Rubus inopertus ( Focke 1900: 400 ) Focke (1911: 182)

Xiong, Xian-Hua, Liu, Chao, Pu, Yu-Qing & Liu, Mei, 2025, Rubus inopertus var. echinocalyx, R. pentagonus var. eglandulosus and Spiraea japonica var. pinnatifida, three synonyms of Rosaceae, Phytotaxa 697 (2), pp. 206-212 : 206-207

Rubus inopertus ( Focke 1900: 400) Focke (1911: 182)

≡ R. niveus Thunberg (1813: 9) subsp. inopertus Focke (1900: 400) . Syntypes:— CHINA. Chongqing: Nanchuan, C. Bock & A. von Rosthorn 1852, 1859 & 444.

— R. inopertus ( Focke 1900: 400) Focke (1911: 182) var. echinocalyx Cardot (1917: 310) . syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Long-ki, 1894, J.M. Delavay s.n. (holotype P!; isotypes P!).

Notes: — Rubus inopertus var. echinocalyx ( Fig. 1A ) differs from R. inopertus var. inopertus by the needle-like prickles on the abaxial surface of the calyx. However, field observations and examination of herbarium specimens showed that the presence of prickles is not stable in this variety. Calyces with and without needle-like prickles occur in the same population ( Figs. 1C & 1D ) and even within an individual ( Figs. 1E & 1F ). Thus it is more appropriate to treat R. inopertus var. echinocalyx as a synonym of R. inopertus var. inopertus .

Distribution:— China (Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan), Vietnam ( Lu & Yu 1985, Lu & Boufford 2003).

Additional specimens examined: — CHINA. Guangxi: Leye, Hongshui River Exped. 1054 (PE). Guizhou: Huangping, S. Guizhou Exped. 2454 (PE). Kaili, S. Guizhou Exped. 2154 (PE). Nayong, Bijie Exped. 529 (PE). Hubei: Badong, T.P. Wang 11134 (PE), Hubei Exped. 24641 (PE). Enshi, G.X Fu et Z.S Zhang 1295 (PE). Hunan: Sangzhi, Bejing Exped. 001952 (PE), L.Q Li 138 (PE). Shaanxi: Zhenba, Bashan Exped. 4274 (PE). Sichuan: Xuyong, X.H. Xiong 1561 & 1562 (CDBI). Taiwan: Nantou, T.W. Hsu 5229 & 5691 (TAIE). Yunnan: Pingbian, H.T. Tsai 62689 (PE). Precise locality unknown, E.E. Maire 103 (IBSC).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Rubus inopertus. A. Type of R. inopertus var. echinocalyx, B. Flowering plant. C. Inflorescence, the abaxial surface of calyx with needle-like prickles, D. Inflorescence, the abaxial surface of calyx without needle-like prickles, E & F. Inflorescence, calyx with and without needle-like prickles in an individual (arrows indicate needle-like prickle). C and D were photographed in the same population.