Nomenclatural Adjustments in Chinese Plumbaginaceae

Abstract

Four new combinations in Limonium (L. lacostei, L. dielsianum, L. chrysocomum subsp. semenovii, and L. callianthum), one in Armeria (A. labradorica subsp. sibirica), and one in Acantholimon (A. laevigatum) are proposed. During the revision of Plumbaginaceae for the Flora of China, it became evident that the nomenclature of six poorly understood taxa in the genera Acantholimon, Limonium, and Armeria required some adjustment. In order to make the names available for the forthcoming volume of the Flora of China, the nomenclatural changes are herein proposed. Acantholimon laevigatum (Peng) R. Kamelin, comb. et stat. nov. Basionym: Acantholimon alatavicum Bunge var. laevigatum Peng, Guihaia 3: 291. 1983. TYPE: China. Xinjiang: Wenquun, K. C. Kuan 4564 (holotype, PE). The differences in leaf color, size, and flattening, size of outer and inner bracts, and size and indumentum of calyx support the recognition of Acantholimon laevigatum and A. alatavicum as distinct species instead of varieties of the latter. Armeria labradorica Wallroth subsp. sibirica (Turczaninow) R. Kamelin, comb. et stat. nov. Basionym: Armeria sibirica Turczaninow in Boissier, A. de Candolle, Prodr. 12: 678. 1848. TYPE: [Russia]. Siberia: Ad Tessinsky dozor, ? J. Kusnetov s.n. (holotype, LE). This taxon is widespread in bogs and meadows on alpine slopes or high plateaus at 3,000-3,500 m in the Altai Mountains in Mongolia and South Siberia, Russia. It is highly likely that the species also occurs in China, because it has been collected from several stations along the Mongolian-Chinese border in the Altai Mountains. Limonium lacostei (Danguy) R. Kamelin, comb. nov. Basionym: Statice lacostei Danguy, J. Bot. (Paris) ser. 2, 1(3): 53. 1908. TYPE: [China. Xinjiang]: Vallee de Tegermanlik, 4,000 m, 26 Aug. 1906, La Coste s.n. (holotype, P). Limonium roborowskii Ikonnikov-Galitzky, Acta Inst. Bot. Acad. Sci. URSS, ser. 1, 2: 255. 1936, syn. nov. TYPE: China. Xinjiang: Kashgaria, Kara-teke, 9 June 1889, W. J. Roborowsky s.n. (lectotype, LE). Peng (1987) cited Statice lacostei as a synonym of Limonium aureum (L.) Hill and maintained L. roborowskii as a distinct but related species. Statice lacostei and L. roborowskii are conspecific, and the correct name for the species is L. lacostei. The latter is readily distinguished from L. aureum by its straight, nonflexuous rachis and light or lemon-yellow calyx limb, instead of dichotomously branched, strongly flexuous rachis and golden calyx limb. Limonium dielsianum (Wangerin) R. Kamelin, comb. nov. Basionym: Statice dielsiana Wangerin, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 399. 1921. L. aureum (L.) Hill var. dielsianum (Wangerin) Peng, Fl. Reipubl. Popul. Sin. 60(1): 38. 1987. TYPE: China. [Qinghai] (as Tibet): beim Lager 66 am Rande der Tsaidam, district Barun, A. Tafel 242 (holotype, B). This taxon was reduced by Peng (1987) to a variety of Limonium aureum, but the two are quite distinct in the inflorescence rachis, which is flexuous and dichotomous in L. aureum and straight in L. dielsianum, and calyx limb color, which is golden in the former and light yellow in the latter. In my opinion, these are best treated as distinct species. Limonium chrysocomum (Karelin & Kirilow) 0. Kuntze subsp. semenovii (Herder) R. Kamelin, comb. et stat. nov. Basionym: Statice semenovii Herder in Regel & Herder, Bull. Soc. Imp. Natur. Moscou 41(1): 398. 1868. TYPE: [Kazakhstan]. Ili, Katu [Alatau], 2,500 m, 1857, P. Semenov s.n. (holotype, LE). Limonium chrysocomum is a very variable species with two geographically distinct infraspecific taxa. I recognize these as subspecies and maintain subspecies chrysocomum as a variable taxon with three varieties, as did Peng (1987). NOVON 3: 261-262. 1993. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.220 on Fri, 02 Sep 2016 05:16:59 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms