Artemisia semiarida (Krasch. & Lavrenko) Filatova (1966: 121)

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 : 46

26. Artemisia semiarida (Krasch. & Lavrenko) Filatova (1966: 121) ≡ Artemisia terrae-albae subsp. semiarida Krascheninnikov & Lavrenko (1945: 2787) ≡ Seriphidium semiaridum (Krasch. & Lavrenko) Ling & Y.R. Ling in Ling (1988: 118). Type:— KAZAKHSTAN. Abai Region: saline-alkali land between the valleys, 18 August 1910, S. Gugerovskaya 1676 [lectotype designated by Filatova (1984): LE00052864!].

Perennial herbs, 20–35 cm tall. Stems few or numerous, often tufted, erect or curved upward at the base, often with numerous short nutritional stems, branching from the upper part, branches 2–5 cm long, obliquely upward. Lower stem leaves ovate, 2-pinnatisect, 1–2 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, petiole 0.3–1.0 cm long, with 3–5 segments per side, segments further pinnatisect, lobules narrowly linear, 2–4 mm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, with blunt apices. Middle stem leaves 1–2-pinnatisect, 1–2 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, with pinnatifid pseudostipules. Upper stem leaves pinnatisect, with linear lobules. The grayish-white tomentum on the stems and branches partially sheds at maturity, the tomentum on the leaves persists and the leaves have a slightly soft texture, while the lower and middle stem leaves usually wither. Capitula ovoid-oblong or ovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5–3.5 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter. Synflorescence a narrow panicle. Phyllaries in 4–5 series, outer phyllaries small, ovate, middle and inner phyllaries slightly longer, long elliptic, outer and middle phyllaries tomentose, margins membranous, inner phyllaries semi-membranous, nearly glabrous. Bisexual florets 3–5, corolla red. Anthers linear, upper appendages lanceolate, with an obtuse base. Style short, apex slightly forked at anthesis, tips truncate, ciliate. Achenes with inconspicuous fine longitudinal lines, 0.8–1.5 mm long, 0.3–0.8 mm in diameter, ovoid or obovoid.

Distribution and habitat:— This species is distributed in Xinjiang, China ( Figure 39 ). It grows in desert, semidesert steppes, and saline-alkaline soils at low to mid-elevations.

Phenology:— Flowering and fruiting from August to October.

Taxonomic notes:— This species is similar to A. terrae-albae but can be distinguished by its obliquely upright branches and narrowly pyramidal panicles (vs. nearly spreading branches and spreading panicles).

Specimens examined:— China. Xinjiang: Huocheng, Salbulak , 890 m, 9 August 1974, Xinjiang Exped. 1616 ( HNWP) .

Figures

FIGURE 39. Distribution map of Artemisia semiarida in China.