Artemisia aucheri Boissier (1875: 367)

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 : 8-10

2. Artemisia aucheri Boissier (1875: 367) ≡ Artemisia maritima var. aucheri (Boissier) Pampanini (1927: 680) ≡ Seriphidium aucheri (Boissier) Ling & Y.R. Ling in Ling (1980: 513). Type:— IRAN. Without precise location, 1847, P.M.R. Aucher-Eloy 3474 [first-step lectotype designated by Podlech (1986); second-step lectotype designated here: G00764610!; isolectotypes: BM000945907!, G00460446!, K000942201!, P00852262!, P00852263!, FI! (no barcode)].

Subshrubs, 30–40 cm tall. Stems erect or slightly curved upwards at the base, branching from the upper part, branches 3–5 cm long, obliquely pointing upwards. Lower stem leaves ovate, 2-pinnatisect, 2–3 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, petiole 0.5–1 cm long, with 2–4 segments per side, segments further pinnatisect, lobules narrowly linear, 0.5–1.5 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, with acuminate tips. Middle stem leaves 2-pinnatisect, 1–1.5 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, nearly sessile, with linear pseudostipules. Upper stem leaves pinnatisect, 0.5–1 cm long, 0.5–0.8 mm wide, with linear lobules. The grayish-white tomentum on the stems and branches almost completely sheds at maturity, all leaves are nearly glabrous and have a rigid texture, and the lower and middle stem leaves usually wither. Capitula oblong, 3–4 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a somewhat broad panicle. Phyllaries in 5–6 series, outer phyllaries small, ovate, middle and inner phyllaries elongate-ovate or elongate-elliptic. Bisexual florets 3–5, corollas yellow. Anthers linear, with linear-lanceolate apical appendages, with an obtuse base. Styles short, slightly bifurcated at the apex. Achenes with inconspicuous fine longitudinal lines, 0.8–1.5 mm long, 0.3–0.8 mm in diameter, oblong-ovoid or obovoid.

Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed in Xizang, China ( Figure 2 ). It grows in slopes, canyons, and roadsides at elevations of 2400–3700 m.

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Taxonomic notes:—In the protologue of Artemisia aucheri, Boissier (1875) cited four gatherings from Iran: Aucher-Eloy 3474, Haussknecht s.n., Buhse s.n., Bunge s.n., but did not indicate the herbarium where these specimens were deposited. Podlech (1986) later designated the gathering Aucher-Eloy 3474 at G and P as the type. We have traced seven sheets of this gathering, two from G, two from P, and one each from BM, FI and K. All sheets match perfectly the original description. According to Arts. 7.10, 7.11, 9.12 and 9.17 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), Podlech’s (1986) lectotypification should be narrowed. Therefore, sheet G00764610 with relatively complete morphological characteristics has been designated as the lectotype, and the other six sheets as isolectotypes.

In China, Ling (1980) first recorded the distribution of A. aucheri in western Xizang based on the earlier literature. This species was subsequently included in Flora Xizang ( Ling 1985a), Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae ( Ling 1991b) and Flora of China ( Ling et al. 2011). In this study, the presence of this species in western Xizang is confirmed. Artemisia aucheri is easily distinguished from other species in A. subg. Seriphidium by its glabrous, rigid lower and middle leaves, which are 2-pinnatisect and often wither at maturity.

Specimens examined:— China. Xizang: Zanda, Shipki Village , 3175 m, 25 July 2024, M. Tang et al. TM-ZXX561

(IBSC).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution map of Artemisia aucheri in China.