Artemisia fedtschenkoana Krascheninnikov (1936: 351)

Jin, Guang-Zhao, Sheludyakova, Mariya, Abduraimov, Ozodbek, Feng, Ying & Ge, Xue-Jun, 2025, A Taxonomic Revision of Artemisia Subgenus Seriphidium (Asteraceae-Anthemideae) in China, Phytotaxa 686 (1), pp. 1-103 : 14-16

7. Artemisia fedtschenkoana Krascheninnikov (1936: 351) ≡ Seriphidium fedtschenkoanum (Krasch.) Poljakov(1961b: 176) . Type:— CHINA. Xinjiang: Kashgar, Taxkorgan, nearby grassland, 25 August 1913, O. Knorring 932 [first-step lectotype designated by Filatova (1984); second-step lectotype designated here: LE01018087!; isolectotypes: LE01018086!, PE00029954!, TASH003331!].

Perennial herbs, 15–40 cm tall. Stems often tufted, erect, branching from the middle, branches 5–15 cm long, slender and spreading. Lower stem leaves ovate or elliptic, 2-pinnatisect, 1.5–3 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide, petiole 0.5–1.5 cm long, with 2–4 segments per side, segments further pinnatisect, lobules narrowly linear, 4–6 mm long, 0.3–0.8 mm wide, with acuminate tips. Middle stem leaves pinnatisect, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, subsessile, with linear pseudostipules. Upper stem leaves pinnatisect, narrowly linear. The grayish-green tomentum on the stems and branches partially sheds at maturity, while the tomentum on all leaves persists and the leaves have a slightly soft texture. Capitula ovoid-oblong or ovoid, 2–3 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a somewhat broad panicle. Phyllaries in 4–5 series, outer phyllaries short, ovate-triangular, middle and inner phyllaries longer, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, outer and middle phyllaries abaxially light green, initially pubescent, later glabrescent and glabrous, margins membranous, inner phyllaries semi-membranous, abaxially glabrous. Bisexual florets 2–5, corolla yellow. Anthers linear, apical appendages linear-lanceolate, with an obtuse base. Styles short, slightly forked at apex during flowering, with truncate tips. Achenes with inconspicuous fine longitudinal lines, oblong-ovoid. Figure 7 .

Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed in southwestern Xinjiang, China ( Figure 8 ). Some authors reported that it also occurs in Gansu ( Ling 1991 b, Wei 1999, Ling et al. 2011), but no voucher specimens from this region were examined in this study. It grows in semidesert steppes, meadows, hills, dry slopes, terraces, and along roadsides at elevations of 1500–3500 m.

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Taxonomic notes:—In the protologue of Artemisia fedtschenkoana, Krascheninnikov (1936) cited a gathering O. Knorring 982 as the type, without providing specific herbarium information. Filatova (1984) later cited the same collection information as the protologue but noted a different collection number (Filatova:No. 932 vs. Krascheninnikov: No. 982) and specified that the type is stored at LE. We have traced four sheets of this gathering, two from LE and one each from PE and TASH. These sheets have the collection information mentioned in the protologue, except that the collection number is 932 instead of 982, and match perfectly the original description. The identification labels on four sheets also bear Krascheninnikov’s handwriting, indicating “ Artemisia fedtschenkoana Krasch. ”. Two sheets also include his note “sp. n. (species nova)”. Based on this evidence, this inconsistency may result from an error by Krascheninnikov (1936). According to Art. 9.2 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), the collection number of the type has been corrected.

In addition, according to Arts. 7.10, 7.11, 9.12 and 9.17 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), the four sheets deposited at LE, PE, and TASH should be considered syntypes of this species. The syntypes at LE, including the two sheets designated by Filatova (1984), require further refinement. Consequently, sheet LE01018087 has been designated as the lectotype , and the other three sheets as isolectotypes.

Specimens examined:— China. Xinjiang: Aketao, Wuyitake Forest Farm, 2300 m, 18 August 1975, C.Y. Yang 750768 ( PE, XJA) ; ibid., 2300 m, 18 August 1975, C.Y. Yang 750760 ( XJA) ; Kalpin, Subas , s.a., 8 September 1958, A.R.Li & J.N. Zhu 7464 ( PE) ; ibid., s.a., 8 September 1958, A.R. Li & J.N. Zhu 7461 ( PE) ; Baicheng, valley 15 km north of Tokay , 1780 m, 4 September 1958, A.R. Li & J.N. Zhu 8198 ( PE) ; Wuqia, Geegon Town , s.a., 6 August 1983, M.Y. Si 54 ( XJA) ; Taxkorgan, Taheman , 3380 m, 5 August 1985, Anonymous 068 ( XJA) ; Taxkorgan, Qie Khattar , 2836 m, 3 August 2019, S.Y. Yu & Y.L. Zhang TX201908119 ( SHI) ; ibid., 2825 m, 4 August 2022, G.Z. Jin jgz2022-6 ( XJBI) ; Taxkorgan, Datong Town , 2400–2450 m, 25 July 2004, Pamir Exped. 5034 ( SHI) ; Yecheng, Kekeya Town , 2081 m, 6 August 2019, S.Y. Tian YC201908198 ( SHI) ; Yecheng, Erpasture , 2100 m, 4 August 2013, P. Yan & W.B. Xu 10462 ( SHI) ; Yarkant, Tashtamu , 2700 m, 18 August 2013, P. Yin & T. Cao 10814 ( SHI) ; Yarkant, Damus , 1835 m, 29 September 2021, G.Z. Jin & S. Zhang jgz2021-7 ( XJBI) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Artemisia fedtschenkoana (photographed by Guang-Zhao Jin). A. habit; B. root; C. stem leaves (from left to right: lower, middle and upper leaf).

FIGURE 8. Distribution map of Artemisia fedtschenkoana in China.