Artemisia transiliensis Poljakov (1954: 417)

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 : 50-51

29. Artemisia transiliensis Poljakov (1954: 417) ≡ Seriphidium transiliense (Poljakov) Poljakov (1961b: 174) . Type:— KAZAKHSTAN. Almaty oblast: vicinity of Alma-Ata, 30 September 1949, P. Poljakov 18 (lectotype designated here: LE00052859!; isolectotypes: LE01266916!, LE01266917!).

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, 40–80 cm tall. Stems few or numerous, erect or curved upward at the base, often with numerous short nutritional stems, branching from the middle, branches 5–15 cm long, obliquely upward. Lower stem leaves oblong, 2–3-pinnatisect, 2.5–4.5 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, petiole 2.5–6 cm long, with 3–4 segments per side, segments further pinnatisect, lobules linear, 4–8 mm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, with acuminate apices. Middle stem leaves 1–2-pinnatisect, subsessile, with linear pseudostipules. Upper stem leaves pinnatisect, with narrowly linear lobules. The grayish-white tomentum on the stems and branches partially sheds at maturity, the tomentum on all leaves persists, and the leaves have a rigid texture, while the lower and middle stem leaves usually wither. Capitula oblong-ellipsoid or oblong, 2.5–3.5 mm long, 1–2 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a narrow panicle. Phyllaries in 4–5 series, outer phyllaries small, ovate, middle and inner segments oblong or elliptic-ovate, outer and middle phyllaries pilose, margins narrowly membranous, inner phyllaries semi-membranous, subglabrous. Bisexual florets 3–5, corolla yellow or red. Anthers linear, apex appendages linear-lanceolate, with an obtuse base. Styles slightly longer, forked distally, often slightly protruding from corolla when in bloom, tips truncate, ciliate. Achenes with inconspicuous fine longitudinal lines, obovoid.

Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed in Xinjiang, China ( Figure 43 ). It grows in slopes, canyons, rocky hills, riverbanks, steppes and roadsides at elevations of 500–3200 m.

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Taxonomic notes:—In the protologue of Artemisia transiliensis, Poljakov(1954) cited the gathering“ 30 September 1948, P. Poljakov 18 ” at LE as the type. We have traced three sheets of this gathering at LE. These specimens match well the original description. Their collection information is consistent with the protologue except for the collection date (specimen: 30 September 1949 vs. protologue: 30 September 1948). 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 to “ 30 September 1949 ”. Furthermore, according to Arts. 9.12 and 9.17 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), Poljakov’s (1954) typification should be further narrowed. Therefore, sheet LE00052859 has been designated as the lectotype, and the other two sheets as isolectotypes.

Specimens examined:— China. Xinjiang: Gongliu, Hetaogou , 800 m, 19 July 1974, Xinjiang Exped. 741 ( HNWP) ; ibid., 1000 m, 13 August 1981, N.R. Cui C.0022 ( XJA) ; without precise location, s.a., 31 July 1992, Xinjiang Exped. 238 ( IBSC) .

Doubtful species

The following species were reported to be distributed in China, but could not be confirmed and are listed here as doubtful species because no specimens were available in this study.

Figures

FIGURE 43. Distribution map of Artemisia transiliensis in China.