Schizotechium paniculatum (Edgew.) Pusalkar & S.K.Srivast. (2016: 83)

Kafle, Rashika & Parmar, Gaurav, 2024, Taxonomic revision of Schizotechium (Caryophyllaceae) in Nepal, including one new record, Phytotaxa 645 (1), pp. 29-42 : 38-39

Schizotechium paniculatum (Edgew.) Pusalkar & S.K.Srivast. (2016: 83) .

≡ Stellaria paniculata Edgew. (1846: 35) . ≡ Stellularia paniculata (Edgew.) Kuntze (1891: 55) . ≡ Stellaria monosperma f. paniculata (Edgew.) Mizush. (1957: 248) . ≡ Stellaria monosperma var. paniculata (Edgew.) Majumdar (1965: 141) .

Lectotype (non-explicitly designated by Pusalkar & Srivastava 2016):— Jauglig (Himalaya), in the forest, 9000–10,000 ft., October 1844, M.P. Edgeworth 165 ( K000723665 !) .

Diagnosis:— Plants shiny, yellowish green in appearance, tomentose mostly on apical parts, basal and median parts usually subglabrous to glabrous; stems 20–120 cm; leaves petiolate, lanceolate to elliptic, base cuneate, both surfaces glabrous or sparsely tomentose; flowers mostly dense and sticky, peduncles up to 6(–7) cm; petals 1/4 to 1/3 to sepals; filaments with small glands at base; seeds nearly rugose.

Description:— Perennial herbs. Roots slightly thick, fleshy, fusiform with simple lateral roots. Shiny, yellowish green in appearance, uniseriate multicellular eglandular or glandular tomentose mostly on apical parts, basal and median parts usually subglabrous to glabrous. Stem subscandent to ascending, usually diffusely branched, mature stem pale yellowish green, shiny, immature stem pale green, 20–120 cm, 4-angled, feeble, 1 or 2-line of white uniseriate multicellular eglandular or glandular tomentose, basal nodes include small leaf on axils. Basal and median leaves petiolate; petioles 2–20 mm, eglandular or eglandular tomentose; leaf blade pale green, lanceolate to elliptic, (1–)1.5– 10(–12) × 0.4–3.5 cm, leaf base cuneate, apex narrowly acute to acuminate, margins membranaceous, margins entire and crisp, tomentose or not, both surfaces glabrous or sparsely tomentose, midvein depressed adaxially, venation conspicuous and closed; apical leaves subsessile, leaf blade pale green, lanceolate to elliptic, 0.5–5.5 × 0.1–1.5 cm, base cuneate, apex acute to acuminate, margins entire and crisp with tomentose hairs, both surfaces tomentose, midvein conspicuous, venation closed. Flowers usually dense or few, in terminal or axillary paniculate cymes, mostly irregular to di or rarely trichotomously branched, diffuse. Peduncles up to 6(–7) cm, glandular tomentose. Bracts foliaceous in pair, subsessile to sessile, lanceolate to oblong, 1.5–10 × 0.5–3 mm, base cuneate to narrowly rounded, apex acuminate to acute, margins entire or crisp, subglabrous or densely tomentose, both surfaces shiny or rough, midvein conspicuous. Pedicels slender, 2–10 mm, densely tomentose, sticky. Flowers 6–7 mm across, reduced. Sepals 5, oblong-lanceolate, 2.5–4 × 0.8–1.2 mm, base rounded, apex acute, narrowly membranaceous, adaxially glabrous, abaxially glandular-tomentose on both base and apex, midrib conspicuous. Petals 5, caducous, obovate with abrupt cuneate tapering base, 1–1.2 × 0.6–0.8 mm, 1/4 to 1/3 of sepals; lamina 2-cleft up to 1/3–2/3 of length, excluding tapering base, each lobe oblong to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse apex, veins inconspicuous. Stamens 10 (5+5 arrangement), 1.5–1.8 mm, almost all stamens equal in length or inner one shorter and outer longer, arranged alternately; filaments white, slender, filaments conspicuously fused at adjoining portion with pale green nectarous glands at base, 5-lobed and alternipetalous; anthers dorsifixed, young anthers pale yellow, mature one’s yellow brown, broadly ellipsoid, 0.2-0.3 mm. Ovary subglobose, 1–1.5 mm; styles 3, 1–1.5 mm, apex curved and spreading in fruits. Capsules pale green, ovoid, 3–3.2 mm, shorter than sepals, 6-valved, rarely 4-valved; valves narrowly oblong-oblanceolate, apex obtuse. Seeds pale brown–brown, broadly suborbicular to widely ovoid, 2.2–2.6 mm, beaked or obtuse, shiny, nearly rugose, margins roughly sinuate, surfaces smooth ( Fig. 5 ).

Phenology:— July to November.

Habitat and distribution:— This species is found in moist and shady places under dense forest canopy (1200– 3600 m). It is distributed in E Himalaya, W Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, E Asia ( China only), SE Asia and SW Asia, and W, C & E Nepal.

Additional specimens examined:— NEPAL. West Nepal: Karnali Province, Jumla district, on way to Baba Baligara Than, 3064 m, 29°19’16”N, 82°25’43”E, 21 July 2022, Y.B. Poudel YBPW001 (KATH!, TUCH!); Bajhang district; Dhalaun (2400 m)–a pass (2880 m)–Ghat Khola (1980 m)–Jima (2230 m)–Rasa (2260 m), 29°41’53”– 29°44’17”N, 81°22’03”– 81°22’34”E, 20 August 1991, M. Suzuki, H. Hatta, N. Kurosaki, M. Mikage, F. Miyamoto, K.R. Rajbhandari, H. Takayama & K. Terada 9160819 (KATH!, TI!). Central Nepal: Bagmati Province, Kathmandu district, Sivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Tallo Deurali, 2302 m, 27°47’53”N, 85°23’11”E, October 21, 2019, R. Kafle, B. Shrestha, G. Lama, P. Dhungana, S. Limbu & S. Lama RK024 (KATH!, TUCH!); Kathmandu district, Sivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Near Tallo Deurali, 2302 m, 27°47’50”N, 85°23’11”E, 21 October 2019, RK021 (KATH!); Kathmandu district, Sivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Way to Tallo Deurali, 2331 m, 27°47’48”N, 85°23’11”E, 27 September 2020, R. Kafle, B. Shrestha, P.R. Gurung & G. Lama RK047 (KATH!); Kathmandu district, Sivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, Near Tallo Deurali, 2331 m, 27°47’52”N, 85°23’10”E, 27 September 2020, R. Kafle, B. Shrestha, P.R. Gurung & G. Lama RK048 (KATH!); Rasuwa district, Way to Gosainkunda, Near Dhimsa, 2803 m, 28°6’21”N, 85°19’35”E, 3 October 2021, Rita Chhetri, T.K. Thapa & R. Kafle RK 312 (KATH!); Rasuwa district, Way to Gosainkunda, near Chandanbari, 3205 m, 28°6’37”N, 85°20’0”E, 3 October 2021, R. Chhetri, T.K. Thapa & R. Kafle RK313 (KATH!, TUCH!); Gandaki Province, Kaski district, Bhainsi Kharka (2460 m)–Misal Kharka (2540 m)– Tadapani (2620 m)–Chupru Khola (2440 m)–Mato Bisaune (2460 m)–Banthanti (2600 m), 2520 m, 29°20’– 29°20’N, 83°45’– 83°40’E, 23 August 1988, M. Suzuki, T. Maeda, N. Naruhashi, R. Watanabe, M.N. Subedi, M. Minaki, S. Noshiro & H. Ikeda 8860626 (KATH!, TI!); Myagdi district, Dobang–Lapcha Kharka, 2080 m, 28°37’N, 83°23’E, 10 September 1996, M. Mikage, R. Hirano, N. Kondo, C. Mohri, A. Takahashi & K. Yonekura 9682396 (TI!). East Nepal: Koshi Province, Panchthar district, Dabale Deurali, 2680 m, 27°09’22”N, 87°57’07.9”E, 29 September 2007, Shrestha, K.K., N.B. Khatri, J. Pandey, R.M. Kunwar, K. Humagain, M.K. Dhamala D252 (KATH!); Sankhuwasabha district, Mul Pokhari–Gorzu, 27°18’N, 87°35’E, 30 October 1963, H. Hara, H. Kanai, S. Kurosawa, G. Murata, M. Togashi & T. Tuyama 6306975 (TI!).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Schizotechium paniculatum. A. Habit, B. Inflorescence, C. Flower, D. Sepals, E. Petal, F. Stamens, G. Pistil, H. Capsule and valve, I. Seeds (photograph C by Y.B. Poudel; others by R. Kafle).