Chenopodium album L., Sp. Pl.: 219 (1753)

Sukhorukov, Alexander P., Liu, Pei-Liang & Kushunina, Maria, 2019, Taxonomic revision of Chenopodiaceae in Himalaya and Tibet, PhytoKeys 116, pp. 1-141 : 15-18

1. Chenopodium album L., Sp. Pl.: 219 (1753)

Chenopodium album L., Sp. Pl.: 219 (1753). Lectotype (designated by Brenan 1954): Herb. Linn. 313.8 (LINN! image of the lectotype available at http://linnean-online.org/3082/).

≡ Botrys alba (L.) Nieuwl., Am. Midl. Naturalist 3: 276 (1914).

Taxonomic notes.

The description of the species is based on the most characteristic features of the populations growing in West/Central Himalaya; this aggregate still requires further investigations in our territory and other parts of Eurasia. A strange specimen was seen from Ladakh (Zanskar, Tsarap, Kuru Village to Tetha Village, 3950 m alt., 21 Aug 2004, 33°10'18"N, 77°10'32"E, L. Klimeš 4163, PRA) bearing a small (up to 15 cm) plant with entire, ovate leaves up to 2 cm, a small inflorescence up to 5 cm long and pitted seeds that may represent a new taxon. Some plants of C. album from India are characterised by smooth pericarp, a trait of C. perttii , although they differ from the latter taxon in leaf shape.

Description.

Annual, up to 150 cm, erect, branched, green. Leaves up to 10 × 4 cm, rhombic, oblong or lanceolate, entire or dentate, lower leaves often 3-lobed (terminal lobe tapering to apex). Inflorescence leafy or not. Flowers in glomerules arranged in loose inflorescence. Perianth farinose or glabrous. Fruit 1.3-1.5 mm, pericarp papillate (papillae up to 80 µm), can be scraped off the seed; seeds obtuse or acutish on margins, nearly smooth with shallow radial furrows (Fig. 4A, B ), with structural heterospermy expressed in different thickness of the seed-coat testa.

Habitat.

Disturbed areas; 0-4500 m a.s.l. The most common chenopodiaceous species in Himalaya and Tibet.

Phenology.

Flowering: March-September; fruiting: April-November.

Distribution.

See Fig. 5 .

Specimens examined.

BHUTAN: Charithang, Aug 1938, B.J. Gould 1396 (DD); Byakar, 27°33'N, 90°44'E, 2700 m a.s.l., 9 Jun 1979, A. Grierson & D. Long 1779 (K, E00168228); Upper Mo Chu distr., Chebesa, 3880 m a.s.l., 27 Sep 1984, I. Sinclair & D. Long 5361 (E00168227); Tashigang distr., nr Rolong, 800 m a.s.l., 20 Mar 1991, C. Parker 4926 (E00168225);

CHINA: Xizang: Ngari Prefecture: Gêrzê (Gaize) County, 4250 m a.s.l., Aug 1972, Li 063 (PE00510181), Li 070 (PE00510179); Burang (Pulan) County, 4100 m a.s.l., 14 Jul 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team 76-8449 (PE00510198); Nagqu Prefecture: Xainza (Shenzha) County, 4500 m a.s.l., 19 Sep 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 13764 (PE00235194); Xigazê Prefecture: Gyangtse ( Gyangzê, Jiangzi), 4 Jul 1904, H.J. Walton 38 (K); Xigazê (Rikaze), 3830 m a.s.l., 7 Jul 1960, Fu 348 (PE00510208); Nyalam (Nielamu) County, Zham (Zhangmu), 2000 m a.s.l., 13 May 1966, Zhang & Lang 3361 (PE00510188); Namling (Nanmulin) County, Gangba, 3 Aug 1972, Tibet Chinese Herbal Medicine Survey Team 993 (PE00510200); Gyangzê (Jiangzi) County, 3960 m a.s.l., 5 Sep 1974, Qinghai-Tibet Team 74-2072 (PE00510201, KUN0586975); Gyirong (Jilong) County, nr Mangmu, 2300 m a.s.l., 16 Jul 1975, Qinghai-Tibet Team 6908 (PE00510190); Gyirong (Jilong) County, 4100 m a.s.l., 28 Jul 1975, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 5635 (PE00510212); Lhasa City: Lhasa, 4000 m a.s.l., 20 Aug 1965, Zhang & Lang 2055 (PE00510192); Shannan Prefecture: Lhünzê (Longzi) County, Sangngagqoiling ( San’anqulin), 2710 m a.s.l., 15 Jul 1975, Qinghai-Tibet Team Additional Group 750596 (PE00510175); [ Nêdong (Naidong) County] Zêtang (Zedang), 3500 m a.s.l., 11 Aug 1977, B.Z. Guo et al. 22350 (WUK0345060); Nyingchi Prefecture: Bomi County, Guxiang, 29°55'N, 95°30'E, 2550 m a.s.l., 3 Jul 1965, Ying & Hong 650415 (PE00510164); Bomi County, Tangmai (Tongmai), 2030 m a.s.l., 23 Jul 1965, Zhang & Lang 892 (PE00510166); Bomi County, Sumzom (Songzong), 3500 m a.s.l., 4 Sep 1965, Ying & Hong 651075 (PE00510171); Bomi County, Yi’ong (Yigong), 2400 m a.s.l., 19 Jun 1966, Zhang & Wang 0401 (PE00510223); Mainling (Milin) County, Jiage, 3100 m a.s.l., 10 Jul 1972, Tibet Chinese Herbal Medicine Survey Team 3660 (PE00510218); Qamdo Prefecture: Qamdo (Changdu) County, 23 Aug 1952, Zhong 7203 (PE00510204); Qamdo (Changdu) County, 6 July 1965, Zhang & Lang 230 (PE00510172), Zhang & Lang 232 (PE00510174); Qamdo (Changdu) County to [Baxoi (Basu) County] Bamda (Bangda), 3150 m a.s.l., 6 Jul 1965, Zhang & Lang 403 (PE00510173); Zogang (Zuogong) County, 3750 m a.s.l., 28 Jun 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Team Vegetation Group 8689 (PE00510216); Markam (Mangkang) County, nr Dengba vill., 30 Aug 2011, Yu et al. 6149 (PE);

INDIA: Jammu & Kashmir: Pata, 7500 ft a.s.l., 28 May 1848, T.T. Thomson s.n. (K); Srinagar, [year] 1856, Schlagintweit 4286 (G); Sonamarg, 1 Sep 1896, C.B. Clarke 30890 (K); [Srinagar] Dal lake, 17 Aug 1917, R.R. Stewart 3324 (K); Ladakh, Zanskar Region, S of Padum, Dibling to Barmi La, 3730 m a.s.l., 24 Aug 2003, 33°54'18"N, 76°41'6"E, L. Klimeš 3227 (PRA); Ladakh, Zanskar, Tsarap, Kuru to Tetha, 3950 m a.s.l., 21 Aug 2004, 33°10'18"N, 77°10'32"E, L. Klimeš 4163 (PRA); Ladakh, Suru Region, Parkachik, 3620-3740 m a.s.l., 25 Aug 2005, L. Klimeš 6048 (PRA); Himachal Pradesh: Simla, 4 Jul 1877, J.S. Gamble 4500 (K); Simla, 7000 ft a.s.l., 10 Jul 1886, H. Collett 311 (K); Simla, 8 Oct 1890, Watt 13674 (E); Lahaul, Koksu Lahaul, 10000 ft a.s.l., 7 Aug 1916, R.E. Cooper 5283 (E00394442); Tangmang, 6000 ft a.s.l., 17 Aug 1956, Polunin 56-363 (BM); Uttarakhand state: Kumaon, Almora, 5500 ft a.s.l., [without date] S. Strachey & J.E. Winterbottom 5 (BR, BM); 20 km SW of Dehradun, 670 m a.s.l., 15 Jun 1972, P. Uotila 17668 (H1154022); Tehri Garhwal Distr., Kharsali, 3 Oct 1991, S.C. Majumdar & B. Balodi 81561 (BSD);

NEPAL: Far-Western: Seti Zone: Bajhang Distr., 19 Jul 1991, Suzuki et al. 9160766 (BM); Bajhang Distr., Khaptad National Park, trail from Ghoda Daune to Lokhada, 29°24'N, 81°8'E, 2559 m a.s.l., 3 Jul 2009, H. Ikeda et al. 20913048 (E00509893); Midwestern: Karnali Zone: [Dolpa Distr.] nr Tarakot, Bheri river, 10500 ft a.s.l., 11 Jul 1952, O. Polunin, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 2432 (BM, E); [Dolpa Distr.] Dunai, 28°55'N, 82°55'E, 2100 m a.s.l., 26 Apr 1974, J.-F. Dobremez 2761 (BM, E00214373); Dolpa Distr., Polam, 29°10'N, 82°50'E, 3250 m a.s.l., 6 Oct 1991, M. Minaki et al. 9104404 (BM); [Jumla Distr.], Jumla vill., 23 Sep 2010, A. Sukhorukov 463 (MW); Rapti Zone: [Rolpa Distr.] Phalabang, 4500 ft a.s.l., 27 Mar 1952, O. Polunin, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 654 (E); Western: Dhaulagiri Zone: [Baglung Distr.] nr Bongakhani, 500 ft a.s.l., 5 May 1954, J. Stainton, W.R. Sykes & L.H.J. Williams 2708 (BM); Mustang Distr., 3185 m a.s.l., 22 Sep 1995, M. Mikage et al. 9550337 & 9550357 (BM); Lumbini Zone: Nawalparasi [Distr.], Beldiha, 150 m a.s.l., Nov 1970, T. Makino 10 (BM); Central: Bagmati Zone: [Rasuwa Distr.] Langtang vill., 11500 ft a.s.l., 1 Aug 1949, O. Polunin 1552 (BM); Langtang, 11500 ft a.s.l., 22 Jun 1949, O. Polunin 490 (BM); [Bhaktapur Distr.] Nagarkot to Bhaktapur, Mar 2012, A. Sukhorukov s.n. (MW); Narayani Zone: Chitwan Distr., Sauraha, 160 m a.s.l., 19 Jan 1996, M. Mikage et al. 9614220 (E00152131); Chitwan National Park, Sauraha, 4 Mar 2008, A. Sukhorukov 56 (MW, E00665443); Eastern: Mechi Zone: [Taplejung Distr.] Talung, 2600 m a.s.l., 3 Oct 1971, C. Jest 71-18 (E00214371).

General distribution.

Subcosmopolitan.

Figures

Figure 4. SEM micrographs of Chenopodium fruits and seeds. A, B seed of C. album C C. pamiricum, fruit with red seed D C. pamiricum, fruit with brown seed E, F C. pamiricum, red seed G, H seed of C. ficifolium. Magnification: 50 x (A, E, G), 100 x (C, D); 200 x (B, F, H).

Figure 5. Distribution map of Chenopodium album (circles) and C. pamiricum (stars).