Heteropolygonatum marmoratum (H.Lév.) Floden 2014

Floden, Aaron J., 2014, New names in Heteropolygonatum (Asparagaceae), Phytotaxa 188 (4), pp. 218-226 : 223

Heteropolygonatum marmoratum (H.Lév.) Floden , comb. nov.

Basionym: Polygonatum marmoratum Léveillé (1909: 384) . Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Maire in Herb. Bonati 436 (holotype LE) .

= Polygonatum longipedunculatum Liang (1987: 64) . Type:— CHINA. Sichuan: Leibo, Xi Ning Xiang , He Tao Ping , 1820 m, 5 July 1959, Z.T. Guan 7904 (holotype PE!).

= Polygonatum sino - mairei Wang & Tang (1936: 84) ≡ Disporopsis mairei Léveillé (1912: 303) . Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Pied des rochers a Tong-Tchouan (Dongchuan), 2700 m, June 1910, R.P. Maire 7459 (holotype E!), non Polygonatum mairei Léveillé (1912: 302) , non P. mairei Léveillé (1909: 384) , nom. illeg.

Distribution:— China (Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan) and Vietnam (Son La). Largely following the uplift and limestone formations of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, 1000–3000 m.

Taxonomic relationships:—Despite not having seen the type collection, the list of synonymic types matches the plants currently cultivated by myself,and Jeffrey (1980) considered all these synonyms, other than P.longipedunculatum , as within the range of variation of a species-concept. Nonetheless, future work may reveal that Heteropolygonatum marmoratum , as treated here, encompasses several discrete taxa. Heteropolygonatum marmoratum is distinct from H. anomalum and H. parcefolium by its fascicled or long pedunculate inflorescences bearing whitish to greenish campanulate flowers, its overall larger plant size, and by cytology. The leaves are usually lustrous adaxially and abaxially, but sometimes they are whitish pruinose abaxially (at least in Guizhou and Yunnan). A broad species concept is taken here until additional material is available for molecular analyses. This species and its relatively broad distribution present a perplexing issue relative to the narrow distributions of most of the other species. It is also the only species to occur outside China where it has been collected once in Vietnam. It should also be expected in Myanmar along its border with Yunnan. Within the large area of distribution there are morphological variations that require additional examination in combination with molecular analyses and cytological studies. The perigone shape of the two forms pictured here ( Fig. 2 ) are distinctly different as is the overall morphology of the plants, i.e. some plants are distinctly glaucous on the abaxial leaf surface whereas others are lustrous-green. The single count reported here is tetraploid (2n = 4x = 64) ( Fig. 1 ). A second report, of what is probably this species, under the name P. punctatum from Jinfoshan, Chongqing ( Chen 1989) may belong here that is 2n = 2x = 32 which would support the recognition of more than one species.

Other specimens examined:— CHINA. Guizhou: Leishan, 7 July 1965, anon. 51213 ( KUN!, PE!); Kaili- Xijiang , 21 May 1959, Qiannan Team 2077 ( PE!) ; Sichuan: Emei Shan , s.d., W.J. Zheng 10500 ( KUN!) ; Emei Shan , 5 September 1927, TY Zhou et G. Xu 511 ( PE!) ; Emei Shan , 24 June 1952, J.L.Xiu and X. Jinhua 31281 ( IBK!, PE!); Meigu County, 2 July 1976, anon. 13564 ( CBDI!) ; Mabian Yi Co., Xiaoliangshan, 1930, F.T. Wang 23065 ( PE!) ; [near Meigu], 27 July 1959, sine coll. 1473 ( KUN!, PE!); E side of Longdanxi, Erlang Mt. , 12 August 1961, Chang and Zhu 09950 ( PE!) ; Liangshan , 23 May 1959, anon. 0977 ( PE!) ; Chungchou City, Kouchia Forestry Centre , 1200 m, 13 August 2003, P. Wei et L.J. Yang 604 ( TAIF!) ; Wenchuan Co., Qipangou , 1200 m, 12 August 2004, K. Xiong and Y.J. Zou 590 ( TAIF!) ; Dayi Co., Taiping township , 1200m, 16 July 2004, T.X. Shen and L. Ren 1600 ( TAIF!) ; Pengzhau City, Yingchanggou , 1200 m, 4 July 2003, P. Wang and J.S. Wu 1044 ( TAIF!) ; Dujiangyan City, Dashuigou , 1200 m, 3 September 2004, D.H. Zhu, T. Shang, and S.K. Liu 3100 ( TAIF!) ; Yunnan: E side of Gaoligongshan , W of Gonshan, 10 July 2000, L. Heng 12249 ( MO!) ; ibidem, Liou 20264 ( PE!) ; Kunming , 7 July 1946, Liou 16215 ( PE!) ; Barrulah, Salween Chikiang divide, October 1935, C.W.Wang 67583 ( PE!) ; Weixi , November 1935, C.W.Wang 70451 ( KUN!) ; Siao-tske-y, July, Maire s.n. (P!); Yunnan-sen , 12 July 1904, Ducloux 2896 (P!, PE!) ; Tchong-chan , 12 June 1905, Ducloux 3537 (P!, PE!) ; Kia Kia , June 1909, Ducloux 6124 (P!, PE!) ; Xishan Forest Park, SW Kunming , 21 May 1993, Alden, B., Alexander, J.C.M., Long, D.G., McBeath, R.J.D., Noltie, H.J., and M.F. Watson, KEG 10 ( GB!) ; Lunan Xian, Changhu , 2 August 1984, Bartholomew, B, Boufford, D.E.; Li, H.W., Ma, C.G; Nicolson, D.H.; Ying, T.S., Yu S.W 1587 ( MO!) ; Kunming , 8 June 1908, Tsoong 2076 ( PE!) ; Longwan , 17 August 1972, anon. 51 ( KUN!) ; Jingdong , 13 November 1956, B. Qiu 53269 ( KUN!) ; Kunming, Xishan , 9 July 1958, B. Qiu 57110 ( KUN!) ; Kunming, March-May 1939, J. Ying 16481 ( KUN!) ; Kunming, near San-Ching-Ke, Xishan , 21 June 1945, S. Liou 13665 ( PE!) ; Kunming, Sanqing, Xishan , 11 May 1946, S. Liou 16106 ( PE!) ; Kunming, Xishan , 1941, S. Liou 20264 ( PE!) . VIETNAM. Son La: Hua Tat village , 7 October 2000, D.K. Harder, N.T. Hiep, N.Q. Hieu, A.L. Thomas, and P. Manos 5819 ( MO!) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Somatic chromosome squash preparation of Heteropolygonatum marmoratum, cultivated by the author, 2n = 4x = 64, Chen Yi s.n.

FIGURE 2. Flowers of Heteropolygonatum species showing: left; imbricate tepals; and right; dissected perigone showing filament insertion level and ovary-to-style ratio: a, b; Heteropolygonatum anomalum, B. Olsen s.n. (TENN); c, d; H. marmoratum, C. Yi s.n (TENN) e, f; H. alternicirrosum, C. Yi s.n. (TENN); g, h; H. marmoratum, B. Olsen 13-086 (TENN). Scale bars 2 millimeters.