Research Article |
Corresponding author: Hang Sun ( sunhang@mail.kib.ac.cn ) Corresponding author: Suresh Kumar Ghimire ( sk.ghimire@cdbtu.edu.np ) Academic editor: Alexander Sukhorukov
© 2021 Hum Kala Rana, Santosh Kumar Rana, Hang Sun, Kazumi Fujikawa, Dong Luo, Laxmi Raj Joshi, Suresh Kumar Ghimire.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Rana HK, Rana SK, Sun H, Fujikawa K, Luo D, Joshi LR, Ghimire SK (2021) Saussurea talungensis (Asteraceae), a new species from Humla, Nepal Himalayas. PhytoKeys 176: 55-66. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.176.61996
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A new species Saussurea talungensis S.K.Ghimire & H.K.Rana, sp. nov. (sect. Strictae), from Talung valley of Humla district, Nepal, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, this species resembles Saussurea roylei and Saussurea lanata in habit, though it can be distinguished in having longer leaf petioles, purplish leaf margin, 1 or 3 capitula, shorter phyllaries, shorter receptacle bristles and the same anthers, comparatively shorter corolla with shorter lobes. Phylogenomic analysis also supports S. talungensis as a distinct species of Saussurea. Here, we provide taxonomic note, distribution map and phylogenomic inference to distinguish the new species and its allied members.
Nepal, new species, phylogenomics, Saussurea, Talung valley, taxonomy
Genus Saussurea DC. is one of the largest and species-rich taxa in the Asteraceae (
A distinct population of Saussurea (Fig.
Three Saussurea specimen were collected in September 2012 from the type locality, Talung valley, Humla district in NW Nepal (Fig.
Morphological characteristics were described based on both observation and measurement collected with a ruler, calipers and electronic digital compound microscope. For the comparative morphological characteristics of allied taxa (S. roylei and S. lanata), related literatures (
Total genomic DNA was extracted from ~20 mg herbarium leaf tissue using a modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method (
Accession numbers of the allied taxa of Saussurea and outgroups for the phylogenomic analysis (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).
Species name | Accession numbers | Species name | Accession numbers | Species name | Accession numbers | Species name | Accession numbers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aucklandia costus | MH926063 | S. gossipiphora | MH926100 | S. obvallata | MH926128 | S. simpsoniana | MH926162 |
Hemisteptia lyrata | MH926066 | S. henryi | MH926103 | S. pachyneura | MH926131 | S. sobarocephala | MH926163 |
Saussurea alaschanica | MH926068 | S. hookeri | MK952740 | S. pagriensis | MH926132 | S. stella | MH926166 |
S. amara | MH926070 | S. hylophila | MH926104 | S. paleacea | MH926133 | S. subtriangulata | MH926169 |
S. andryaloides | MH926073 | S. involucrata | MH926106 | S. peduncularis | MH926135 | S. tangutica | MH926173 |
S. baicalensis | MH926075 | S. japonica | MH926107 | S. picridifolia | MH926137 | S. thomsonii | MH926174 |
S. bhutanensis | MH926078 | S. katochaete | MH926110 | S. poochlamys | MH926140 | S. tianshuiensis | MH926176 |
S. bracteata | MH926080 | S. lanata | MH926114 | S. przewalskii | MK953475 | S. tomentosa | MH926177 |
S. centiloba | MH926083 | S. langpoensis | MH926115 | S. pseudoleucoma | MK953469 | S. tridactyla | MH926178 |
S. chabyoungsanica | MH926084 | S. laniceps | MH926116 | S. pseudorockii | MH926146 | S. tsoongii | MH926179 |
S. delavayi | MH926090 | S. leontodontoides | MK953477 | S. pseudosimpsoniana | MH926147 | S. uliginosa | MH926181 |
S. durgae | MK953478 | S. lhozhagensis | MK953470 | S. pubifolia | MK953467 | S. uniflora | MH926182 |
S. eriocephala | MH926094 | S. licentiana | MH926119 | S. roylei | JQ933469 | S. velutina | MH926184 |
S. eriostemon | MH926095 | S. malitiosa | MH926122 | S. salwinensis | MK953474 | S. wellbyi | MH926185 |
S. fuscipappa | MH926096 | S. mucronulata | MH926124 | S. semiamplexicaulis | MH926158 | S. woodiana | MH926186 |
S. glabrescens | MH926098 | S. nigrescens | MH926126 | S. semifasciata | MH926159 | S. xiaojinensis | MH926187 |
S. gnaphalodes | MK953473 | S. nuda | MH926127 | S. semilyrata | MH926160 |
Talung valley, between Nyalu Pass and Ning Tsho, open gravelly or stony slopes, 30.234°N, 81.692°E, 4300 m a.s.l., 13 September 2012, S.K. Ghimire, A. Poudel, L.R. Joshi, S. Lo, P. Subedi, & C. Thapa CHH-1352 (holotype: KATH!; isotypes: TUCH!, KUN!).
Perennial herb, caespitose, 22–50 cm tall. Caudex branched, stout, apex covered with petioles’ residues. Stem well-developed leafy, erect, simple, stiff, > 1.3 cm in diameter, purplish-brown at maturity, covered with brownish-white tomentose hairs. Basal leaves petiolate; petioles 9.0–10.5 cm; leaf blades lanceolate, chartaceous, 10–15 × 2.5–4.0 cm, adaxially green, with brownish-white tomentose hairs, abaxially greenish-white, with dense white tomentose hairs, base attenuate, margin purplish, sinuate-dentate to shallowly pinnately lobed, lobe margins entire, apex acute to acuminate, midvein distinct, purplish-green. Cauline leaves 5–7, gradually decreasing in size upwards, margin purplish; lower cauline leaves petiolate, petiole to 4 cm, leaf blades lanceolate, 8.0–11.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, apex acute or acuminate; middle and upper cauline leaves subsessile to sessile, narrowly lanceolate to linear, 4.0–7.5 × 0.6–1.2 cm, undivided, margin dentate, purplish-green uppermost leaves subtending the capitula or synflorescence. Capitula 1 or 3 (2 not seen), shortly pedunculate to subsessile, tomentose. Involucres campanulate, 1.2–2.0 cm in diameter. Phyllaries in 4 to 5 series, imbricate, densely tomentose, apically purplish, acuminate, spreading to reflexed; outer phyllaries ovate-elliptic, 7–10 × 3.0–3.5 mm, middle phyllaries elliptic, 11–13 × 2.5–3.0 mm, inner phyllaries narrowly elliptic to linear, 13–15 × ca. 2 mm, only tips densely tomentose. Receptacles with bristles, ca. 4 mm long. Florets > 20; corolla purplish, 10.0–12.5 mm long; limb 4–6 mm including 1.5–2.2 mm lobes; tube 5–7 mm long. Anthers ca. 5 mm long, tails lanate, ca. 1.2 mm long. Style branches ca. 1.2 mm long, reflexed, short, papillate. Achenes cylindrical, 3.5–4.5 × 1.5–2.0 mm, ribbed, glabrous, apex shortly crowned. Pappus in two rows, pale brown; outer bristles 3.0–4.5 mm, scabrid, deciduous; inner bristles 10–12 mm long, plumose, persistent, sub-equaling floret.
Flowering and fruiting from July to September.
The specific epithet is derived with reference to the type locality of Saussurea talungensis, Talung valley, Humla district, NW Nepal.
Saussurea talungensis is currently recorded only from the type locality in Talung valley (between Nyalu Pass and Ning Tsho), Humla district, NW Nepal (Fig.
Distribution of Saussurea talungensis S.K.Ghimire & H.K.Rana A, B distribution map showing type locality in Nepal and Humla district respectively C, D type locality habitat between Nyalu Pass and Ning Tsho, Talung valley, Humla district E quadripartite plastome map of S. talungensis (Photographs C, D and plant picture in E by S.K. Ghimire).
Saussurea talungensis is restricted to a single mountain and is represented by ~50 mature individuals within an area of < 500 m2 and appears to be local endemic. Moreover, its habitat and the population are subjected to high anthropogenic pressure, due to livestock grazing, and harvesting of caterpillar fungus and other aromatic plants used in medicine. Owing to population size, isolated distribution and observed constraints on the habitat due to anthropogenic pressure, Saussurea talungensis should be categorized as Critically Endangered [CR; B1ab (iii), B2ab (iii) and D] according to the
Critical examination of collected specimens, comparison with type material of allied taxa and relevant taxonomic literature revealed that S. talungensis is a new member of Saussurea (sect. Strictae). Based on morphology, distribution and ecology, this population of Saussurea was initially considered as S. roylei from sect. Strictae. To a certain extent it also resembles S. lanata in being a perennial herb with well-developed leafy stem, leaf blade undivided but lanceolate, many series phyllaries, campanulate involucres with more than 1 cm diameter, lanate anther tails, ribbed and glabrous achenes, and two rows of pale brown pappus. However, it differs from its allied taxa in having a number of qualitative and quantitative characters (see Table
Live plants and microscopic photographs of Saussurea talungensis S.K.Ghimire & H.K.Rana A habit B synflorescence C leaf showing adaxial and abaxial surfaces D floret with pappus E exposed floret showing anthers F phyllaries (outer to inner, from top towards bottom) G achene H stamens I bristle of outer pappus J inner pappus. (A–C by S.K. Ghimire and D–J by H.K. Rana and S.K. Rana).
Illustration of Saussurea talungensis S.K.Ghimire & H.K.Rana based on the holotype A habit B leaf showing adaxial and abaxial surface details C phyllaries (outer to inner from left to right) D floret E stamens F style branches G achene H pappus I bristle of inner pappus J bristle of outer pappus (Drawn by H.K. Rana and S.K. Rana).
Character comparison of S. talungensis S.K.Ghimire & H.K.Rana and its allied taxa.
Characters | Saussurea talungensis | Saussurea roylei | Saussurea lanata |
---|---|---|---|
Stem diameter / forms | > 1.3 cm / stiff | ≤ 1 cm / less stiff or herbaceous | ≤ 1.2 cm or more / stiff |
Basal leaf size / petiole | 10–15 × 2.5–4.0 cm / 9.0–10.5 cm | 7.5–25.0 × 0.5–2.0 cm / to 5 cm rarely up to 8 cm | 7–28(–30) × 1.5–4.7 cm / 4–9 cm |
Leaf blade | lanceolate, comparatively broader, chartaceous, margin purplish, base attenuate | lanceolate, chartaceous, margin green, base attenuate | oblong to narrowly elliptic, coriaceous, margin green, base decurrent |
Capitula number | 1 or 3 (2 not seen) | usually 1, rarely 2 | 1 to 3 |
Phyllaries | 4 to 5 rows, densely pubescent (outer exposed parts) | ca. 5 rows, densely pubescent | 4 to 6 rows, sparsely pubescent |
Outer phyllaries | ovate-elliptic, 7–10 × 3.0–3.5 mm | ovate-elliptic, 16–18 × 1.5 mm | narrowly triangular or ovate-triangular, 7–12 × 2–3 mm |
Inner phyllaries | narrowly elliptic to linear, 13–15 × 2 mm | broadly linear, 20–22 × 2.3–2.5 mm | linear-narrowly lanceolate, 11–13 × 1–2 mm |
Receptacle bristles | ca. 4 mm long | 6–8 mm long | 5–7 mm long |
Corolla (tube / limb with lobes) size | 1.0–1.25 cm (5–7 mm / 4–6 mm with 1.5–2.2 mm lobes) | 1.2–2.5 cm (10–13 mm / 6–9 mm with 4–5 mm lobes) | 1.2–1.6 cm (4–8 mm / 6–8 mm with ca. 3 mm long lobes) |
Anther | ca. 5 mm with 1.2 mm tail | ca. 8 mm with ca. 1.5 mm tail | ca. 6.5 mm with ca. 1.8 mm tail |
Achene size | 3.5–4.5 × 1.5–2.0 mm | 5–6 mm | 4–5 mm |
The typical quadripartite structure of the newly sequenced plastome has size of 152,355 bp (37.7% GC content) consisting of a large single copy (LSC: 83,371 bp, 35.8% GC content), a small single copy (SSC: 18,562 bp, 31.4% GC content), inverted repeats (IRs: 25,211 bp, 43.1% GC contents each of IRA and IRB) (Fig.
Saussurea lanata. Nepal. Jumla: 3050 m a.s.l., 1952, O. Polunin et al. 3101 (BM, E); Mustang: Tukucha, 3050 m a.s.l., 1954, J.D.A. Stainton et al. 7846 (BM). China. Xizang: Lhozhag, 4450 m a.s.l., 2013, FLPH Tibet Exped. 13-1617 (PE); Gyaca, 4800 m a.s.l., 1972, Tibet Chinese Herbal Medicine Census Team 4538 (PE); Gongbo’gyamda, Bahe, 98°59'41.15"N, 93°41'38.35"E, 3350 m a.s.l., 2012, FLPH Tibet Exped. 12-2144 (PE); Lhunze, Sanga Choling, 28°35'22.92"N, 92°55'12.54"E, 3960 m a.s.l., 2013, FLPH Tibet Exped. 13-0860 (PE).
Saussurea roylei. Pakistan. Gilgit: 3350–3660 m a.s.l., 1955, Webster & Nasir 6518 (GH). India. Himachal Pradesh: Chamba, Saach Pass, 3960 m a.s.l., 1870, G. Watt 2158 (K); Kullu, Rotang Pass, 3960 m a.s.l., 1916, R.E. Cooper 5547 (E); Uttarakhand: Tehri Garhwal, Rhuduphera, 3350–3660 m a.s.l., 1883, J.F. Duthie 857 (K). Nepal. Dolpa: Balangra pass, 1952, O. Polunin et al. 2518 (BM, E); Bajhang: Saipal, 4880 m a.s.l., 1954, J.M.E. Arnold 102 (BM); Guruchi lekh, 3350 m a.s.l., 1990, N.K. Bhattarai 90/1240 (KATH); Jumla: Bhurchula lekh, 3350–3500 m a.s.l., 1952. O. Polunin et al. 4604 (BM, E); Manang: Marsyangdi valley, 4115 m a.s.l., 1950, D.G. Lowndes 1179 (E, KATH); Mustang: Samargaon, 4572 m a.s.l., 1954, J.D.A. Stainton et al. 7297 (E, KATH); Tukucha, 3050 m a.s.l., 1954, J.D.A. Stainton et al. 7946 (BM, E, KATH).
1 | Leaf blades oblong to narrowly elliptic, coriaceous, base decurrent; phyllaries 4 to 6 rows, sparsely tomentose, outer phyllaries narrowly triangular or ovate-triangular | S. lanata |
– | Leaf blades lanceolate, chartaceous, base attenuate; phyllaries in 4(5) rows, densely tomentose, outer phyllaries ovate-elliptic | 2 |
2 | Stem diameter < 1 cm; leaf margin green; capitula usually 1 rarely 2; receptacle bristles 6–8 mm long; corolla tube 10–13 mm and limb 6–9 mm including 4–5 mm lobes; anthers ~8 mm with 1.5 mm tails | S. roylei |
– | Stem diameter > 1.3 cm; leaf margin purple; capitula 1 or 3; receptacle bristles ~4 mm long; corolla tube 5–7 mm and limb 4–6 mm including 1.5–2.2 mm lobes; anthers ~5 mm with 1.2 mm tails | S. talungensis |
We have conducted botanical expedition in Humla district in reference to the long-term biodiversity conservation and monitoring program of Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative, implemented by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal. Authors are thankful to Department of Plant Resources (DPR), Kathmandu, Nepal, Division Forest Office, Humla, Nepal and Department of Forest, Kathmandu, Nepal for research permission. The field expedition was financially supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Kathmandu, Nepal and ICIMOD. The laboratory and molecular works were financially supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) programme (2019QZKK0502). The authors acknowledge Alexander Robert O’Neill (USA) for valuable inputs and English language editing, and to Asha Poudel, Smriti Lo, Chhabi Thapa, Prem Subedi, Rabi Rokaya and Shyamjor Lama for the help during field expedition.