Artemisia ferganensis Krasch. ex Poljakov (1954: 409)

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 : 16-17

8. Artemisia ferganensis Krasch. ex Poljakov (1954: 409) ≡ Seriphidium ferganense (Krasch. ex Poljakov) Poljakov (1961b: 173) . Type:— KYRGYZSTAN. Dzhalalabad District: Kugart River valley between Dzhalal-Abad city and Blagoveshenko village, 25 May 1911, O. Knorring & Z. Minkvitz 158 (lectotype designated here: LE00052854!; isolectotype: LE01298870!).

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, 40–70 cm tall. Stems usually tufted, erect, branching from the lower middle, branches 10–15 cm long, spreading. Lower stem leaves oblong, 2-pinnatisect, 3–5.5 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, petiole 2–8 cm long, with 3–6 segments per side, segments spaced apart, each segment further pinnatisect, lobules lanceolate, 3–12 mm long, 0.5–2 mm wide, apex obtuse. Middle stem leaves 2-pinnatisect, nearly sessile, with pinnatifid pseudostipules. Upper leaves pinnatisect. The grayish-white tomentum on the stems and branches partially sheds at maturity, the tomentum on all leaves persists, and the leaves have a slightly soft texture, while the lower and middle stem leaves usually wither. Capitula ovoid-ellipsoid, 3–4 mm long, 2–2.5 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a broadly pyramidal-paniculate. Phyllaries in 4–6 series, outer phyllaries small, ovate, dorsally densely covered with grayish-white appressed tomentum, margins membranous, middle and inner phyllaries slightly longer, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, middle phyllaries dorsally white tomentose, with membranous margins, inner phyllaries semi-membranous, dorsally nearly glabrous. Bisexual florets 5–6, corollas red. Anthers linear, apical appendages linear, with a blunt base. Styles short, bifurcate at apex with slightly fimbriate tips during flowering. Achenes with inconspicuous fine longitudinal lines, ovoid or obovoid.

Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed in southwestern Xinjiang, China ( Figure 9 ). It grows in desert margins, saline-alkaline soils, desert steppes, rocky slopes and canyons at elevations of 500–2300 m.

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Taxonomic notes:—In the protologue of Artemisia ferganensis, Poljakov (1954) designated the gathering “ 23 May 1911, O. Knorring & Z. Minkvitz 158 ” at LE as the type. We have found two sheets from this gathering at LE that closely matched the original description. The collection information is consistent with the protologue, except for the collection date (specimen: 23 May 1911 vs. protologue: 25 May 1911). This inconsistency may result from an error by Poljakov (1954). According to Art. 9.2 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), the collection date of the type has been corrected.

In accordance with Arts. 9.6 and 9.17 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), the two sheets at LE should be regarded as syntypes . To ensure the accuracy and stability of the name, sheet LE00052854 has been further designated as the lectotype , and the other sheet as the isolectotype.

Specimens examined:— China. Xinjiang: Shufu, Mushi Town , barren beach, 1756 m, 4 July 2020, Y.L. Zhang & X.C. Tian SLX202007009 ( SHI) ; Wuqia , wasteland on the southern outskirts, 2091.17 m, 27 September 2021, G.Z. Jin & S. Zhang jgz-1 ( XJBI) ; Shufu, along the road from Kashgar to Mushi Town , 1522 m, 28 September 2021, G.Z. Jin & S. Zhang jgz-3 ( XJBI) .

Figures

FIGURE 9. Distribution map of Artemisia ferganensis in China.