Lappula balchaschensis Popov ex Golosk. (1975: 73)

Liu, Dan-Hui, He, Yi & Liu, Quan-Ru, 2022, Lappula deserticola var. longicalyx-a new synonym of Lappula balchaschensis (Boraginaceae), Phytotaxa 568 (2), pp. 237-240 : 238

Lappula balchaschensis Popov ex Golosk. (1975: 73) .

Type :— KAZAKHSTAN. Balkhash, 13 June 1934, M. Popov 7073 (holotype AA, not seen, isotype MW0594314!)

= Lappula deserticola var. longicalyx X.M. Pi & Z.J. Wang ( Wang & Pi 1997: 67). syn. nov.

Type:— CHINA, Xinjiang, Urumqi to Dabancheng , 1100 m, 27 May 1989, J.C. Zhao G-001 (holotype XJU00016493B!)

Distribution and habitat: — Lappula balchaschensis is distributed in Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and Russia ( Goloskokov 1964, Ovczinnikova 2009, 2019). This species grows on the Gobi Desert at altitudes of 300–1200 m above sea level.

Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting from May to September.

Taxonomic notes: — Wang (1981) pointed out that the length of calyx and marginal glochids of nutlet were essential to identify L. balchaschensis and L. deserticola . Based on thorough examination of specimens and field investigations, we found that the length of marginal glochids was not useful to clarify these two species, because this character was quite variable within population for L. balchaschensis . We also carefully observed the nutlet morphology of L. deserticola , and the nutlets of this species were heteromorphic ( Fig. 2 ). Based on morphological comparisons, we considered that the features of nutlet margins may be more critical than the length of marginal glochids for identification of L. balchaschensis and L. deserticola .

Additional specimens examined: — CHINA. Xinjiang: Alashankou, 15 May 2020, D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ048 (BNU); Karamay, 15 May 2020, D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ115 (BNU); Turpan, 14 June 1958, A.R. Li & J.N. Zhu, 05609 (PE); Fuyun county , 19 August 1992, Z.W. Li CQ-460 (XJBI); Urumqi, 3 July 2020, D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ206 (BNU) , Gansu: Jiayuguan, 26 May 2020, D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ211 (BNU), Zhangye , 6 July 2020, D.H. Liu BNU2020GS036 (BNU) . MONGOLIA. Khovd aimag: Mankhan , 19 June 2004, A.Y. Korolyuk s.n. (NSK) ; Uvs aimag: Khyargas , 7 September 1984, I.A. Gubanov 9388 (MW) ; Govi-Altai: Zaaltai Gobi , 1 August 1978, I.A. Gubanov 2639 (MW) ; Khovd province: Dzungarian Gobi, 2 September 1983, I.A. Gubanov 8168 (MW). Russia. Tuva Republic , 12 September 1946, A. Schroeter 2193 (MW0119033, the middle one) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. A–C. Lappula balchaschensis (A. habit, B. heteromorphic nutlets, C. cross-sectional view of nutlets. Voucher: D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ048 (BNU)). D–F. L. deserticola var. longicalyx (D. habit, E. heteromorphic nutlets, (* nutlets from type specimen) F. crosssectional view of nutlets. Voucher: D.H. Liu BNU2020GS036 (BNU)). G–I. L. deserticola (G. habit, H. heteromorphic nutlets, I. crosssectional view of nutlets. Voucher: D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ206 (BNU)). Arrow indicated the margin of nutlets, scale bars = 1 mm.