Silene batangensis Limpr.

Yang, Feng & Wang, Huan-Chong, 2025, Taxonomic clarification of Silene dawoensis (Caryophyllaceae): synonymization with S. batangensis and reinstatement of S. longiuscula, PhytoKeys 257, pp. 51-64 : 51-64

Silene batangensis Limpr. in Fedde, Repert. Sp. Nov. Beih. 12: 363 (1922).

≡ Melandrium batangense (Limpr.) Pax et Hoffm. in Engler u. Prantl , Nat. Pflanzenfam. 2. Aufl. 16 c: 343 (1934) — Lectotype (designated here): China, Sichuan Province, Batang County, on the way to Litang , on the rocky slopes, alt. 3400 m, Limpricht H. W. n. 2232 ( WU [ WU 0046563 ]) — Fig. 1 A .

= Silene dawoensis H. Limpr. in Fedde, Repert. Sp. Nov. Beih. 12: 363 (1922) syn. nov. — Lectotype (designated here): China, Sichuan Province, Dawu (Ressenyi), alt. 3450 m, July 1914, Limpricht H. W. n. 1966 ( WU [ WU 0046562]) — Fig. 1 B.

Description.

Herbs perennial. Roots clustered, fusiform. Stems supine or ascending, 20–35 cm long, multibranched, densely shortly glandular-hairy, apically viscid. Leaves linear, lanceolate, or narrowly lanceolate, 2–3 cm long, 1.5–3.5 (– 5) mm wide, both surfaces glabrous or pubescent, margins ciliate, midvein prominent, base cuneate, apex obtuse or acute. Dichasial cymes 3–7 - flowered, densely glandular hairy; flowers erect, 1.6–2 cm in diam. Pedicel 1–1.8 cm, slender, glandular hairy; bracts lanceolate, herbaceous. Calyx tubular-clavate, 1.2–1.5 cm long, densely pubescent, viscid, longitudinal veins violet; calyx teeth triangular-lanceolate, villous, margin membranous, apex obtuse. Androgynophore 2–3 mm long, glabrous. Petals included in calyx, pale red; claws oblanceolate, glabrous, auricles inconspicuous; limbs obovate, 5–6 mm long, shallowly bifid; lobes nearly square, entire; coronal scales orbicular. Stamens slightly exserted; filaments glabrous. Styles slightly exserted. Capsule ovoid, 6–8 mm. Seeds reniform, seed ridge smooth.

Distribution and habitat.

Silene batangensis is distributed in western Sichuan and eastern Xizang, China. The species grows on sandy loam or alluvial soil of the forest margins or riparian shrub grasslands at elevations of 2500–3600 m.

Phenology.

Flowering from June to August and fruiting from August to October.

Additional specimens examined.

China. Sichuan: • Daofu County, roadside, 3200 m, 21 July 1974, Sichuan Vegetation Team 05623 ( CDBI) ; Daofu County, the hill behind the Martyr’s Cemetery , on the deserted slope, 3300 m, 29 June 1974, B. C. Gao & Y. T. Wu 111649 ( PE) ; Daofu County, 5 July 1977, B. Z. Guo et al. 20904 ( KUN, NAS) ; • Baiyu County, on the road from Baiyu to Dege, on slope, in thicket, 31°35'9.17"N, 98°38'43.95"E, 3176 m, 24 June 2017, D. H. Liu 170165 ( BNU) ; • Dege County, next to the Jinshajiang River Bridge , roadside, 3100 m, 31 July 1 003330 ( KUN, CDBI) ; • Derong County, Gajingxue Shan, 28°52'3"N, 99°14'45"E, alt. 3400 m, 19 July 2004, D. E. Boufford et al. 30843 ( A) ; • Batang County, Songduo Country, beside National Highway G 215 , 30°15'40.56"N, 99°15'6.35"E, 2992 m, 6 August 2023, F. Yang et al. BT 22486 ( YUKU) ; • Batang County, on the road from Batang to Baiyu , on mountain slope, scrub, 30°18'10.48"N, 99°16'00.54"E, 3118 m, 23 July 2010, Kham Exp. 10-0465 ( PE) ; • Batang County, the hill behind the military station , dry valley area, scrub, 2960 m, 22 June 1983, Hengduan Mountains Vegetation Exp. 4255 ( PE) ; • Batang County, Suwalong, the east bank of Jinshajiang River , river bank slope, in an arid thicket, 2600 m, 30 August 1981, Qinghai-Tibet Exp. 005216 ( HITBC, CDBI, KUN) ; • Batang County, on the road from Bakuang to Jinshajiang River, the bank of Bachu River , on sandy or gritty soil, in thicket, 2600 m, 21 July 1975, C. L. Tang & Y. H. Guo 1817 ( WUK) ; • Batang County, Xiaqiong Town, Xiaobachong , on the rocks in the valley, 3000 m, 22 July 1975, C. L. Tang & Y. H. Guo 1836 ( WUK) ; • Batang County, in thicket, 3400 m, 21 August 1982, Q. Q. Wang 29409 ( CDBI) ; • Batang County, 3308.55 m, 30 July 2014, X. X. Zhu et al. CSH 06571 ( CSH) ; • Batang County, 29°45'35"N, 99°1'28"E, 3276.9 m, 29 July 2014, X. X. Zhu et al. CSH 06577 ( CSH) ; Batang County, 3222.72 m, 29 July 2014, Bin Chen et al. CSH 06708 ( CSH) ; • Daocheng County, Mengzi, Wage village , growing among shrubs on sunny slope, 2900 m, 17 August 1973, Sichuan Vegetation Team 2503 ( CDBI, PE) ; Daocheng County, in thicket, 2500 m, 18 June 1971, Sichuan Vegetation Team 0039 ( CDBI) . Xizang: • Changdu County, South of the city of Changdu, on road (highway 214) to Bangda, along the Langcangjiang (Mekong River) , xeric slope and adjacent ravine running to the river, xeric shrub and herb vegetation dominant, growing among shrubs on dry steep slope, 30°51'33"N, 97°20'24"E, 3080 m, 20 July 2000, D. E. Boufford et al. 29562 ( PE) ; Chaya County, near Big footprints, along the Langcangjiang , 30°53'58.46"N, 97°21'42.56"E, 3117 m, 13 August 2023, F. Yang et al. CY 22880 ( YUKU) ; • Chaya County, near Jitang Town , roadside, in mountainous region, 3000 m, September 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Supplemental Exp. 5999 ( KUN) ; • Chaya County, Jitang Town, Youxi , near the ditch, 3600 m, 8 July 1976, Qinghai-Tibet Exp. 12335 ( KUN) ; • Gongjue County, Doba village ca. 13.9 km in a straight line northeast of the city of Gongjue, along the Re Qu, a tributary of the Jinshajiang River , dry slope, 30°58'37"N, 98°19'49"E, 3510-3550 m, 31 July 2009, D. E. Boufford et al. 41523 ( P, KUN) ; Jiangda County, east of the city of Jiangda, Tong Pu Xiang, Jiba Cun on road to Dege County , in Slopes along Du Qu and adjacent roadside, among stones, 31°34'11"N, 98°18'31"E, alt. 3386 m, 30 July 2004, D. E. Boufford et al. 31362 ( KUN) ; • Mangkang County, near Rumei village, by the Lancang River , 29°40'7.66"N, 98°22'26.15"E, alt. 2970 m, 15 August 2023, F. Yang et al. MK 22969 ( YUKU) ; • Mangkang County, Zhubalong village, Erdaoban , in the bushes, 29°41'42.10"N, 98°55'20.18"E, alt. 2762 m, 5 August 2024, F. Yang et al. MK 26730 ( YUKU) .

Figures

Figure 1. A comparison of the type specimens of Silene batangensis (A), S. dawoensis (B), S. longiuscula (C), and S. markamensis (D).