Gaultheria major (Airy Shaw) P.W.Fritsch & Lu Lu, 2015

Fritsch, Peter W., Lu, Lu, Wang, Hong & Li, De-Zhu, 2015, New species, taxonomic renovations, and typifications in Gaultheria series Trichophyllae (Ericaceae), Phytotaxa 201 (1), pp. 1-26 : 14-17

5. Gaultheria major (Airy Shaw) P.W.Fritsch & Lu Lu , comb. et stat. nov.

≡ Gaultheria sinensis J.Anthony in Anonymous (1933: 19) var. major Airy Shaw (1941: 325) (‘ maior ’). Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Kari Pass, Mekong-Yangtze divide, 3300 m, 27°40 ʹ N, August 1914, G. Forrest 12938 (holotype K!, isotypes E!, BM!).

Many-branched prostrate or prostrate-ascending shrublet with stems to 12 cm long from horizontal stolons, hermaphroditic. Current-year branchlets pale green and strongly flushed red above, to 8 cm long, with sparse to moderate white puberulence and ascending or uncinate straight or usually undulate setae, longer setae 0.46–0.96 mm long. Internodes among largest leaves averaging ca. 1.1–2.3 mm. Petioles 0.6–1.3 mm long, abaxially glabrous or with sparse uncinate-appressed or ascending setae, adaxially with sparse white puberulence in a line, margin entire or 1- toothed. Longer leaf blades elliptic or narrowly so to slightly oblanceolate, 7.5–18 × 2.8–6.9 mm, 1.5–3.2 times as long as wide, subcoriaceous, planar, abaxially dull whitish green except glossy and occasionally flushed maroon near margin, at least some leaves with 1 to 23 appressed or ascending setae scattered on midvein or rarely also on surface but near midvein (longer setae 0.34–0.8 mm long), adaxially glossy green, midvein abaxially raised, not thickened immediately below apical gland, adaxially impressed and with white puberulence proximally or glabrous, secondary veins abaxially obscure or 2 to 4 on each side of midvein, adaxially obscure; base cuneate to subrounded; margin serrulate throughout, slightly thickened, slightly revolute, marginal teeth (setae) 8 to 15 per side, all teeth oriented off leaf surface, longer teeth 0.34–0.84 mm long; apex acute to rounded, tip with planar apical gland. Overwintering flower bud pedicels 1.8– 4.1 mm long, glabrous; overwintering flower buds slightly compressed to subglobose laterally, 1.8–3.7 × 1.7–3 mm, 1–1.6 times as long as wide, glabrous, bracteoles not or slightly keeled, margins eciliolate. Flowers ca. 5.6 mm long. Calyx dull pink, 2.8–3.5 mm long; lobes broadly deltoid, 5–2.2 × 2–2.6 mm, adaxially glabrous, apex acute, eciliolate, not erose. Corolla white, campanulate, 5–5.2 × 7 mm; lobes 2.3–2.6 × 1.8 mm. Stamens 10; filaments dilated gradually then abruptly constricted at apex, ca. 1 mm long; anther cells ca. 0.6 mm long, awns 2 per theca, 0.4–0.5 mm long. Style 1–2.5 mm long; stigma pink. Fruiting pedicel 2.2–4.1 mm long. Fruiting calyx prolate to subglobose, broadly cupuliform, open, 7–10 × 8–18 mm, outer wall deep sky blue, inner wall white; calyx lobes erect or slightly incurved, broadly deltoid, 3–3.5 mm long, apex eciliolate, not erose. Capsule green, exceeded by calyx lobes.

Illustration — Figure 7 .

Images — Figure 6F–J , 8F .

Phenology —Flowering May, September; fruiting July–October.

Habitat and distribution —Coniferous forests, alpine thickets, meadows, and pastures, with scattered bamboo, among rocks, limestone, marble, granite and metamorphics; 3000–4200 m elev. China (Yunnan, Xizang) .

Discussion — Airy Shaw (1941) described this taxon as a variety of Gaultheria sinensis . We observed it growing alongside G. sinensis in the Biluo Snow Mountains, where the two entities could be distinguished with relative ease. Characters serving to reliably distinguish G. major from G. sinensis are the longer stem setae (the longer setae on individual stems 0.46–0.96 mm versus 0.26–0.48 mm), the longer and more numerous leaf marginal setae (0.34–0.84 mm long and 8 to 15 per side, versus 0.1–0.4 mm long and 6 to 12 per side) and the leaf tip with a planar apical gland (versus at least some leaves with a slightly downward-pointing apical gland). The species also tends to have larger fruiting calyces than G. sinensis (7–10 × 8–18 mm versus 5–10 × 7–15 mm; Fig. 8F ).

The type of this species and other plant specimens collected from the region between the Salween and Yangtze rivers have longer branchlets and leaf internodes, and larger leaves, than the rest of the specimens occurring throughout the range of the species. Airy Shaw noted this difference in an annotation label on the collection of G. Forrest 28035 at E (“small form approaching type of [ Gaultheria sinensis ]).” During our field work, we observed only the small plants in the Gaoligong Mountains (L. Lu LL-2013-37), whereas in the Biluo Snow Mountains we observed the larger plants at high elevations (L. Lu LL-2013-40 and LL-2013-51, 3599 and 3936 m, respectively) and the smaller plants at lower elevations. The smaller plants, however, have been collected in the Biluo Snow Mountains by others apparently at both high elevations (T.S. Tsai 58172 at 4000 m) and relatively low elevations (P.Y. Mao 00138 at 3000 m).

Additional specimens examined — CHINA. Province unknown: without locality, W.P. Fang 57736 (E!). Yunnan: Dali Shi. Tali, Tsang Chan, 3500 m, 10 June 1885, J.M. Delavay s.n. p.p. (K! mixed with G. cardiosepala and G. trichophylla ); Tali, Tsang Chan, 3500 m, 10 June 1885, J.M. Delavay 1877 p.p. (A! mixed with G. trichophylla , K! mixed with G. cardiosepala and G. trichophylla , P 00546405! mixed with G. cardiosepala and G. trichophylla ); Tali Range, October 1929, G. Forrest 28035 (E!); Tsangshan Range, W of Talifu, 13,000 ft, August 1922, J.F. Rock 6325 (A!); no locality indicated, 3000 m, May 1935, C.W. Wang 63284 (A!). Deqin Xian. Cizhong Village, 3800 m, 5 July 1940, K.M. Feng 5130 (KUN [2]!); mtn. behind Cizhong Village, 3500–3700 m, 9 August 1940, K.M. Feng 6468 (KUN!); Salwin-Mekong Divide, mtns. behind Yongzi Village, 3700–3800 m, 16 August 1940, K.M. Feng 6724 (KUN! mixed with G. sinensis ); Yanmen Xiang, Biluo Xue Shan, E slope just below Sila Pass, 3936 m, 28°00 ʹ 8.5 ʺ N, 98°47 ʹ 54.8 ʺ E, 24 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-51 (CAS!, GH!, KUN!). Eryuan Xian. Vicinity of Niujie, near main peak of Maer Shan, 3450 m, 3 July 1963, Jinsha River Expedition 63-6113 (KUN [2]!). Fugong Xian. Che-tseluo, top of Pi-lo [Biluo] Shan, 4000 m, 25 August 1934, H.T. Tsai 58172 (A!, KUN!). Gongshan Dulongzu Nuzu Zizhixian. Bingzhongluo Xiang. ca. 2.1 direct km S of Gawagapu Mtn. and ca. 15.2 direct km WSW of Bingzhongluo in next basin E of Chukuai Lake, E side of Gaoligong Shan, 4000 m, 27°59 ʹ 29.3 ʺ N, 98°28 ʹ 36.3 ʺ E, 28 August 2006, Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey 32809 p.p. (CAS! mixed with G. sinensis ); [Cikai Zheng], Dongshaofang Pass, Gaoligongshan, 3200–3500 m, 4 June 2006, L. Lu 06-0014 p.p. (CAS! mixed with G. ciliisepala and G. sinensis ); Cikai Zheng, Gaoligong Shan, Qiqi River drainage, along trail from No. 12 Bridge to Dong Shao Fang and pass, 3498 m, 27°41 ʹ 37.6 ʺ N, 98°27 ʹ 38.1 ʺ E, 18 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-37 (CAS!, GH!, KUN!); Bangdang Xiang, Biluo Xue Shan, Balagong spur, trail from Dimaluo to Balagong Pass, 3599 m, 27°57 ʹ 49.8 ʺ N, 98°44 ʹ 26.4 ʺ E, 23 September 2013, L. Lu LL-2013-40 (CAS!, GH!, KUN!); Bangdang Xiang, Mekong-Salwin Divide, Sila, 4000 m, 12 August 1938, T.T. Yü 22316 (KUN [2]!); Bangdang Xiang, Mekong-Salwin Divide, Sila, 4000 m, 2 October 1938, T.T. Yü 22748 (A!, E!, KUN [2]!). Heqing Xian. Machang, Baishanmu, R.C. Ching 23490 (KUN!). Lanping Baizu Pumizu Zizhixian. Biluo Snow Mtns., Jiumingfang, 4200 m, S.G. Wu 8767 (KUN [2]!). Weixi Lisuzu Zizhixian. Wei-Hsi area, G. Forrest 30556 (E!); Lidiping, 3000 m, 20 July 1956, P.Y. Mao 00138 (KUN [2]!); Mt. Shang-Ma-Kou, N of Wei-Hsi, August 1928, J.F. Rock 17172 (A!); Yeh-Chih Community, 3600 m, August 1935, C.W. Wang 68551 (A!, KUN!); Yeh-Chih Community, 3600 m, August 1935, C.W. Wang 68633 (A!, KUN!). Yulong Naxizu Zizhixian. W Lijiang, summit of mtns. behind Tamichung, 25 August 1939, R.C. Ching 21460 (A!, KUN!). Xizang: Xian undetermined. Mekong-Salween Divide, Schöndsula, 3850 m, 28°4 ʹ N, 22 September 1915, H.F. von Handel-Mazzetti 8243 (E!, A!, P!). Chayu Xian. Tsarong, Salwin-Kiu Chiang divide, 28°24 ʹ N, 13,000 ft, 98°24 ʹ E, August 1921, G. Forrest 20040 (A!, E!, K!, P!).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Images of Gaultheria eciliata, G. major, and G. obovata. A–E. Gaultheria eciliata, habit (A), flower lateral view (B) and apical view (C), fruit lateral view (D) and apical view (E) (A: L. Lu LL-2013-32; B–C: L. Lu LL-2014-3; D–E: L. Lu LL-2013-21). F–J. Gaultheria major, habit (F), flower bud and flower, lateral view (G), flower, apical view (H), fruit, lateral view (I) and apical view (J) (F: L. Lu LL-2013-37; G–H: L. Lu LL-2013-51; I–J: L. Lu LL-2013-40). K–N. Gaultheria obovata, habit (K), flower, apical view (L), fruit, lateral view (M) and apical view (N) (K–L: L. Lu & P.W. Fritsch LL-2011-21; M–N: L. Lu LL-2013-41). Photographs:A–B, D–H by PWF; C, I–N by LL. Scale bars: A, F, K, 10 cm; B–C, 3 mm; D–E, I–J, M–N, 10 mm; G–H, L, 5 mm.

FIGURE 7. Gaultheria major. A. Fruiting plant. B. Section of branchlet with leaf in abaxial view. C. Section of branchlet with flower bud. D. Flower. E. Stamen. F. Nectar glands and gynoecium. G. Fruit, lateral view. H. Fruit, apical view. (A–B drawn from C.W. Wang 68551, A; C drawn from H.F. von Handel-Mazzetti 8243, P; D drawn from L. Lu LL-2013-51, CAS, and images of the living plant; E–F drawn from L. Lu LL-2013-51, CAS; G–H drawn from L. Lu LL-2013-40, CAS, and images of the living plant.)

FIGURE 8. Images of Gaultheria major, G. sinensis, and G. stenophylla. A–E. Gaultheria sinensis, habit (A), flowers, lateral view (B) and apical view (C), fruit, lateral view (D) and apical view (E) (A, D–E: L. Lu LL-2013-14; B–C: L. Lu LL-2013-52). F. Gaultheria major (left) and G. sinensis (right) fruits from plants growing together, showing differences in size and mature calyx color [L. Lu LL-2013-51 (left), LL-2013-52 (right)]. G–N. Gaultheria stenophylla, habit (G), flowers in lateral view (H) and apical view (I), fruit, lateral and apical view (J), fruit, lateral view (K), fruit, lateral view, from a plant with open mature calyces (L) (cf. J), plants with dark blue or white mature calyces (the different colors are on separate individuals) (M), plant from same area as those in (M), with light blue mature calyces (N) [G, L: L. Lu LL-2013-7; H–I: L. Lu LL-2014-8; J–K, L. Lu LL-2013-1; M, L. Lu LL-2013-7 (blue) and LL-2013-9 (white); N, L. Lu LL-2013-8]. Photographs A–B, D, G, I–K, M–N by PWF; C, E–F, H, L by LL. Scale bars:A, M, 5 cm; B–E, H–I, 5 mm; F, J–L, N, 10 mm; G, 10 cm.