Aralia fragrans (D. Don) Jebb & J. Wen, 2001

Jebb, Matthew & Wen, Jun, 2001, Aralia fragrans (D. Don) Jebb & J. Wen, a new combination in Araliaceae, Adansonia (3) 23 (2), pp. 311-314 : 312-314

Aralia fragrans (D. Don) Jebb & J. Wen , comb. nov.

Hedera fragrans D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 187 (1825). — Pentapanax fragrans (D. Don) Ha , Nov. Syst. Vyssh. Rast. 11: 227 (1974). — Type: Wallich 4937, Nepal, location unknown (holo-, K-W!; iso-, W!, WU!).

Panax leschenaultii DC., Prodr. 4: 254 (1830). — Hedera leschenaultii (DC.) Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 377 (1834). — Pentapanax leschenaultii (DC.) Seem., J. Bot. 2: 296 (1864). — Aralia leschenaultii (DC.) J. Wen, Brittonia 45: 53 (1993). — Type: Leschenault s.n., India, Nilgiri Hills (holo-, G!).

Hedera trifoliata Wight & Arn., Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 377 (1834). — Type: Wight s.n., India, Dindygul Hills (holo-, K!).

Pentapanax umbellatum Seem., Rev. Heder. 22 (1868). — Pentapanax leschenaultii (DC.) Seem. var. umbellatum (Seem.) C.B. Clarke, Fl. British India 2: 725 (1879). — Type: Hooker & Thomson s.n., India, Mt. Khasia , 5-6000 ft. (holo-, BM!; iso-, CAL!, GH!, K!, W!).

Pentapanax longipedunculatus N.S. Bui, Adansonia , n.s., 9: 392 (1969). — Pentapanax fragrans (D. Don) Ha var. longipedunculatus (N.S. Bui) Ha , Nov. Syst. Vyssh. Rast. 11: 227 (1974). — Type: Pételot 4624, Vietnam, Prov. Lao Cai, Tonkin, Chapa, 1800 m, Aug. 1930, fl. (holo-, P!; iso-, A!, US!, HN), syn. nov.

Pentapanax leschenaultii (DC.) Seem. var. simplex K.M. Feng, Fl. Yunnanica 2: 506 (1979). — Type: Yunnan Exp. Team 1332, China, Yunnan, Jingping , Hetouzai, in dense forests, 1900 m, tree 8 m tall, 12 May 1956 (holo-, KUN!), syn. nov.

Climbing or epiphytic shrubs, or small trees, 5-15 m tall. Seedlings with enlarged and sometimes bi-forked tap-roots. Branches with elliptic lenticels. Leaves stipulate, stipules usually caducous; (3-)5(-7) foliate; petioles glabrous, 6- 13 cm long; leaflets chartaceous, ovate, narrowly ovate, oblong to elliptic, 6-15.5 × 2.5-8 cm, apex acuminate or acute, base rounded to acute, margin ciliate to serrulate, blade glabrous on both surfaces to more or less pilose on lower surface, lateral veins 8-10 per side, conspicuous above and below; petiolules glabrous to somewhat pilose, those of the two lower leaflets 0.2-2.8 cm long, those of terminal leaflets inarticulate, 2.5-4.5 cm long. Inflorescences terminal at the branch apex, glabrous to pilose, usually without a main axis or with only a short axis (up to 3.5 cm long), primary branches (4-)7-13; scales of the reproductive buds triangular, 0.5 cm long, 1 cm wide at base, margin fimbriate caducous; primary branches 7-17.5 cm long, each with 1-5(-7) umbellately arranged umbels; peduncles of terminal umbel 2-4.5 cm long, those of lateral umbels 1.5-2.5 cm long. Terminal umbels 25-55- flowered, pedicels articulated, glabrous to pilose, 8-15 mm long, lateral umbels 12-28-flowered, pedicels 6-15 mm long, bracteoles caducous, lanceolate, 1-1.3 × 0.3-0.4 mm; sepals triangular, 0.25-0.35 mm long; petals ovate, 1.8-2 mm long, sometimes forming a calyptra; stamens 3.5-4 mm long, anthers 1 mm long; ovary 5-locular, sometimes enlarged at anthesis; base of the style often forming a conical stylopodium-like structure, or sometimes flat. Fruits globose, 4.5-5.5 mm in diameter, strongly ribbed when dry, with persistent styles, 2-2.5 mm long, slightly divided at the tip.

REPRESENTATIVE SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — BANGLADESH: Herb. Griffith 2671, E Bengal ( W). — BHUTAN: Cooper 1277, Bunakha Timpu, 6000 ft., 6 July 1914, tree 30’ ( BM); Cooper 1573, location unknown ( BM); Cooper 2124, Kopub , Pumthang , 10500 ft., 14 Sep. 1920 ( BM); Cooper 4131, Yatodo Ridge , 12,000 ft., 15 July 1915, 20’ shrubby plant among Abies forest ( BM); Hara, Kanai , Murata, Ohashi, Tanaka & Yamazaki 14536, Bhotokha (1250 m) – Rinchu (1300 m), 1300 m, 8 May 1967 ( A); Ludlow & Sherriff 3149, Mara Clur valley , central Bhutan, 7000 ft., 29 May 1937 ( BM); Ludlow, Sherriff & Hicks 16875, Loorthaug , Hotspring , 11500 ft., 16 July 1949, shrub 5’-6’ ( BM); Ludlow , Sherriff & Hicks 20827, Me La Chu , Lao , NE Bhutan, 9000 ft., 5 July 1949, flowers green, pedicels pink, in mixed forest ( BM); Ludlow , Sherriff & Hicks 20859, Trashi Yangsi Chu , Tobrang , E Bhutan, 8000 ft., 8 July 1949, tree 15-20’, in mixed forest, fls. reddish green ( BM). — CHINA: Yunnan, Tsiang & Wang 16037, Cheng-kiang , Tung-lung-tang, 1800 m, Mar.-May 1939 ( A); Henry 13646, Feng Chen Lin , 6000 ft., tree 40’( A); Wen 5036, Gongshan Xian , on the way from Qiqi to Bridge #12, a large climbing shrub on a Quercus tree, fruit black, 2700 m, 3 Oct. 2000, fr. ( F); Forrest 10765, Lijiang , mountains in the NE of the Yangtze Bend , 24 o 45’N, 9-10000 ft., Aug. 1913, shrub of 25-30 ft. ( BM); von Handel-Mazzetti 3735, Lijiang , Yülong Shan ( W, WU); von Handel-Mazzetti 6832 (Diar. Nr. 1216), Lijiang , near Ganhaidse , 3000 m, 19 June 1915 ( W, WU); McLaren’s native collectors s.n., Lichiang range, 1933 ( BM); Wen & Li 5719, Lijiang Xian , Baisha Xiang , Yühu Village , Laomeiluo , 3100 m, 5 Aug. 2001, a climbing shrub, c. 8 m tall, in fl. ( F); Wen & Li 5698, Tengcong Xian , Guyong Xiang , near Danzha Tree Farm , roadside, epiphytic on an old oak tree, 2500 m, 3 Aug. 2001, in fl. and young fr. ( F); Forrest 17672, location unknown, 1917-19 ( BM). — INDIA: Sikkim, Cave 1079, Rathong Chu , 13000 ft., 12 Aug. 1913 ( LBG); Dash & Maiti 18551, N Sikkim, Lachung to Dombeyang , 27 July 1997 ( BSHC, 3 sheets); Hooker s.n., 6-10000 ft. ( U, 2 sheets, W, 2 sheets); Lister s.n., Tong Ru , May 1877 ( U); Rao 464, on way to Zemie , 10 May 1953 ( BSHC); Raju & Singh 5805, Zakophyak on way to Thankarla , frequent, 11 July 1986 ( BSHC); Raju & Singh 6237, Tallam-Samdong to Gompa to wards Lachen , frequent, 23 July 1986 ( BSHC); Smith & Cave s.n., Lachin , 8800 ft., 25 July 1909 ( U); Verma 5496, S Sikkim, Manion Reserve Forest, 21 Aug. 1986 ( BSHC, 3 sheets); Singh 16311, W Sikkim, Hilley Reserve Forest, epiphytic shrub, not common, 2800 m, 26 Aug. 1994 ( BSHC, 2 sheets); Singh 17339, 15 May 1995 ( BSHC), Collector unknown, 1874 ( W, 2 sheets). Tamil Nadu: Anstead s.n., Ootacamund , Nilgiri Hills , July 1927, in fl. ( A); Beddome 3404, Nilgiri Hills ( WU); Gamble 18155, Nilgiri Hills , 7500 ft. ( WU); Perrotet 425 ( W, 2 sheets); Perrotet 427 ( W, 2 sheets); Unknown collector 86 ( W, 2 sheets). Uttar Pradesh: Osmastou 950, Dhanpur Garhwal , 8500 ft., 21 June 1918 ( BM). West Bengal: Cave 843, Chowbhanjan , 11000 ft., Sep. 1905 ( LBG); Cave s.n., Sinchul , 8000 ft., epiphytic, 14 July 1917 ( LBG); Clarke 26719C, Darjeeling , 7300 ft., 17 June 1875 ( U); Cave s.n., Goompahar , in forest, 7500 ft., 25 May 1919 ( LBG); Cave s.n., Tonglo , in forest, 9000 ft., 26 Aug. 1924 ( LBG); Das & Rai 079, Alubari to Jaributti , 2280-2195 m, 14 June 1995 ( NBU); Das /TH/502, Tiger Hill, 2450 m, epiphyte on Quercus pachyphylla , 12 July 1981 ( NBU), Das /TH/503 ( NBU); Das /TH/504, Tiger Hill-Senchal , 2400 m, 12 July 1981 ( NBU); Gammie 1396, Suriel , 5000 ft., 27 Oct. 1885 ( LBG); Krishna 4617, Tiger Hill area , 1 Sep. 1985 ( BSHC, 2 sheets). Peninsula India: Wright 1204, location unknown ( W). — NEPAL: Dawson 531, Lumle , epiphytic shrub tree, by stream, 13 May 1976 ( BM, 2 sheets); Dobremez 1579, Khokia , 27 o 23’N, 87 o 29’E, 3100 m, 19 Aug. 1972, epiphyte in Rhododendron forests ( BM); Dobremez 1285, Lam Pokhain , 27 o 06’N, 87 o 58’E, 1 Oct. 1971, 2700 m ( BM); McCosh 190, Khare Khola , Sikpasor Khani , 27 o 45’N, 86 o 15’E, 5 June 1964 ( BM); Polunin 1403, Chilime Kharka , 7500 ft., damp gulley with stream, July 1949 ( BM); Shrestha & Jashi 98, 9500 ft., in forest, near wet ravine, shrub 15’ ( BM); Stainton, Sykes & Williams 674, Lete , N of Dana , Kali Gandaki , 8000 ft., 26 May 1954 ( BM, 2 sheets); Stainton, Sykes & Williams 956, Dhumpu , S of Tukucha , Kali Gandaki , tree, 15 ft., riverside, 8500 ft., 5 June 1954 ( BM, 2 sheets); Suzuki, Acharya, Fujii, Kajita, Kondo, Mikage, Noshiro & Yoda 9480049, C. Nepal, Gandaki Zone, Gorkha District , Sardu Khola (1800 m) – Ripche (2390 m), 28 o 26’49”N, 84 o 55’56”E –28 o 27’57”N, 84 o 57’46”E 1830 m, 27 July 1994 ( A); Suzuki, Acharya, Fujii, Kajita, Kondo, Mikage, Noshiro & Yoda 9450100, C Nepal, Gandaki Zone, Manang District , Bimtang (3530 m) – Suggi Khola (2570 m) – Ghwa (2360 m) – Tilche (2160 m), 28 o 38’04”N, 84 o 28’20”E–28 o 32’45”N, 84 o 22’56”E, 2960 m, 12 Aug. 1994 ( A); Suzuki, Acharya , Fujii , Kajita , Kondo , Mikage , Noshiro & Yoda 9480131, 2930 m, 12 Aug. 1994 ( A); Tabata, Rajbhandari & Shimizu 10434, Solukhumbu District , from Ringmo to Manidingma , moist cool deciduous temperate forest with Acer and Rhododendron sp., 2810 -2400 m, 7 June 1978 ( A). — SRI LANKA: Central Prov., Davidse & Sumithraarachchi 8052, Nuwara Eliya Dist. , slopes of Mt. Pidurutalagala , directly N of Nuwara Eliya, in montane forest, with Rhododendron prominent, 2300 m, 25 Oct. 1974, young fr. ( US); Nowicke & Jayasuriya 258, Horton Plains , Agrapatana Road, tree in thicket, 29 June 1973, fl. ( US). — THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Anderson 4760, 18 o 35’N, 98 o 31’E, at KM 47, Mae Klang drainage area, near summit of Doi Inthanon , hill evergreen forest, Sphagnum bog area, podsolic soil, 2500 m, 7 May 1977 (MO); Fukuoka T-62272 (Field No. 1484), the swampy place and its vicinity of the summit (RS-22), 2520 m, Doi Inthanon , in forest, shrub slender, 5 m tall, infl. pale green, ovary and corolla pale green, 27 July 1988 ( BKF); Fukuoka T-62285 (Field No. 1497), the summit (RS-23), 2565 m, Doi Inthanon , in mossy forest, 27 July 1988 ( BKF); Hennipman 3301, Doi (Mt.) Chiengdao , tree, c. 10 m tall, flowers yellowish green, thecae whitish, c. 2000 m, 98 o 55’E, 19 o 25’N ( BKF); Mitsuta, Yahara & Nagamasu T-43170, Doi Inthanon, in hill evergreen forest at the higher elevation, 2500-2690 m, 5 Dec. 1984 ( BKF); Murata, Iwatsuki & Pengklai T-15021, higher elevation of Doi Chiang Dao, 1300-1900 m, in dense evergreen forest, 26 Sep. 1971 ( BKF); Sørensen, Larsen & Hansen 4192, Doi Chieng Dao, occasional, 1950 m ( BKF); Shimizu, Koyama & Nalampoon T10024, below the summit of Doi Chiang Dao, 1900- 2175 m, in light forest on rocky slope at ridge, 14 Sep. 1967 ( BKF); Smitinand s.n., Doi Inthanon , 2100 m, Oct. 1986 ( BKF); Smitinand 4735, Chiengdao , 1900 m, 16 July 1958, shrubby tree 4 m tall, on rocky ridge, flowers greenish ( BKF). Country, location and collector unknown, labeled as “ Panax micranthus Wall. , Rogle’s Herb .” ( W).

Aralia fragrans is widely distributed in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China (Yunnan Province), India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, N Thailand (Chiang Mai), and N Vietnam (Lao Cai). It usually occurs in moist mixed forests, edges of forests, near ravines, and streamsides at altitudes of 1250- 3500 m. Aralia fragrans blooms in late May to December and fruits in July to December.