Artemisia assurgens Filatova (1982: 178)

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 : 8

1. Artemisia assurgens Filatova (1982: 178) ≡ Seriphidium assurgens (Filatova) K. Bremer & Humphries ex Ling (1991a: 7) . Type:— MONGOLIA. Gobi-Altay, 15 km east of Altay, 21 August 1973, E. Isaczenko & E. Raczkovskaja 6132 (holotype: LE01018065!).

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, 25–40 cm tall. Stems numerous, often tufted, erect or slightly curved at the base, branching from the middle, branches 5–8 cm long, slightly spreading. Lower stem leaves long-elliptic or oblong-ovate, 2-pinnatisect, 1.5–3 cm long, 0.5–1.5 cm wide, petiole 1–2 cm long, with 4–6 segments per side, segments further pinnatisect, lobules lanceolate, 3–5 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, apex obtuse. Middle stem leaves ovate, 1–2-pinnatisect, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, nearly sessile, with pinnatifid pseudostipules. Upper stem leaves pinnatisect or 3–5- lobed, with lanceolate lobules. 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 rigid texture. Capitula ellipsoid, 2–3 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a somewhat broad conical panicle. Phyllaries in 4–5 series, outer phyllaries small, ovate, middle phyllaries oblong-ovate, outer and middle phyllaries abaxially initially grayish-green arachnid-pubescent, inner phyllaries membranous, nearly glabrous. Bisexual florets 3–5, corolla red.

Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed in Inner Mongolia, China ( Figure 1 ). It grows in desert or semidesert steppes, and rocky slopes at elevations up to 1400 m.

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Taxonomic notes:—In China, no literature documents the distribution of this species. Filatova (2007) first reported its presence in China based on specimens at LE. When examining the specimens of this species, it was found that Chinese taxonomists had collected specimens of this species, but they had been mistakenly identified as A. mongolorum .

Artemisia assurgens is similar to A. mongolorum in habit and branch position but differs by its slightly compact (vs. wider-spaced) segments, lobules with obtuse (vs. acuminate) apices, and slightly thick, more rigid (vs. thinner and softer) leaves. Additionally, A. assurgens resembles A. gobica in habit, but can be distinguished by its 2-pinnatisect (vs. 2–3-pinnatisect) lower leaves and lobules with obtuse apices (vs. acuminate).

Specimens examined:— CHINA. Inner Mongolia: Ejina, Dalaihubu Town , s.a., 28 July 1984, X.T. Lei et al. 840633 ( HIMC) ; ibid., s.a., 29 July 1984, X.T. Lei et al. 840654 ( HIMC) ; Ejina , without precise location, s.a., s.d., Anonymous 122 ( HIMC) ; ibid., s.a., 8 September 1982, Z.Y. Zhu & D.S. Wen 23 ( HIMC) ; Ejina, old riverbed, 15 km northwest of Dalaihubu Town , s.a., 18 July 1958, M.P. Petrov s.n. ( LE) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Artemisia assurgens in China.