Malus sikkimensis (Wenz.) Koehne ex C.K.Schneid.

Li, Jing-chao, Liu, Jian-quan & Gao, Xin-fen, 2022, A revision of the genus Malus Mill. (Rosaceae), European Journal of Taxonomy 853, pp. 1-127 : 53-56

13. Malus sikkimensis (Wenz.) Koehne ex C.K.Schneid.

Figs 33–34

Illustriertes Handbuch der Laubholzkunde Vol. 1: 719 ( Schneider 1906b).

Pyrus pashia var. sikkimensis Wenz. , Linnaea 38 (1): 49 ( Wenzig 1874). – Pyrus sikkimensis Hook. f. , Flora of British India Vol. 2 (5): 373 ( Hooker 1879). – Malus baccata subsp. sikkimensis (Wenz.) Likhonos, Trudy po prikladnoi botanike genetike i selektsii 52 (3): 28 ( Likhonos 1974).

– Type: INDIA • Sikkim, Himalaya , alt. 7000‒10 000 ft; s.d.; fl; J.D. Hooker s.n.; isosyntype: K [ K000758445 ]!, M [ M0213666 ]!

Examined specimens

BHUTAN – Guni Sa; 14 May 1949; fl; F. Ludlow, G. Sherriff & J.H. Hicks 16231; PE .

CHINA – Sichuan • Butuo; 6 Aug. 1979; st; Pucha Team 0682; SM. – Tibet • Milin ; 19 Oct. 1984; fr; G. Yao et al. 132; NAS • ibid.; 29 Jul. 1989; fr; G. Yao et al. 1834; NAS • ibid.; 13 Sep. 2003; fr; X.F. Gao et al. 7425; CDBI • ibid.; 28 Jul. 1975; fr; Qingzhang Budian Group 750912; PE • Chayu ; 7 Oct. 2007; fr; Z.D. Fang, G. He & Q.R. Yang XZ-689; SABG • Bomi ; 3 Sep. 1982; fr; B.S. Li et al. 0518; PE • Yadong ; 9 Sep. 1974; fr; Qingzang Team 2108; PE • Linzhi ; 2 Jul. 1989; fr; G. Yao et al. 1443; NAS • Shannan; 11 Sep. 2017; fr; PE-Xizang Team PE6349 ; PE. – Yunnan • Deqin ; 25 May 1975; fl; Yunnan Deqinxian Nongyeju s.n.; PE • 18 May 1975; fl; Yunnan Deqinxian Nongyeju s.n.; PE • ibid.; 2 Sep. 1974; fr; P. Zhang 74050; PE • Wenshan ; 26 Mar. 2009; st; Y.L. Wang et al. 09-129; SZG • Weixi ; 12 Sep.1974; fr; P. Zhang 74061; PE .

INDIA – Sikkim • Himalaya ; 4 Aug. 1849; fl, fr; J.D. Hooker s.n.; K[000758444] • ibid.; 26 May 1849; fl, fr; J.D. Hooker s.n.; K[000758443] • ibid.; 28 May 1849; fl; J.D. Hooker s.n.; K[000758446] • ibid.; 4 Jun. 1849; fl; J.D. Hooker s.n.; K[000758445] • ibid.; 16 Aug. 1844; fr; J.D. Hooker s.n.; K[000758442] • locality unknown; 6 Jul. 1849; fr; Anonymous s.n.; K .

MYANMAR – East Himalaya ; Aug. 1837; fl, fr; Griffith 2081; K.

Description

Small tree, up to 8 m high. Branches terete, pubescent when young, glabrescent. Leaves petiolate, petiole ca 1.3‒2.2 cm long, densely lanuginous. Lamina 5.6‒8.3 × 2.6‒4.1 cm, oval to ovate, base rounded, equilateral, apex acuminate or acute, margin serrulate, blade pubescent abaxially and on midvein. Inflorescence corymbose, with 5‒8 flowers. Pedicel ca 3.7 cm long, densely lanuginous. Hypanthium densely lanuginous or glabrous. Sepals lanceolate-triangular, abaxially glabrous, adaxially densely puberulous, caducous, rarely persistent. Petals ca 1.1 × 0.9 cm, white, obovate. Stamens 25‒50, unequal. Styles 4, as long as or longer than stamens, glabrous. Pome ca 1.5‒2.0 cm in diameter, subglobose or pyriform, yellow to red. Carpopodium ca 2.6 cm long, lanuginous.

Phenology

Flowers in May. Mature fruits in September.

Habitat

Terrestrial, seasonally green, growing in alpine forests; 2000‒3000 (3900) m a.s.l.

Distribution

Bhutan, China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet), India (Sikkim), Nepal and Sri Lanka ( Fig. 33 ).

Chromosome numbers

2n = 34, 51, 54, 68.

Note

Sorbus sikkimensis Wenz. (including Malus sikkimensis (Wenz.) N.P.Balakr. ) was mistakenly treated as a synonym of Malus sikkimensis by Hassler (2020), but it actually is a synonym of Sorbus corymbifera (Miq.) T.H.Nguyên & Yakovlev according to the original literature and type specimen Sorbus sikkimensis Wenz. Linnaea 38 (1): 58 ( Wenzig 1874). – Type: INDIA • India orientalis; 1843; Griffith 2077/1; syntype: M[M0213809, M0213776]!; isosyntype: E[E00145673]!, GH[GH00112876, GH00135439]! (Note on the sheet: lectotype, designated by Aldasoro et al. 2004: 57). In addition, because the type Hooker f. & Thomson s.n. of M. sikkimensis cited by Wenzig (1874: 49) still exist, the neotype G. King s.n. designated by Langenfeld (1991: 129) is invalid.

Figures

Fig. 33. Distribution of Malus sikkimensis (Wenz.) Koehne ex C.K.Schneid.

Fig. 34. Morphological characters of Malus sikkimensis (Wenz.) Koehne ex C.K.Schneid.; M0213776 (syntype of Sorbus sikkimensis Wenz.), M0213809 (syntype of Sorbus sikkimensis), K000758444, K000758446, K000758447. Scale bars = 10 mm.