Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia (Tamura) Wang (1995a: 100)

Zhang, Meng, Zeng, You-Pai & Yang, Qin-Er, 2020, Ranunculus kangmaensis (Ranunculaceae), a new synonym of Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia, Phytotaxa 434 (1), pp. 101-112 : 107-111

Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia (Tamura) Wang (1995a: 100) .

H. lancifolia var. variifolia Tamura (1978: 69) .

H. variifolia (Tamura) Tamura (1993: 27) . Figs. 1–4 , 7 , 9 .

Type:— NEPAL. Muktinath , 2600 m, stream, 18 May 1953, S. Nakao s.n. (holotype KYO00008626 !) . Fig. 7 .

= Ranunculus kangmaensis Wang (2019: 285) , syn. nov.

Type:— CHINA. Xizang (Tibet): Kangma (= Kangmar), Gala District, 4350 m, pond side, 6 July 1961, Xizang Exped. 1581 [holotype PE (without barcode)!, isotypes PE00048293!, PE00428081 (excluding the left plant)!]. Figs. 1 , 2 .

For a full description of this variety see Tamura (1978) , Wang & Tamura (2001), and Yonekura (2008).

Phenology:—Flowering from May to August; Fruiting from June to September.

Distribution and habitat:— Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia is widely distributed in China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan) and Nepal ( Fig. 8 ). It grows in wet grasslands or along streamside at altitudes of 2000–5000 m above sea level.

Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. Gansu: Lanzhou, P.C. Tsoong 8055 (PE00428065, PE00428066); Tianzhu, Y.C. Ho 4467 (HNWP, PE00428067, WUK); Xiahe, K.T. Fu 1354 (PE00397887, PE00428064, WUK); Yongdeng, Y.C. Ho 4379 (WUK), Loess-Plateau Exped. 4896 (WUK); Yuzhong, C.Y. Chang 19210 (WUK). Qinghai: Madoi, G.C. Chen et al. 1953 (HNWP), G.C. Chen et al. 2017 (HNWP), G.C. Chen et al. 2019 (HNWP); Q.R. Liu QH2012110 (BNU0038779); Maqen, T.N. Ho et al. 405 (HNWP); Tongren, Q.E. Yang 9518 (PE00397995); Ulan, Qinghai-Gansu Exped. 783 (WUK); Xining, Z.P. Wei 7657 (WUK), J.Q. Xing 21457 (XBGH000799); Xunhua, C.Y. Chang 19069 (WUK); Yushu, Anonymous 99 (HNWP, PE00397896), L.H. Zhou 23 (HNWP); Zadoi, Y.H. Wu 33870 (HNWP), Y.H. Wu 34733 (HNWP), Y.H. Wu 34739 (HNWP), Y.H. Wu 35919 (HNWP); Zekog, L.H. Zhou et al. 1752 (HNWP); Zhidoi, L.H. Zhou 178 (HNWP). Sichuan: Daocheng, Sichuan Veget. Exped. 1706 (CDBI0024921, CDBI0024922, PE00428068); Dege, Sichuan Veget. Exped. 7084 (CDBI0024924, CDBI0024925, CDBI0024926); Litang, Sichuan Veget. Exped. 28230 (CDBI0024919); Xiangcheng, Anonymous 70 (SM704603390); Yajiang, Yajiang Exped. 212 (SM704603391). Xizang: Baxoi, D.E. Boufford et al. 29808 (P02573066, PE01505816); Burang, HNWP Xizang Exped. 4182 (PE00428099); Damxung, X.F. Gao et al. 15252 (CDBI0224586); Dinggye, L. Wang et al. 2825 (IBSC); Gar, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 76-7703 (PE00428098); Gyangze, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 5407 (PE00428083, PE00428084); Kangmar, L. Wang et al. 2965 (IBSC); Lhasa, Anonymous 75-60 (PE00558600), Anonymous 75-108 (PE00636787), K.H. Fu & J.W. Zhang 18 (PE00428072, PE00428079), T. Naito et al. 1452 (PE00428092), Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 750010 (PE00428076, PE00428078), C.Y. Wu et al. 75-347 (PE00428074, PE00428088), Xizang Trad. Chinese Med. Exped. 9 (PE00428077), J.C. Xu 1280 (KUN1290257), K.Y. Zhao 1 (IGA0002084, IGA0002085, IGA0002086); Mainling, B.S. Li & S.Z Cheng 5428 (PE00428075, PE00428094, PE00428095); Nagqu, J.H. Chen YangYP-Q-2135 (KUN1232684), X.F. Gao et al. 15286 (CDBI0223915), B.Q. Xu & Y.H. Tong XiaNh-07zx-0579 (IBSC0765462); Nedong, T. Naito et al. 1475 (PE00428091); Ngamring, J.W. Zhang 2681 (PE00428097); Nyalam, Y.T. Chang & K.Y. Lang 3599 (PE00428085, PE00428086), Y.T. Chang & K.Y. Lang 3618 (PE00428087, PE00428089), Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 5859 (PE00428096); Nyingchi, C. Liu et al. 13CS6354 (KUN1320714), J.F. Mao 2005023 (PE01980442), T. Naito et al. 1178 (PE00428090), T. Naito et al. 1232 (PE00428071); Qamdo, Qinghai-Xizang Veget. Exped. 8044 (PE00048287); Quxu, T. Naito et al. 1420 (PE00428093); Rinbung, Xizang Exped. 1498 (PE00428080); Tingri, Nanjing Univ.Mount.Exped.578 (N091048872, PE00428070), Nanjing Univ.Mount.Exped.839 (PE00428082), Nanjing Univ. Mount. Exped. 8506 (PE00428069); Xainza, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 10345 (PE00428073); Xigaze, Anonymous 827 (PE00558599); Zhongba, X.F. Gao et al. 14834 (CDBI0224463). Yunnan: Zhongdian, Q.E. Yang 98- 242 (PE), T.T. Yu 11348 (KUN1262293).

NEPAL. Mustang: Y. Iokawa et al. 20310029 (KUN1261046), F. Miyamoto et al. 20240098 (KUN1261049), S. Noshiro et al. 20106056 (TI), S. Noshiro et al. 20106167 (TI).

Notes:— Halerpestes tricuspis , a species distributed in the Sino-Himalayan region, is highly variable in leaf shape and in the degree of leaf division. Based on these two characters Wang (1995a) classified it into four varieties, namely var. heterophylla Wang (1995a: 100) , var. intermedia Wang (1995a: 101) , var. tricuspis , and var. variifolia , a treatment accepted by Wang & Tamura (2001). From our observations on herbarium specimens and living plants in the wild, however, we found numerous intermediates. Two of the varieties, var. heterophylla and var. intermedia , do not appear to be of great significance, although var. variifolia ( Fig. 7 , 9 ) is recognizable. Karyological data suggest that H. tricuspis , together with H. lancifolia ( Bertoloni 1863: 423) Handel-Mazzetti (1939: 136) and H. filisecta Liou (1980: 338) also endemic in the alpine zone of Himalayas, could be a polyploid complex worthy of a further study.

Ranunculus meilixueshanicus is currently known only from its type locality, i.e. the Meili Snow Mountains in Deqen in northwestern Yunnan, China. It is a dwarf plant with scapose habit and grows in a subnival meadow at an altitude of 4000 m ( Kadota & Ming 1995). As a species in R. sect. Ranunculus as defined by Tamura (1995a), it is most closely similar to R. glabricaulis ( Handel-Mazzetti 1939: 151) Liou (1980: 298) , only distantly related to Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype sheet of Ranunculus kangmaensis (= Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia).

FIGURE 2. Isotype sheets of Ranunculus kangmaensis (= Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia) (A, B). Arrow indicates the plant with a stolon. Note that the left plant on the right sheet belongs to R. popovii var. stracheyanus.

FIGURE 3. Ranunculus kangmaensis (= Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia) in situ (China, Xizang, Kangmar, the type locality of R. kangmaensis). A. Plant without stolon. B–D. Plants with long stolons. E. Plants submerged in water. Photographs: Y.P. Zeng.

FIGURE 4. Ranunculus kangmaensis (= Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia) in situ (China, Xizang, Kangmar, the type locality of R. kangmaensis). A. Leaves variously lobed. B. Flowers of 4–7 petals. C. Sepals (left: abaxial side; right: adaxial side). D. Petals (adaxial side). E. Stamens. F. Carpel. G. Aggregate fruit. H. Achene. Photographs:Y.P. Zeng.

FIGURE 7. Holotype sheet of Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia.

FIGURE 8. Distribution of Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia (●). Arrow indicates the type locality of Ranunculus kangmaensis (= Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia), i.e. Kangmar in Xizang, China.

FIGURE 9. Selected specimens of Halerpestes tricuspis var. variifolia. A. China, Xizang, Kangmar (type locality of Ranunculus kangmaensis), L. Wang et al. 2965 (IBSC). B. China, Xizang, Dinggye, L. Wang et al. 2825 (IBSC). C. China, Xizang, Baxoi, D.E. Boufford et al. 29808 (PE01505816). D. China, Yunnan, Zhongdian, T.T. Yu 11348 (KUN1262293).