1 × 1 to 5.2 × 2.2 cm (P. C. Tsoong 2369 and 3393; Ch. Wang 727). Thus, I. subcoriacea falls within the variation range of I. yunnanensis .

Representative specimens examined:— L YARLUNG ZANGBO: Bomi, Yi’ong Farm , 2500 m, 19. Aug. 1983, B.S. Li et al. 6739 ( PE). YARLUNG ZANGBO-BRAHMAPUTRA: Gyigang , 2800 m, 05. Jul. 1973, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 73–598 (KUN, PE) ; Mêdog , 2800–3000 m, 20. Nov. 1982, B.S. Li & S.Z. Chen 1867 ( PE) ; Nage , 3200 m, 31. Jul. 1974, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 74–3853 ( KUN) ; Tsarung , Solo-la, C.W. Wang 66727 (paratype of I. rockii : PE) ; Walong, 3050–3350 m, 10. Oct. 1950, F. Kingdon-Ward 20256 ( BM). N HENGDUAN: Pingwu, Heijia Township , 2120 m, 05. Jun. 1958, H.L. Tsiang 10464 ( PE) ; Wenchuan, Wolong , 2980 m, 04. Jul. 1975, s. coll. 8160 ( PE) ; Wenxian, Tiexiu, 1800 m, 07. Oct. 1958, Y.Q. He 1004 ( PE). S HENGDUAN: Baoxing , Dengcigou , 1680 m, 30. Oct. 1933, T.T. Yü 4874 ( PE) ; Butuo, Wuyi , 2400 m, 23, Jul. 1976, Acad. Sin. Chengdu Biol. Inst. Veget. Group. 14153 ( PE) ; Cawarong, Salween-Kuichiang Divide, 28°40 ′ N, 98°15 ′ E, G. Forrest 19074 (K). Dali, Zhonghesi , 14. Jun. 1940, R.C. Ching 22836 (KUN, PE) ; Deqên, Cizhong , 2900–3200 m, 03. Jul. 1940, K. M. Feng 5029 (KUN, PE) ; N of Deqên , 28°35 ′ N, 4267 m, G. Forrest 14051 (E, K) ; Gongshan, Sijitung , 2600–2800 m, 20. Sept. 1940, K. M. Feng 7945 (KUN, PE) ; Salween-Kiu Kiang Divide, T. T. Yü 20241 & 20228 (paratypes of I. rockii : PE) ; Lanping, 3000 m, 30. Jun. 1981, Bot. Inst. Hengduan Mts Exped. 919 ( PE) ; Lushui, W of Pianma Pass, 2900 m, 30. May 1981, Bot. Inst. Hengduan Mts Exped. 287 ( PE) ; Meigu , 19. Aug. 1959, Sichuan Econ. Plant Surv. (Liang 59) 1767 ( PE) ; Mianning, Tuowu , 2600 m, 14. Jul. 1959, S. K. Wu 1741 ( PE) ; Shangri-la (Zhongdian), by Yangtze River , 2800–2900 m, 07. Nov. 1939, K. M. Feng 3254 ( KUN) ; Shimian, 1955, C. C. Hsien 41939 ( PE) ; Tianquan, Lancizi , 1800 m, 28. Jun. 1951, Y. W. Tsui 4102 ( PE) ; Weixi, Biluoxue Shan, 3250 m, 12. Jul. 1981, Inst. Bot. Hengduan Mts Exped. 1407 ( PE) ; Xichang, Luoji shan, 2600 m, 24. Sept. 1965, Acad. Sin. Southwest China Comprehensive Exped. 1029 ( PE) ; Yangbi, Meiweng , 3000 m, 25. May 1963, NW Yunnan Yangtze Exped. 9043 (KUN, PE) ; Yulong (Luding), ( Lijiang ), 27°40 ′ N, 3350 m, Jun. 1913, G. Forrest 10247 (K, PE). U IRRAWADDY: Adung Valley , sources of the Irrawaddy , 28°20 ′ N, 97°40 ′ E, 2440 m, 04. Jun. 1931, F. Kingdon-Ward 9587 ( BM) ; Nam Tamai Valley , 28°N, 97°40 ′ E, 2743– 3350 m, 04. Nov. 1937, F. Kingdon-Ward 13296 ( BM) ; Tengchong, Guyong , 2400 m, 21. May 1964, S. K. Wu 6944 ( KUN) .