Bupleurum in Flora of China @ efloras.org

34. Bupleurum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 236. 1753.

柴胡属 chai hu shu

She Menglan (佘孟兰 Sheh Meng-lan); Mark F. Watson

Herbs perennial, rarely annual, glabrous. Rootstock usually short, woody. Stem alternate or dichotomously branched, green or glaucous, base with or without fibrous remnant sheaths. Leaves entire, petioles sheathing; blade membranous, herbaceous or coriaceous, usually with parallel venation, base usually tapering into petiole. Cauline leaves often sessile, clasping, auriculate or perfoliate. Inflorescence loose, umbels compound, terminal and lateral; bracts several, conspicuous, often similar to uppermost leaves; rays few to many; bracteoles several, conspicuous. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals yellow, greenish-yellow, tinged purple or purple, oblong to orbicular, apex narrowly inflexed. Stylopodium conic, low-conic or discoid; styles short, often reflexed. Fruit oblong to ovoid-oblong or ellipsoid, slightly laterally compressed, mericarps subpentagonal (rarely rounded) in cross section; ribs 5, filiform, prominent or obscure; vittae 1–3(–6) in each furrow, 2–6(–8) on commissure, sometimes obscure. Seed face plane. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

About 180 species: widespread in the N temperate zone, one species (B. mundtii Chamisso & Schlechtendal) in S Africa; introduced in Australasia; 42 species (22 endemic) in China.

This distinctive genus is easily recognized by the simple leaves and conspicuous bracts and bracteoles. Species within Bupleurum are, however, notoriously difficult to identify on account of wide morphological variation within a species, often spread across wide geographic distributions. Many Bupleurum species are difficult to characterize, as is evident by complex classifications where all possible taxonomic ranks have been used. Several taxa are recorded only from a few collections, and it is likely that future work will reduce the number of species. The roots of several species of Bupleurum are famous for their use as the traditional Chinese medicine “chai hu” for treatment of coughs, fevers, and influenza. Almost all of the species are recorded in the literature as regional substitutes for “chai hu” or for other local medicinal purposes. However, caution should be applied as a very few species are toxic (e.g., B. longiradiatum) and can result in “toxic strike” if misused as such substitutes.

Also see post-FOC publication: Wang, Chang-Bao et al. 2011. Fruit features of some Bupleurum species (Apiaceae) and their systematical implication. Plant Science J. 29: 399-408.

1 Bracteoles large and conspicuous, mostly exceeding the umbellule. (2)

+ Bracteoles small, narrow, usually shorter than, equaling or slightly exceeding the umbellules. (16)

2 (1) Cauline leaves broadly ovate, 10–20 × 3–5.5 cm, base dilated, rounded, perfoliate (Xinjiang). 3 Bupleurum aureum

+ Cauline leaves linear, lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 1–15 × 0.1–1 cm, base dilated or not, but never perfoliate. (3)

3 (2) Plants small, 7–20(–25 cm). (4)

+ Plants tall, 25–125 cm. (7)

4 (3) Bracteoles yellow or tinged purple. (5)

+ Bracteoles green. (6)

5 (4) Plants erect; bracteoles 5–8, yellow-green; stylopodium dark yellow (NW China). 4 Bupleurum triradiatum

+ Plants decumbent; bracteoles 6–10, tinged purple; stylopodium dark purple (NW and SW China). 9 Bupleurum dalhousieanum

6 (4) Leaves and bracteoles abaxially glaucous, 3–5-nerved; umbellules 10–20-flowered (Qinghai, Xinjiang). 5 Bupleurum densiflorum

+ Leaves and bracteoles abaxially not glaucous, 9–15-nerved; umbellules 8–14-flowered (Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan). 10 Bupleurum yunnanense

7 (3) Middle and upper leaves base dilated, cordate and clasping. (8)

+ Middle and upper leaves base not dilated nor cordate. (9)

8 (7) Root dark brown; bracteoles usually 6–9; petals yellow-green (NC and NW China). 8 Bupleurum smithii

+ Root gray-brown; bracteoles usually 10–12; petals usually dark purple (C, NW, and SW China). 16 Bupleurum longicaule

9 (7) Inflorescence many-branched, forming a panicle (Yunnan). 11 Bupleurum luxiense

+ Inflorescence little-branched, not forming a panicle. (10)

10 (9) Petals purple or dark purple (at least abaxially). (11)

+ Petals yellow. (12)

11 (10) Bracteoles 5(–7), green, broadly ovate, apex rounded or acute, apiculate (Jilin). 7 Bupleurum euphorbioides

+ Bracteoles 7–9, bluish-purple, elliptic, apex acuminate, long-apiculate (NW and SW China). 13 Bupleurum commelynoideum

12 (10) Lateral umbel present at base of terminal umbel and overtopping it (Guizhou). 17 Bupleurum kweichowense

+ Terminal umbel without a lateral umbel at base. (13)

13 (12) Bracts 1–2, linear-lanceolate, usually deciduous (NC and NE China). 6 Bupleurum sibiricum

+ Bracts 1–5, elliptic or ovate, persistent. (14)

14 (13) Bracts elliptic, apex acuminate; rays 8–11(NW and SW China). 15 Bupleurum petiolulatum

+ Bracts ovate or suborbicular, apex rounded or obtuse; rays 4–12. (15)

15 (14) Leaves thin-papery, abaxially grayish-white-green, margin not thickened, green; rays 4–8 (Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan). 12 Bupleurum candollei

+ Leaves thick-papery, often tinged reddish-brown, abaxially green, margins thickened and reddish; rays 7–12 (Sichuan, Yunnan). 14 Bupleurum rockii

16 (1) Leaves 8–25 × 2.5–10 cm, base dilated, cordate and clasping. (17)

+ Leaves 2–16(–20) × 0.1–1(–3) cm, base not dilated nor cordate and clasping. (18)

17 (16) Petals and stylopodium usually yellow; fruit dark brown (NE and NW China). 1 Bupleurum longiradiatum

+ Petals and stylopodium purple; fruit dark purplish-brown (Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan). 2 Bupleurum boissieuanum

18 (16) Plants small, 2–20(–30) cm (sometimes more in B. gracillimum). (19)

+ Plants tall, (25–)30–125 cm (or less in B. angustissimum and B. hamiltonii). (23)

19 (18) Stem base densely clothed with fibrous remnant sheaths. (20)

+ Stem base without fibrous remnant sheaths (Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang). (21)

20 (19) Plants 15–30 cm; fruit 2.5–3 mm, ribs prominent; altitude 650–1550 m (NC and NE China). 18 Bupleurum bicaule

+ Plants 2–10 cm; fruit 3.5–4 mm, ribs conspicuous or narrowly winged; altitude 2300–3500 m (Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang). 19 Bupleurum pusillum

21 (19) Plants gray-green; fruit ribs broadly winged (Xizang). 20 Bupleurum alatum

+ Plants tinged red; fruit ribs rounded or slightly prominent. (22)

22 (21) Basal leaves very numerous, rosette-caespitose; rays 4–7, 3–6 cm; petals usually yellow or yellow-green (Qinghai). 21 Bupleurum condensatum

+ Basal leaves few, not rosette-caespitose; rays ca. 3, 0.5–1.7 cm; petals yellow or dark purple (Sichuan). 23 Bupleurum gracillimum

23 (18) Root surface reddish-brown. (24)

+ Root surface usually gray-yellow or brown, not reddish-brown. (26)

24 (23) Stem base without fibrous remnant sheaths (Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi). 29 Bupleurum yinchowense

+ Stem base clothed in fibrous remnant sheaths. (25)

25 (24) Leaves linear, 6–16 × 2–7 mm (E, NC, NW, and SC China). 27 Bupleurum scorzonerifolium

+ Leaves narrow-linear, 6–18 × 0.8–1 mm (NC and NW China). 28 Bupleurum angustissimum

26 (23) Fruit vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure (C, SC, and SW China). 34 Bupleurum hamiltonii

+ Fruit vittae 1–3 in each furrow, 2–4 on commissure. (27)

27 (26) Leaves lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, (0.5–)0.8–3 cm wide. (28)

+ Leaves linear, 0.2–0.5(–7) cm wide (to 1 cm in B. microcephalum ). (33)

28 (27) Rootstock short, tuberous, with many fibrous fascicled roots (Heilongjiang, Jilin). 24 Bupleurum komarovianum

+ Taproot little-branched or unbranched. (29)

29 (28) Leaf margin white cartilaginous (C, NW, and SW China). 35 Bupleurum marginatum

+ Leaf margin not white cartilaginous. (30)

30 (29) Fruit vittae 1(rarely 2–3) in each furrow, 2 on commissure (Xinjiang). 25 Bupleurum krylovianum

+ Fruit vittae 3–4 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. (31)

31 (30) Stem and branches usually slender and flexuose; bracts narrowly linear, 1–5 × 0.5–1 mm (C, E, NC, NE, and NW China). 38 Bupleurum chinense

+ Stem and branches rigid, not flexuous; bracts lanceolate, ovate, elliptic or obovate, 3–10 × 1–5 mm. (32)

32 (31) Bracts 3–5, ovate, elliptic or obovate; fruit brown, glaucous (Chongqing). 37 Bupleurum gracilipes

+ Bracts 2–3, lanceolate; fruit brown but not glaucous (Taiwan). 42 Bupleurum kaoi

33 (27) Stem solitary. (34)

+ Stems numerous, often caespitose from a thickened woody caudex. (38)

34 (33) Rays 1–3, filiform, very unequal, remote (NW Sichuan). 33 Bupleurum wenchuanense

+ Rays (3–)4–10, not slender, moderately equal. (35)

35 (34) Fruit oblong; ribs prominent. (36)

+ Stem little–branched; fruit ovoid or ellipsoid; ribs inconspicuous. (37)

36 (35) Stem little-branched (W Xinjiang). 26 Bupleurum thianschanicum

+ Stem many-branched (Yunnan). 39 Bupleurum polyclonum

37 (35) Pedicels 1–1.5 mm; fruit ovoid; mericarp pentagonal in cross section (Gansu, Sichuan, Xizang) 31 Bupleurum microcephalum

+ Pedicels 5–10 mm; fruit ellipsoid; mericarp near round in cross section (Shaanxi) 32 Bupleurum dielsianum

38 (33) Leaves margin white cartilaginous (Sichuan). 36 Bupleurum chaishoui

+ Leaves margin not white cartilaginous. (39)

39 (38) Fruit vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure (Xinjiang). 22 Bupleurum exaltatum

+ Fruit vittae 3 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. (40)

40 (39) Bracts 1–3, small, linear or squamose; bracteoles shorter than or equaling umbellules (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang). 30 Bupleurum malconense

+ Bracts 3–8, oblong or narrowly elliptic; bracteoles longer than the umbellules. (41)

41 (40) Bracts 5–8, narrowly elliptic; rays 4–11, somewhat unequal, 1–2.5 cm (Yunnan). 40 Bupleurum kunmingense

+ Bracts 3–4, oblong; rays 6–13, very unequal, 0.4–3.3 cm (Qinghai). 41 Bupleurum qinghaiense

List of lower taxa

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