Artemisia issykkulensis Poljakov (1955: 415)

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 : 22-23

13. Artemisia issykkulensis Poljakov (1955: 415) ≡ Artemisia fedtschenkoana var. issykkulensis Poljakov (1961a: 601) ≡ Seriphidium issykkulense (Poljakov) Poljakov (1961b: 173) . Type:— KYRGYZSTAN. Issyk-Kul Region: 15 km south and east of the village, 1 September 1952, P. Poljakov 332 (lectotype designated here: LE00052857!; isolectotype: LE01298864!).

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, 20–40 cm tall. Stems numerous, often tufted, erect, branching from the lower part, branches 5–15 cm long, spreading. Lower stem leaves oblong-ovate or ovate, 2-pinnatisect, 1–2.5 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, petiole 0.5–1.5 cm long, with 2–4 segments per side, segments further pinnatisect, lobules narrowly linear, 3–5 mm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, with an obtusely pointed apex. Middle stem leaves pinnatisect, 1–1.5 cm long, 0.5–0.8 cm wide, nearly sessile, with linear pseudostipules. Upper stem leaves undivided, with linear-lanceolate lobules. The grayish-green 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 oblong-ovoid or ovoid, 1.5–3 mm long, 1–1.5 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a somewhat broad panicle. Phyllaries in 4–5 series, outer phyllaries small, ovate or narrowly ovate, middle and inner phyllaries elongated, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, outer and middle phyllaries dorsally covered with short soft hairs, margins membranous, inner phyllaries nearly membranous, dorsally glabrous. Bisexual florets 3–5, corolla yellow. Anthers linear, appendages linear or lanceolate, with an obtuse base. Styles short, bifurcate at the tip, tips truncate, slightly ciliate. Achenes with inconspicuous fine longitudinal lines, ovoid or obovoid.

Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed in Xinjiang, China ( Figure 14 ). It grows in rocky slopes, gobi desert, semidesert, and desert steppes at elevations of 500–2400 m.

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from August to November.

Taxonomic notes:—In the protologue of Artemisia issykkulensis, Poljakov (1955) cited the gathering P. Poljakov 332 at LE as the type. We have traced two sheets of this gathering, which match well the original description. Consequently, according to Arts. 9.6 and 9.12 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), sheet LE00052857 has been designated as lectotype, and the other as the isolectotype.

Artemisia issykkulensis is similar to A. fedtschenkoana in habit, leaf shape, and branch length, but can be easily distinguished by its somewhat thickened (vs. slender) stems, lower (vs. middle) branches and dense (vs. sparse) capitula.

Specimens examined:— China. Xinjiang: Kuqa, Xidaban, 1300 m, 31 August 1958, A.R. Li & J.N. Zhu 8132 ( XJBI); Yecheng, Pusa village , 2043 m, 5 August 2022, G.Z. Jin jgz2022-12 ( XJBI) .

Figures

FIGURE 14. Distribution map of Artemisia issykkulensis in China.