1. Cirsium leo Nakai & Kitagawa (1934: 60) . Figs. 1–4, 9

Type:— China. Jehol (now Hebei province), Xinglong county, Wuling Shan, 2 September 1933, T. Nakai et al. s.n. (holotype TI00216131!, isotypes TI00216132!, TI00216133!, TI00216134!, TI00216135!). Figs. 3, 4 .

= Cirsium pinnatibracteatum Ling (1935: 148) .

Type:— China. Hopei (Hebei province), Fuping county, Yangshuta, alt. 1785 m, 28 August 1934, K.M. Liou 3469 [lectotype PE00030008!, designated by Lin (2010) , isolectotypes, PE00030009!, PE00030010!]; remaining syntypes: China. Hopei (Hebei), Fuping county, Baicaotuo Shan, alt. 1975 m, 28 August 1934, K.M. Liou 3441 (PE00456122!, PE00456117!) ; Chakar (now Hebei province), Yuxian, Xiaowutai Shan, alt. 2000–2100 m, 13 September 1930, H.W. Kung 1274 (PE00456115!, PE00456138!) ; Chakar (now Hebei province), Yuxian, Xiaowutai Shan, Xijinghekou, alt. 1250 m, 13 September 1930, H.W. Kung 1286 (PE00456113!, PE00456114!). Fig. 9 .

= Cirsium chienii Chang (1936: 160) .

Type:— China. Szechwan (Sichuan province), Songpan county, 24 August 1928, W. P. Fang 4343 (holotype IBSC0580578!, isotypes CQNM0012139!, E00383892!, GH00125933!, IBSC0580826!, NAS00487125!, US021161779!). Figs. 1, 2 .

= Cirsium fangii Petrak (1938: 48), syn. nov.

Type:— China. Szechwan (Sichuan province), Songpan county, 24 August 1928, W. P. Fang 4343 (holotype E00383892!, isotypes CQNM0012139!, GH00125933!, IBSC0580578!, IBSC0580826!, NAS00487125!, US021161779!). Figs. 1, 2 .

Description:—Herbs 40–100 cm tall, perennial. Stems simple or tufted, erect, branched above or rarely unbranched, ribbed, with long multicellular hairs. Basal and lower cauline leaves with petiole to 5 cm long; leaf blade elliptic, oblanceolate-elliptic or lanceolate, 10–25 × 4–7 cm, pinnatifid to pinnatipartite; segments 8–12 pairs, ± narrowly elliptic, or obliquely triangular, with unequal triangular teeth laterally spiny and with an apical spine 3–12 mm long. Cauline leaves sessile, amplexicaul, ± narrowly lanceolate, pinnatilobate to pinnatipartite; segments 4–6 pairs, triangular, with 1–3 unequal triangular teeth laterally spiny and with an apical spine 2–4 mm long; terminal segment largest. All leaves concolorous, green, with crispate multicellular hairs dense abaxially along veins but scattered elsewhere. Capitula corymbose, erect or rarely nodding. Involucre campanulate, ca. 4 cm diam., sparsely cobwebby. Phyllaries in ca. 8 rows, lacking wings and scarious appendage, all of similar length; outer and middle phyllaries 2–3 × 0.2–0.3 cm, pectinately fringed with spinules to 2.5 mm long, basal portion triangular to lanceolate, apical portion subulate tipped with a spinule ca. 3 mm long, patent or reflexed; inner phyllaries lanceolate to linear, ca. 2 × 0.1–0.2 cm, apex long acuminate. Florets bisexual. Corolla purplish, rarely white, ca. 2.4 cm long, tube ca. 1 cm long. Achene dark gray, ca. 5 mm long. Pappus bristles dirty white, ca. 1.5 cm long.

Phenology:—Flowering from (June–) July to September.

Distribution and habitat:— Cirsium leo is distributed in Beijing, Chongqing, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and northern Sichuan, China (Fig. 10). It grows mainly on grassy slopes, at forest margins, in flooded lands, rocky crevices, wet places or along streams in ravines at elevations 700–3400 m above sea level.

Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. Beijng: Miyun, 10 July 1972, Miyun Exped. MI485 (PE01205337). Chongqing: Chengkou, alt. 2000 m, 1 July 2004, Yan-Sheng Chen at el. 613 (WUK0488176); Chengkou, alt 1100 m, 6 July 1959, P.Y. Li 1926 (WUK0350419). Gansu: Kangle, alt. 2450 m, 6 July 1992, Y.C. Wang 92053 (KUN0048474); Lintan, alt. 2900 m, 20 July 1936, T.P. Wang 5164 (PE00456193); Lixian, alt. 1900 m, 23 July 1936, T.P. Wang 4476 (PE00456189); Liupan Shan, August 1956, Huanghe Exped. 2221 (PE00456196); Luqu, alt. 3100 m, 10 August 1991, Taohe Exped. 534 (KUN0048473); Tianshui, alt. 2450 m, 8 August 1960, K.T. Fu 14156 (WUK0162714); Wenxian, alt. 2350–2400 m, 25 June 2006, Baishuijiang Exped. 0107 (PE01612625); Wenxian, alt. 2614 m, 8 September 2011, L.Q. Li et al. 140 (PE01914127); Wenxian, alt. 2600 m, 29 July 1959, Z. Y. Zhang 7649 (WUK0147400); Xiahe, alt. 2400 m, 7 July 1937, K. T. Fu 1099 (PE00456190); Xiahe, alt. 2500 m, 11 July 1937, K. T. Fu 1184 (PE00456209, WUK0022542); Zhugqu, alt. 2200 m, 20 July 1998, Bailongjiang Exped. 418 (PE01537055, PE01537058). Hebei: Laiyuan, alt. 960 m, 25 July 1959, Anonymous 43728 (PE00456135, PE00456136); Xinglong, alt. 1750 m, 22 July 1984, X. W. Zhang et al. 0191 (PE01258875, PE01258876); Xinglong, Wuling Shan, August 1935, Y. Liu 11690 (PE00456119); Yuxian, Xiaowutai Shan, 11 September 1951, C. K. Yang 615 (PE00456120); Yuxian, Xiaowutai Shan, alt. 1990 m, 23 July 1959, Anonymous 5392 (PE00456124, PE00456125); Yuxian, Xiaowutai Shan, alt. 1500 m, 31 July 1934, C. W. Wang 61995 (PE00456111); Zhuolu, alt. 1266 m, 2 September 2014, S. Shi et al. SZ4003 (PE02034854); Zhuolu, alt. 1445 m, 3 September 2014, S. Shi et al. SZ4026 (PE02064033). Henan: Jiyuan, 29 July 2015, C. S. Zhu et al. 150729177 (AU064869); Luanchuan, alt. 1150 m, 16 June 1984, Huangtu Exped. 2699 (WUK0455748); Lingbao, alt. 1240 m, 16 August 1958, J. Q. Fu 150 (KUN0048468); Luoning, alt. 1100 m, 11 June 1984, Huangtu Exped. 2602 (WUK0456711, WUK0456712); Lushi, 28 July 1935, K. M. Liou 4805 (PE00456168, WUK0016184); Lushi, alt. 1150 m, 15 July 1959, Anonymous 34302 (PE00456167, PE00456171); Neixiang, 15 July 2006, C. S. Zhu 20060715 (HITBC0019102); Songxian, alt. 850 m, 6 September 1983, Exped. PL. Econ. L0427 (PE00456166); Xixia, 10 July 1960, K. C. Kuan & T. L. Dai 940 (KUN0048470, PE00456169, PE00456170). Ningxia: Guyuan, alt. 2400 m, 23 June 1976, Q. Du 76-0245 (HNWP64002); Jingyuan, alt. 1800 m, 3 October 1984, J.X. Yang 5631 (WUK0451315, WUK0451316). Shaanxi: Danfeng, alt. 1900 m, 22 September 1958, S. B. He 393 (WUK0101554); Fengxian, alt. 2200 m, 19 July 1964, K. T. Fu 16153 (WUK0363575); Foping, alt. 1550 m, 22 June 1952, K. T. Fu 4679 (KUN0048479, PE00456178, WUK0059705); Huanglong, alt. 1300 m, 22 July 1983, Huangtu Exped. 0129 (WUK0441820); Huaying, 9 June 1939, T. N. Liou 1065 (PE00456184); Huaying, Hua Shan, alt. 1800 m, 8 August 1932, K. S. Hao 4006 (PE00456186); Langao, alt. 2160 m, 28 June 2004, Yan-Sheng Chen at el. 477 (WUK0488071); Meixian, alt. 1800 m, 22 July 2013, Qingling Exped. Tb-129 (BNU004962); Meixian, Taibai Shan, alt. 1700 m, 24 July 1933, T. P. Wang 1338 (PE00456156, PE00456187); Meixian, Taibai Shan, alt. 2880 m, 10 September 1937, T. N. Liou & P. C. Tsoong 752 (PE00456177, WUK0022582); Meixian, Taibai Shan, September 1938, W. Y. Hsia 4671 (IBSC0580845); Ningshan, alt. 1800 m, 27 July 1978, K. T. Fu 17632 (WUK0347148, WUK0347149); Shiquan, alt. 1400 m, 14 June 1959, J. Q. Xing 7333 (WUK0130010); Weinan, alt. 1300 m, 30 June 1952, T. P. Wang 15559 (KUN0048481, PE00456180). Shanxi: Hunyuan, 22 July 1959, X. Y. Liu et al. 10171 (PE00607959); Huozhou, alt. 1700 m, 30 Sep. 1935, T. P. Wang 963 (PE00456149); Jiaocheng, 28 June 1959, S. Ma 15157 (HNWP6437, HSIB016831, WUK0320011); Jiexiu, 12 July 1959, X. Y. Liu 5356 (HNWP142639, WUK0321568); Lingchuan, alt. 1500 m, 18 October 1982, K. T. Fu 18894 (WUK0431228, WUK0431229); Luliang, Lishiqu, alt. 1940, 5 July 1955, Huanghe Exped. 2427 (PE00456163, WUK0482858); Ningwu, alt. 1500 m, 23 August 1959, X. Y. Liu 15460 (HNWP142640, WUK0321943); Ningwu, alt. 1580 m, 12 July 1957, K. M. Liou 1496 (PE00456157); Ningwu, alt. 1900 m, 24 July 1959, X. Y. Liu 15222 (HNWP142643); Qinxian, Lingkong Shan, 18 July 1959, K. C. Kuan et Y. L. Chen 00908 (HNWP142645, PE00456143, PE00456159); Ruicheng, alt. 1560 m, 22 August 1959, S. Y. Bao 540 (HNWP142647, PE00456155, PE00456158); Tsincheng (Jincheng), Taihang Shan, alt. 720 m, 19 June 1937, K. M. Liou 7351 (PE00456160, WUK0022754); Wutai, 7 July 1959, K. C. Kuan et Y. L. Chen 2155 (PE00456162); Wutai, alt. 1730 m, 18 August 1953, Shanxi Exped. 593 (PE00456164, PE00456165); Wutai, alt. 2000 m, 28 July 1959, K. C. Kuan et Y. L. Chen 2536 (HSIB016828, PE00456142, PE00456144); Wuzhai, alt. 1900 m, 18 August 1955, Huanghe Exped. 2936 (PE00456161, WUK0099357); Xiaxian, alt. 1060 m, 29 June 1962, W. T. Liu 0335 (HNWP142650, PE00456150); Yangqu, alt. 1500 m, 14 July 1991, W. T. Liu 0053 (HSIB016830); Yuanqu, alt. 1460 m, 5 June 1960, X. Y. Liu & F. Zhao 20113 (HNWP142648, PE00456148); Yingxian, alt. 2204 m, 13 July 2014, H. C. Duan Dch 0294 (PE02035968). Yongji, alt. 1350 m, 23 May 1962, T. W. Liu 0190 (HNWP142649, PE00456145); Yuncheng, 11 July 1954, Shanxi Exped. 135 (PE01553488, PE01553489). Sichuan: Pingwu, 16 July 2007, 2830 m, X. J. He et al. 129301 (SZ01044573); Pingwu, 9 July 2013, T. Wang FSB-740 (PE01994074); Songpan, alt. 3100 m, 17 September 1937, K. T. Fu 1799 (PE00456203, WUK0022719); Zoige, alt 2450 m, 8 August 2007, D. H. Zhu et al. 4439 (WCSBG019673).

Notes: —Shi (1987) reduced Cirsium pinnatibracteatum to the synonymy of C. leo . We have checked the type material of C. pinnatibracteatum and accept this treatment.

Cirsium pinnatibracteatum was described on the basis of four collections, K.M. Liou 3469, K.M. Liou 3441, H.W. Kung 1274 and H.W. Kung 1286, and Ling (1935) did not designate type for this name. Lin (2010) designated a PE sheet of the collection K.M. Liou 3469 (PE00030008; Fig. 9 A) as the lectotype of this name.