Recognition of Ephedra yangthangensis as a new synonym of E. intermedia (Ephedraceae)

Abstract

Critical study of the protologue, herbarium and live specimens of Ephedra yangthangensis Prabha Sharma & Rita Singh revealed that this species actually corresponds to E. intermedia. The description of E. yangthangensis as a new species is based on phenotypically plastic characters such as nature of microsporagiophore, size of male strobili and colour of stem, fruit and leaf, which actually fall within the circumscription of E. intermedia. Therefore, here we report E. yangthangensis as a new synonym of E. intermedia. We identify the taxonomic discrepancies in the diagnosis of E. yangthangensis and provide taxonomic keys, description with photographic illustrations of vegetative (habit, stems and leaves), reproductive (cone arrangement and nature) and anatomical characters and enlist the representative herbarium specimens.