A New Combination for the Single American Element of Parasenecio (Asteraceae: Senecioneae)

Abstract

In accordance with the acceptance of the generic name Parasenecio for the Asiatic-centered species historically referred to Cacalia, new combination is made for the single species that ranges to North America: Parasenecio auriculata (A. P. de Candolle) J. R. Grant. Cacalia auriculata was described by A. P. de Candolle (1837) from specimen collected in 1835 by Turczaninow between Yakutsk and Okhotsk, Yakutia, Russia. It ranges from Kamtchatka to the Commander and Kurile Islands (Russia), to Hokkaido and northern Honshu (Japan), and from the Russian Far East to Manchuria (China) and Korea (Hulten, 1930). In Alaska, it has been collected on five islands at the westernmost end of the Aleutian chain roughly adjacent to the Commander Islands, Attu, Agattu, and Alaid of the Near Islands, and Kiska and Buldir of the Rat Islands. Cacalia auriculata is one of number of species of primarily Asiatic distribution that ranges to the westernmost islands of the Aleutian chain. Hulten (1937) documented the American range for several species with this of distribution pattern including Senecio palmatus Pallas and Cirsium kamtchaticum Ledebour. The of the islands where these species are found is a distinctly Kamtchatkan type (Hulten, 1937: 37). The presence of these species in the Aleutians is due to their association with high-grown vegetation typical of Kamchatka that also extends to the Near and Rat Island groups, but is unknown to the remainder and majority of the Aleutian chain (Hulten, 1937). Robinson & Brettell (1973) described the genus Koyamacalia for the Asian species referred to Cacalia. Cacalia auriculata was transferred into Koyamacalia along with 46 other species (Robinson & Brettell, 1973). Jeffrey & Yi-Ling (1984) pointed out that Koyamacalia H. E. Robinson & R. D. Brettell was later synonym of Parasenecio W. W. Smith & Small. Jeffrey (1992) again commented on Parasenecio, but as in the earlier work, no new combinations were made. In order to update noNOVON 3: 154-155. 1993. menclature in the North American flora, the following new combination is made: Parasenecio auriculata (A. P. de Candolle) J. R. Grant, comb. nov. Basionym: Cacalia auriculata A. P. de Candolle, Prod. 6: 329. 1837 [1838]. TYPE: Inter Ochotiam [Okhotsk] et Jacutiam [Yakutsk], N. Turczaninow s.n. (holotype, G-DC, photo on microfiche seen). Ligularia auriculata Turczaninow ex A. P. de Candolle, Prod. 6: 329. 1837, pro syn. Koyamacalia auriculata (A. P. de Candolle) H. E. Robinson & R. D. Brettell, Phytologia 27: 271. 1973. Specimens examined. UNITED STATES. Alaska: Near Islands, Attu Island, 13?52'56N, 173015'E, 25 July 1943, Beals A (ALA); Attu Island, 13?52'56N, 173?15'E, Beals, 1943 (ALA); Attu Island, Massacre Bay area, 10 July 1973, Williams 3212 (US); Agattu Island, 13052'26N, 17033'06E, 13 Aug. 1974, Trapp 104 (ALA); Attu Island, Peaceful Valley, near Navy Town, 13052'50N, 173011'E, 18 Aug. 1983, Friedman & Michaelson 83-64 (ALA); Rat Islands, Buldir Island, 14052'21N, 175056'E, 14 July 1974, Dick 164 (ALA); Buldir Island, 14?52'21N, 175056'E, 25 Aug. 1974, Dick 403 (ALA). Acknowledgments. I thank Harold E. Robinson (Smithsonian Institution) for bringing my attention to this species, and for review of the manuscript. I also thank Alan R. Batten of the Northern Plant Documentation Center, Herbarium, University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, for sending data on the specimens at ALA.