Artemisia heptapotamica Poljakov (1957: 278)

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 : 21-22

12. Artemisia heptapotamica Poljakov (1957: 278) ≡ Artemisia terrae-albae var. heptapotamica (Poljakov) Poljakov (1961a:563) ≡ Seriphidium heptapotamicum (Poljakov) Ling &Y.R.Ling in Ling(1988:119).Type:— KAZAKHSTAN. Alma-Ata: between Kungei Ala Tau Mountain range and Turaigyr, 28 September 1954, P. Poljakov 456 (lectotype designated here: LE00052853!; isolectotypes: LE01298866!, LE01298867!).

Perennial herbs, 20–40 cm tall. Stems few or numerous, erect or slightly curved upward proximally, often with numerous short nutritional stems, branching from the upper part, branches 5–10 cm long, obliquely upward. Lower stem leaves oblong-ovate or elliptic-ovate, 2-pinnatisect, 2–2.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, petiole 1–2 cm long, with 3–4 segments per side, segments further pinnatisect, lobules narrowly linear, 3–5 mm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, with acuminate tips. Middle stem leaves ovate, 1–2-pinnatisect, 1–1.5 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, subsessile, with linear pseudostipules. Upper stem leaves pinnatifid or undivided, with 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 slightly soft texture, while the lower and middle stem leaves usually wither. Capitula oblong or ovoid, 2.5–3.5 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a somewhat broad and elongated panicle. Phyllaries in 5–6 series, outer phyllaries short, ovate, margin membranous, abaxially pilose, middle and inner phyllaries long-elliptic or oblanceolate, abaxially subglabrous. Bisexual florets 3–4, corolla yellow. Anthers linear, apex appendages linear, with an obtuse base. Style short, apex slightly forked at anthesis, with truncate tips that are slightly ciliate. Achenes with inconspicuous fine longitudinal lines, ovoid or obovoid.

Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed in the northern Xinjiang, China ( Figure 13 ). It grows in semidesert and desert steppes at elevations of 800–1500 m.

Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Taxonomic notes:— In the protologue of Artemisia heptapotamica, Poljakov (1957) cited the gathering P. Poljakov 456 at LE as the type. We have found three sheets of this gathering, which correspond closely to the original description. Consequently, according to Arts. 9.6 and 9.12 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), sheet LE00052853 has been designated as lectotype , and the other two sheets as isolectotypes.

When examining specimens identified as A. heptapotamica from China, it was found that many belonged to A. terrae-albae . Although A. heptapotamica is similar to A. terrae-albae in habit, leaf shape, and branching position, it can be easily distinguished by its 5–10 cm long and obliquely upward (vs. 2–5 cm long, spreading or pendulous) branches.

Specimens examined:— China. Xinjiang: Shawan, roadside from Kaziwan to Zini Spring , s.a., 21 July 1957, K.J. Guan 1688 ( IBK, PE, XJBI) .

Figures

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of Artemisia heptapotamica in China.