Silene longiuscula C. Y. Wu et C. L. Tang

Yang, Feng & Wang, Huan-Chong, 2025, Taxonomic clarification of Silene dawoensis (Caryophyllaceae): synonymization with S. batangensis and reinstatement of S. longiuscula, PhytoKeys 257, pp. 51-64 : 51-64

Silene longiuscula C. Y. Wu et C. L. Tang in Fl. Yunnan. 6: 236. Addenda 837 (1995).

Type.

China • Yunnan Province, Yuanmou County, Jiangbian, Longjie village, Sangangpo , scrubs, alt. 1600 m, 7 August 1965, Pl. Oleifer. Exp. 65-709 (Holotype: KUN [ KUN 1205497 ]; isotypes: LBG [ LBG 00055690 ], KUN [ KUN 1205500 ]). — Fig. 1 C .

Description.

Herbs perennial. Stems supine or ascending, much branched, the lower part with densely downward white pilose, the upper part mixed glandular pilose. Leaves numerous, lanceolate, narrowly lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 2–4.5 cm long, 0.5–1.2 cm wide, base cuneate or broadly cuneate, apex acute, with long mucronulate, pilose on both surfaces, margin ciliate, midribs slightly concave adaxially, raised abaxially, with densely pilose, lateral veins 1–2 pairs, slender; petiole short, broad, 1–3 mm long, with densely ciliate. Dichasium often 3–15 - flowered; bracts leaflike, linear-lanceolate to subulate, 0.3–0.6 cm long, margin and midribs with densely glandular pilose. Pedicel erect or slightly bending, 2–3.5 cm long, with densely glandular pilose. Calyx tubular, 3–3.3 cm long, ca. 0.4 cm in diam., calyx teeth ovate-triangular, apex round or obtuse, margin membranous, densely ciliate, longitudinal veins 10, violet, not converging at apex, densely glandular pilose. Androgynophore 1.5–1.8 cm long, glabrous. Petals pink, 2.8–3.0 cm long, claws cuneate, exserted beyond calyx, not auriculate, glabrous at base; limbs narrowly obovate-oblong, 1.0– 1.2 cm long, shallowly bifid; lobes nearly square, entire or sometimes notched or lobed, with one linear tooth on each lateral side, ca. 1.5 mm long; coronal scales ca. 1 mm long, entire. Stamens 10, subequal to claws, exserted beyond calyx; anther oblong, ca. 1.5 mm long, filaments glabrous; ovary narrowly elliptical, 0.8–1.0 cm long, styles 3, exserted beyond calyx. Capsule narrowly ovate, exserted beyond persistent calyx, dehiscing with 6; seeds orbicular-reniform, ca. 1 mm long, seed ridge smooth.

Distribution and habitat.

Silene longiuscula appears to be a very rare species, known only from three collections from Yunnan and Sichuan. It grows in riparian or hillside shrub grasslands at elevations of 1200–1800 m.

Phenology.

Flowering and fruiting times from July to November.

Additional specimens examined.

China Sichuan: • Miyi County, in riparian shrub grasslands, alt. 1250 m, 19 November 1982, D. Liu 23962 ( CDBI) ; • Yanbian County, Taitian village , at roadside, 19 November 1978, Yanbian Exp. 630 ( SM) . Yunnan: • Yuanmou County, Longjie village, beside the Jinshajiang River , sunny hillside, scrub grasslands, alt. 1800 m, 14 September 1963, Ging-Sa-Kiang Exp. 63-6900 ( KUN, PE) .

Figures

Figure 1. A comparison of the type specimens of Silene batangensis (A), S. dawoensis (B), S. longiuscula (C), and S. markamensis (D).