Taraxacum confusaneum Kirschner & Štěpánek, 2023

Kirschner, Jan & Štěpánek, Jan, 2023, A taxonomic revision of Taraxacum sect. Dissecta, a continental steppe group common in Siberia and adjacent regions of Central Asia, Phytotaxa 590 (1), pp. 1921-1935 : 1921-1935

12. Taraxacum confusaneum Kirschner & Štěpánek , sp. nov.

Type:—[ RUSSIA, Respublika Altay] Sibiria austro-occid., montes Altaj, distr. Ongudaj, in siccis et alluvionibus ad confluentem fl. Katuň et Čuja , 1 Jul 1988, J. Kirschner, cultivated from roots no. JŠ 3349 and obtained achenes as T 202 ( PRA, no. det. 35847, holotype; isotype: PRA, no. det. 36395) .

Etymology:—Derived from several sources; mingled.

Diagnosis:—Plantae parvulae, foliis profunde dissectis, lobis lateralibus anguste triangularibus vel lineari-triangularibus patentibus usque falcato-recurvis, phyllariis involucralibus exterioribus subimbricatis, variabiliter erecto-patentibus, laxe adpressis vel ± adpressis, ovato-lanceolatis, marginibus albidis distinctis 0.2–0.4 mm latis et acheniis rubro-brunneis, longis, in pyramidem cylindricam subabrupte abeuntibus distinguendae.

Plants small, to 8–12 cm tall. Petiole narrow, unwinged, sparsely arachnoid to ± glabrous, suffused deep purple; plant base with whitish to yellowish hairs, tunic developed. Leaves ± mid-green, sparsely arachnoid to subglabrous, mainly along mid-vein, not spotted, occasionally with sparse brown-purple elongated little spots on leaf surface, linear-oblanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate in outline, usually 3–11 × (0.9–) 1.1–2.5 cm, with a very complicated three-dimensional shape pattern, deeply pinnatisect, lateral segments usually (3) 4–6 pairs, usually narrowly triangular, patent, subrecurved or falcate-recurved, usually wholly narrowly bordered brown-purple, distal margin often undulate, convex, sigmoid or rarely concave, with several unequal little teeth and often with an incision, sometimes ± entire, proximal margin often ± undulate or narrowly raised, usually ± straight, denticulate or ± entire; terminal segment triangular to almost tripartite, distal margin usually with a shallow constriction, ± concave, undulate, occasionally with an incision or a minute tooth; interlobes usually narrowly bordered brown-purple, narrow, usually 2–3 mm wide, with numerous or a few unequal acuminate teeth and lobules, teeth often variously raised, some variously curved; mid-vein usually faintly suffused purplish. Scapes arachnoid, brownish green, subequalling to ± overtopping leaves. Capitulum yellow, 2.5–3 cm wide. Involucre slightly greyish olivaceous-green, 7–9 mm wide and rounded at base. Outer phyllaries usually (8) 10–15, erect-patent, loosely appressed or ± appressed, ± subimbricate, relatively short, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, (4.0–) 4.5–6 × 2.4–3.2 (–3.8) mm, surface light olivaceous-green in the proximal part, distally getting darker and suffused purplish, border sharply delimited, narrow, whitish-membranous, 0.1–0.3 (–0.4) mm wide, margin ciliate, apex ± blackish green, ± flat or with acute cornicles 0.3–0.6 mm long; inner phyllaries usually 11–14 mm long, ± flat to corniculate. Ligules flat, striped greyish-purplish outside, inner ligule teeth dirty purplish or greyish. Stigmas light greenish, with a darker pubescence outside. Pollen present, pollen grains irregular in size. Achenes red-brown, (3.8–) 4.5–4.8 (–5) × 0.9–1.1 mm, body distinctly spinulose in upper 1/3, subabruptly narrowing into ± cylindrical cone (0.6–) 0.8–1.0 × 0.25–0.35 mm; beak (5–) 8–9 mm long, pappus ca. 5.5 mm long, ± pure white. – Agamosperm. – Fig. 13 , 14 .

Diagnostic notes:—The remarkable characters of T. confusaneum include a very complicated leaf shape pattern, relatively large red-brown achenes, and variously subappressed ovate-lanceolate outer phyllaries with a distinct but narrow border.

Distribution and ecology:—During our 1988 expedition, we spent two days at the spectacular confluence of two important rivers: Katun and Chuya. The area was thoroughly sampled and proved enormously rich botanically. Taraxacum confusaneum grows there on dry trampled grasslands and gravelly slopes, at the elevation of ca. 780– 820 m. Another site is situated down the Katun River, near the confluence with Bol’shoi Yaloman. Taraxacum confusaneum also occurs in the NE Kyrgyzstan, at the elevations above 2800 m.

Specimens examined:—[ RUSSIA, Respublika Altay] SW Siberia, Altai, Ongudai District, dry sites and alluvial habitats near the confluence of the rivers Katun and Chuya [50°24’02” N, 86°40’25” E, 780–820 m a.s.l.], 1 Jul 1988, J. Kirschner, cultivated from roots as JŠ 3349 ( PRA). – Altai, Ongudai District , dry slopes in the valley of Katuň River , near the confluence with Boľshoi Yaloman [the locality centre is situated at 50°31’ N, 86°34’ E, 700 m a.s.l.], 30 Jun 1988, J. Kirschner, cultivated from achenes of JŠ 3646 as T 210 ( PRA, no. det. 35843) . – KYRGYZSTAN: East Kyrgyzstan, Central Tian Shan, Mt. Pik Nansen area , central part of Inylchek Valley , 2800–2980 m, 42°11’ N, 79°36’30” E, 16 Jul 1989, L. Businská & R. Businský, cultivated as JŠ 4175 ( PRA, no. det. 36946); Ibidem, cultivated as JŠ 4176 A ( PRA, no. det. 36944) .

Figures

FIGURE 13. Taraxacum confusaneum. A, General habit; B, Achenes (both from PRA, no. det. 35847, holotype).

FIGURE 14. Taraxacum confusaneum. A, General habit of a plant with a less complicated leaf shape pattern (PRA, no. det. 35841); B, Achenes (PRA, no. det. 35843).