Melanoseris jilongensis Ze H.Wang & H.Peng, 2018

Yin, Zhi-Jian, Kilian, Norbert, Li, Bing-Zhang, Sun, Hong-Yan, Zhao, Ming-Xu & Wang, Ze- Huan, 2018, A new species of Melanoseris (Lactucinae, Cichorieae, Asteraceae) from SW Xizang, China, based on morphological and molecular data, Phytotaxa 357 (3), pp. 189-197 : 191-194

Melanoseris jilongensis Ze H.Wang & H.Peng , sp. nov. ( Figs. 3 –4)

Similar to Melanoseris macrorhiza (Royle 1835: 251) N.Kilian in Shih & Kilian (2011: 224), but differing in the leaf characters: the basal leaves are ovate-cordate to elliptic (vs. oblong to spatulate), (4–)10–20 × (2–) 3–11 cm (vs. 6–14.5(–20) × 1–4.5 cm), have a coarsely dentate (vs. entire) margin, (0–)1–2 (vs. 2–4(–6)) pairs of lateral lobes, and both faces are sparsely covered with coarse short hairs (vs. usually glabrous, more rarely rachis ± hispid with purplish brown hairs); moreover, its stem and peduncle are always pilose (vs. usually glabrous); the achenes are broadly ellipsoid (vs. narrowly fusiform), conspicuously pilose (vs. glabrous), its lateral ribs are obviously (vs. weakly) broadened and the apex is attenuate into an 1 mm (vs. 1–3 mm) long beak (Fig. 4, Table 2).

FIGURE 4. Melanoseris jilongensis and M. macrorhiza . A1–A 4 M. jilongensis : A1. habitat, A2. habit, A3. capitula, A4. achene; B1–B 4 M. macrorhiza : B1. habit, B2. basal leaf, B3. capitula, B4. achene. Photographed by Z.H. Wang.

Type:— CHINA. Xizang: Ri-ka-ze District, Jilong County, Jilong Town , Jifu Village , Jiangcun Part of the Zhufeng Nature Reserve , 28.361°N, 85.343°E, elev. 2642 m, 14 August 2017, Wang et al. WZH201708_128 (holotype KUN!; isotypes KUN!, PE!, B!) .

Perennial herbs, with taproot, 25–70 cm tall. Stems solitary or few, slender, ascending-erect, branched from base or higher up, sparsely pilose, leafy. Basal leaves ovate-cordate to elliptic, still present at anthesis, (4–)10–20 × (2–) 3–11 cm, undivided or usually lyrately pinnatifid to lyrately pinnatisect, margin coarsely dentate; lateral lobes (0–)1–2 pairs, orbicular to elliptic, apex obtuse to rounded; terminal lobe largest, ovate-cordate, triangular-ovate, or elliptic, apex rounded to acute; petiole long and slender, ± winged in distal portion, 6–18(–29) cm. Stem leaves 2–4; lower and middle stem leaves similar to basal leaves but smaller, with petiole much shorter, all ± obviously winged, basally expanded and auriculate; uppermost leaves sessile, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, undivided or sometimes shallowly pinnatifid; both sides of leaves sparsely covered with rough hairs. Synflorescence loosely to paniculately corymbiform, with slender branches and usually 4–10 capitula. Capitula with usually 8–12(–15) florets; peduncles covered with brownish arachnoid or short coarse hairs. Involucre cylindric to narrowly campanulate. Phyllaries in 3–5 series, 1–1.3 × 0.4–0.6 cm, light to reddish green, glabrous or ± with hispid hairs; outer phyllaries triangular-ovate to lanceolate, longest ca. 1/2 as long as inner ones; inner phyllaries 8. Florets purplish blue; length of anthers without appendages ca. 4.3 mm. Achenes ca. 5 mm; body dark brown, elliptic, subcompressed, strongly pilose, lateral ribs obviously broadened, apex attenuate into 1 mm white stout beak. Pappus white, with an outer row of minute hairs of 0.1–0.2 mm, and bristles of ca. 7 mm.

Distribution and Habitat: — Melanoseris jilongensis is currently only known from the place near the town of Jilong, Xizang, China ( Fig. 5 ), where three populations were encountered. It grows along forest margins or roadsides, preferably in rocky habitats (Fig. 4A).

Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting July–September.

Etymology: —The epithet “jilongensis ” is derived from the name “Jilong” of the county and town where the species occurs.

Threat status: —To date, Melanoseris jilongensis has only been collected from three separate locations in Xizang, China. Population sizes range from ca. 100–200 individuals. However, only ca. 10%–20% individuals were flowering, and we only found 2 mature achenes in 8 fruiting capitula. Thus, fewer than 250 mature individuals are known to exist and it should be assessed as Endangered (EN) according to criterion D of IUCN (2001).

Other specimens examined: — CHINA. Xizang: Ri-ka-ze District, Jilong County, Jilong Town , Jifu Village , Jiangcun Part of the Zhufeng Nature Reserve . 28.361°N, 85.343°E, elev. 2642 m, 28 August 2016, Yin Zhijin & Zhao Mingxu 0525 ( KUN!) ; Jifu Village, Jifu Grand Canyon , 28.378°N, 85.327°E, elev. 2726 m, 14 August 2017, Wang et al. WZH201708_118 ( KUN!) ; Chongdui Village , 28.421°N, 85.277°E, elev. 2875 m, 14 August 2017, Wang et al. WZH201708_129 ( KUN!) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Melanoseris jilongensis. A. habit; B. taproot; C. capitulum; D. floret; E. style and stigma; F. involucre; G. leaf margin and indumentum; H. ovary and an outer layer of minute pappus; I. bristle pappus; J. achene; K. hairs of peduncle, K1 brownish arachnoid hair, K2 short coarse hair. D–F & H–I: photographed by M.X. Zhao, A–C & G & J–K: photographed by Z.H. Wang.

FIGURE 5. Distribution map of Melanoseris jilongensis.