Astragalus taledensis P. Yan & H. Zhang, 2021

Zhang, Huan, Ren, Shanshan & Yan, Ping, 2021, Astragalus taledensis, a new species of Leguminosae from Xinjiang, China, Phytotaxa 524 (3), pp. 199-204 : 199-203

Astragalus taledensis P. Yan & H. Zhang sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 )

Type: — CHINA. XinJiang Province. Qitai county. Mt. Beita , 1050 m, collected on August 11, 2012, It occurs in salinized meadow and piedmont desert, 1050~1100m, P. Yan, Z. Z. Du 9180 (Holotype SHI! Isotype SHI! )

Astragalus taledensis belongs to Astragalus sect. Ornithopodium (eastern group) as it is a herbaceous plant, with developed stems, covered with medifixed appressed hairs. Stipules shortly adnate to it, vaginate-connate behind stem. Inflorescences usually long, loosely to remotely flowered, elongated in fruit. Petals free, mostly violet when dry; Wings shorter than Standard and longer than Keel. Legumes linear, long, often slightly to more rarely distinctly constricted between seeds, 2-locular, valves leathery, appressed hairy.

Perennial herb. Rootstock up to 8 mm in diameter. Plant 30–60 cm tall, caespitose, with medifixed appressed white hairs. Stems several to numerous, nearly prostrate, the middle-upper part of the stems dichotomous branching. Leaves alternate, usually simple, entire, those of upper leaves often narrower; leaf blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 20–45× 2–5 mm, apex subacute to acuminate, base cuneate; covered on upper side loosely, on underside densely with medifixed, appressed white hairs; underside also with conspicuous main vein. Stipules greenish, triangular, the wide base often half-clasping the stem, 1–2 mm, loosely hairy. Peduncles 3–8 cm, rather densely to densely white hairy like the stem, shorter than the leaves. Racemes 1–3 cm long, loosely 5–7 flowered. Bracts scarious, 1–1.5 mm, triangular-lanceolate, sparsely covered with white hairs. Calyx 5–7 mm, campanulate-tubular, loosely to rather densely hairy; teeth subulate, 0.8–1 mm. Petals pale violet, 13–15× 4–6 mm. Standard blade 4–5 mm, obovate, emarginate, gradually narrowed at the base, cuneate claw 6 mm; Wings 10–12 mm, blades narrowly oblong, rounded, auricle 0.5 mm, short; Keel 8–11 mm, blades semicircular, claw 4–5 mm. Stamens nearly 10 mm long, anther pale yellow. Ovary 4–5 mm long, with a stipe 0.5 mm; linear; appressed white hairy. Legumes with a stipe 1.5–2.5 mm, linear, slightly curved toward the dorsal side to nearly straight, 20–40 mm long, 1.2–2 mm high and wide, attenuate into a beak 2–5 mm. Valves thinly coriaceous, pale brownish, bilocular, slightly knobby by the seeds, loosely covered with appressed hairs. Seeds 4-8, ovate.

Phenology:—Flowering June to July; fruiting July to August.

Etymology:—The name of the species refers to the Taled Basstow of Qitai county in Xinjiang Province, China, where the plant is only known to occur.

Distribution and Habitat:— Astragalus taledensis is currently known only from Taled Basstow in Beitashan region in Qitai county in northeast Xinjiang Province, China, where it grows at altitude of 1050–1100 m, on salinized meadow and piedmont desert.

Paratypes:— CHINA. Xinjiang: Qitai County, 1000 m, 25 July 2014, S. P. Yang, P. Yan 11455 ( SHI!) .

Conservation Status:— Astragalus taledensis seems to be a rare species, restricted to a small area in Taled Basstow in Beitashan region in the northeast XinJiang Province, China. Species with a very restricted distribution area (e.g. Brullo et al. 2012; Musarella et al. 2020, Perrino et al. 2021) are often considered either as Critically Endangered/ Endangered (CR/EN), according to IUCN (2019) criteria B and/or C (e.g. Wagensommer et al. 2017; Saðiroðlu & Eker 2021; Wagensommer & Venanzoni 2021), or as not threatened/near threatened (LC/NT), especially if there is no observed decline (e.g. Perrino et al. 2018). Thus, more exploration in the area is necessary for the definition of the distribution, population size, threats, etc., before being able to recommend a conservation status.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype of Astragalus taledensis P. Yan & H. Zhang. (Coll. No. 9180; SHI!)

FIGURE 2. Astragalus taledensis P. Yan & H. Zhang. A. Habit, B. Inflorescence, C. Fruit, D. Seed, E. Wing, F. Standard, G. Keel, H. Calyx, I. Stamens, J. Pistil. Drawing by Siqi Xie.

FIGURE 3. Plants and habitat of Astragalus taledensis P.Yan & H. Zhang.A-B. Habitat, in salinized meadow and piedmont Desert. C-D. Plants. E. Leaves. F. Fruit. G. Inflorescence. H. Seeds.