Ligusticum in Flora of China @ efloras.org

72. Ligusticum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 250. 1753.

藁本属 gao ben shu

Pu Fading (溥发鼎 Pu Fa-ting); Mark F. Watson

Coristospermum Bertoloni; Dystaenia Kitagawa; Ligusticopsis Leute; Paraligusticum V. N. Tikhomirov; Rupiphila Pimenov & Lavrova; Tilingia Regel & Tiling.

Herbs perennial. Root cylindrical or fusiform; rootstock thick or slightly inflated. Stem erect, striate, base usually clothed in fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal and lower leaves petiolate, sheathing; blade 1–3-pinnate or ternate-2–4-pinnate. Cauline leaves gradually reduced upward or absent. Inflorescence branching, rarely unbranched; umbels compound, terminal and lateral, or only terminal; bracts few, usually caducous or absent; rays often slightly incurved, convergent in fruit; bracteoles lanceolate or linear, entire or apex 2–3-lobed or 1–3-pinnate. Calyx teeth conspicuous, shorter than to subequal the stylopodium or obsolete. Petals white, purple, violet or pale pinkish, apex notched with incurved apical lobule. Stylopodium conic; styles spreading or erect in flower, reflexed after flowering. Fruit oblong or oblong-ovoid, dorsally compressed; ribs all prominent or lateral ribs narrowly winged; vittae (1–)2–5 in each furrow, 2–10 on commissure. Seed face plane, rarely slightly concave. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

About 60 species: Asia, Europe, North America; 40 species (35 endemic) in China.

Ligusticum is a widespread, complex genus the taxonomy of which is in a state of flux. Relationships with nearby genera such as Cnidium, Hymenidium, Ligusticopsis, Pachypleurum, Paraligusticum, Rupiphila, Selinum, and Tilingia are still being clarified. As a general consensus has yet to be reached, and many species are very poorly known (often only from a type collection), a conservative, traditional classification has been adopted here, with the knowledge that Ligusticum in the broad sense is an artificial assemblage.

The following taxa have been described from Chinese material, but are imperfectly known as no specimens have been seen or the specimens are inadequate.

Ligusticum elegans H. Wolff (Acta Horti Gothob. 2: 312. 1926), described from Hebei (“Hsiao-wu-tai-shan [Xiaowutai Shan], Yang-kia-p’ing, Hsi-lin,” ca. 2200 m, K. A. H. Smith 1167, holotype, GB).

Ligusticum falcarioides H. Wolff (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 311. 1930), described from Yunnan (“Hiss-chong-chang,” 2600 m, E. E. Maire 3942, holotype, P).

Ligusticum ferulaceum Franchet (Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, sér. 8, 6: 135. 1894, not Lamarck, 1779, nor Allioni, 1785, nor Lapeyrouse, 1813), published in observations without type information.

Ligusticum glaucescens Franchet (Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, sér. 8, 6: 134. 1894), described from Yunnan (“Pee-ngay-tze” & “Mo-che-tchin, supra Tapin-tze,” P. J. M. Delavay 446 & s.n., syntypes, P).

Ligusticum jeholense (Nakai & Kitagawa) Nakai & Kitagawa var. tenuisectum Y. C. Chu (Fl. Pl. Herb. Chin. Bor.-Orient. 6: 293. 1977), described from Liaoning (Benxi, Huanren, Deng Yu-chen 1263, holotype, FPI).

Ligusticum kiangsiense H. Wolff (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 326. 1930), described from Jiangxi (Du Bois-Reymond 733, holotype, unlocalized).

Ligusticum kulingense H. Wolff (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 314. 1930), described from Jiangxi (“Kuling Suschangebige,” ca. 1100 m, Du Bois-Reymond s.n. holotype, unlocalized).

Ligusticum levisticifolium H. Wolff (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 323. 1930 [“levistifolium”]), described from Xizang (“Tsé-Kou,” J. T. Monbeig 85, holotype, E; isotype ?P).

Ligusticum limprichtii H. Wolff (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 12: 452. 1922), described from Sichuan (“Paoshing” [Baoxing], 2850 m, W. Limpricht 1053, holotype, unlocalized).

Ligusticum longilobum H. Wolff (Acta Horti Gothob. 2: 313. 1926), described from Jilin (“Hsiaowhutai Shan” [Xiaowutai Shan], 2300 m, K. A. H. Smith 101, holotype, W).

Ligusticum pseudoangelica H. de Boissieu (Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 3: 845. 1903; Pleurospermum pseudoangelica (H. de Boissieu) H. de Boissieu), described from W Sichuan (“Tongolo,” J. A. Soulié 119 & 122, syntypes, P).

Ligusticum pseudodaucoides H. Peng & Yin Z. Wang (Novon 8: 50. 1998; Ligusticopsis pseudodaucoides (H. Peng & Yin Z. Wang) Pimenov & Kljuykov), described from Yunnan (Jingdong, Wuliang Shan, Mt. Maotou, ca. 3300 m, H. Peng 2579, holotype, KUN).

Ligusticum rockii M. Hiroe (Umbel. Asia 1: 110. 1958), described from Yunnan (“Mount Mitzuga, W of Muil Gomba,” 3050–4875 ft, J. F. C. Rock 16541, holotype, UC).

Ligusticum sinense Oliver var. alpinum R. H. Shan ex K. T. Fu (Fl. Tsinling. 1(3): 461. 1981), described from Shaanxi (“Hwain Hsien, Tapaiyangcha,” 1400–1900 m, K. T. Fu 17254, holotype, WNU).

Ligusticum smithii H. Wolff (Acta Horti Gothob. 2: 314. 1926), described from Hebei (“Hsiao-wu-tai-shan [Xiaowutai Shan], Yang-kia-p’ing, Hsi-lin,” 1600–2600 m, K. A. H. Smith 1097, holotype, GB).

Ligusticum tibetanicum H. Wolff (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 317. 1930), described from Gansu (E. Licent 4810, syntype, unlocalized) and Xizang (“Kokonor,” Anderson 1215 and Futerer & Holderer 96, syntypes, unlocalized).

Ligusticum wawrae H. Wolff (Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 27: 318. 1930), described from Beijing (“Tse-tai-ssú,” H. Wawra von Fernsee 1065, holotype, W).

1 Bracteoles 1–3-pinnate or 2–3-lobed at apex, rarely entire. (2)

+ Bracteoles linear or lanceolate, entire. (13)

2 (1) Bracteoles 2–3-lobed or 1-pinnate, rarely entire. (3)

+ Bracteoles 2–3-pinnate, rarely 1–2-pinnate. (8)

3 (2) Calyx teeth obsolete. (4)

+ Calyx teeth persistent. (5)

4 (3) Plants 6–20 cm; leaves 2-pinnate, ultimate segments linear-lanceolate, 2–4 × ca. 1 mm; bracteoles longer than umbellules. 33 Ligusticum capillaceum

+ Plants 40–60 cm; leaves ternate-2–3-pinnate, ultimate segments lanceolate, 5–15 × 2–5 mm; bracteoles nearly as long as umbellules. 34 Ligusticum yunnanense

5 (3) Leaves 1-pinnate. (6)

+ Leaves 2–3-pinnate. (7)

6 (5) Bracteoles 4–8(–10), entire or 2–3-lobed at apex, rarely 1-pinnate, margins ciliate; petals white. 29 Ligusticum likiangense

+ Bracteoles 10–12, 1-pinnate, pilose; petals white or pinkish tinged. 30 Ligusticum involucratum

7 (5) Rays 1.5–2 cm; petals purplish, base cuneate. 31 Ligusticum franchetii

+ Rays (1.5–)3–8 cm; petals white, base shortly clawed. 32 Ligusticum sikiangense

8 (2) Bracteoles 1–2-pinnate, margins white membranous; calyx teeth obsolete. 35 Ligusticum oliverianum

+ Bracteoles 2–3-pinnate, margins not white membranous; calyx teeth persistent. (9)

9 (8) Leaves 1–2-pinnate, pinnae ovate, 15–40 × 5–20 mm. 36 Ligusticum rechingerianum

+ Leaves 2–4-pinnate, ultimate segments linear to lanceolate, 2–6 × 1(–5) mm. (10)

10 (9) Plants hispid-setulose throughout; stem simple, usually very short; rays up to 24 cm. 37 Ligusticum hispidum

+ Plants glabrous; stem up to 50 cm; rays 1–6 cm. (11)

11 (10) Stem unbranched, subscapose; cauline leaves usually absent. 38 Ligusticum scapiforme

+ Stem usually branched; cauline leaves present. (12)

12 (11) Stem single; petals purplish; vittae 1–3 in each furrow, 4–6 on commissure. 39 Ligusticum daucoides

+ Stem multicipital; petals white or violet; vittae 2–5 in each furrow, 6–10 on commissure. 40 Ligusticum multivittatum

13 (1) Ultimate leaf segments narrow, linear, 1–30 × 0.5–3 mm. (14)

+ Ultimate leaf segments broad, ovate or lanceolate, 5–50 × 5–30 mm. (21)

14 (13) Calyx teeth obsolete; ultimate segments of leaf linear to broadly linear, elongate, 5–30 × 1–3 mm. (15)

+ Calyx teeth persistent; ultimate segments of leaf linear to setuliform, 3–15 × 0.5–1 mm. (17)

15 (14) Leaves 2–3-pinnate; bracteoles longer than umbellules. 26 Ligusticum nematophyllum

+ Leaves ternate-3–4-pinnate; bracteoles shorter than or nearly as long as umbellules. (16)

16 (15) Bracteole margin white membranous; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. 27 Ligusticum tenuissimum

+ Bracteoles without white membranous margins; vittae 3–5 in each furrow, 6–10 on commissure. 28 Ligusticum tenuisectum

17 (14) Bracteoles without narrow membranous margin. (18)

+ Bracteoles with narrow membranous margin. (19)

18 (17) Calyx teeth conspicuous, subulate; leaves 3–4-pinnate. 24 Ligusticum brachylobum

+ Calyx teeth inconspicuous, minute; leaves ternate-2–3-pinnate. 25 Ligusticum mairei

19 (17) Plants 10–30 cm; umbels 2–4 cm across; petal bases shortly clawed (N China). 21 Ligusticum tachiroei

+ Plants 30–120 cm; umbels (3–)5–10 cm across; petal bases cuneate (SC and WC China). (20)

20 (19) Ultimate leaf segments linear, 3–10 × 1–2 mm; vittae 1 in each furrow. 22 Ligusticum striatum

+ Ultimate leaf segments setuliform, 1–5 × ca. 0.5 mm; vittae 3 in each furrow. 23 Ligusticum delavayi

21 (13) Leaves 1-pinnate. (22)

+ Leaves 1–3-pinnate or ternate-2–4-pinnate. (24)

22 (21) Umbels terminal; rays elongate, 10–17 cm; petals purple. 1 Ligusticum yanyuanense

+ Umbels terminal and lateral; rays short, 1.5–3 cm; petals white. (23)

23 (22) Vittae 1–2 in each furrow, 4 on commissure (Xinjiang). 2 Ligusticum mucronatum

+ Vittae 2–4 in each furrow, 6–8(–10) on commissure (NC, SC, and WC China). 3 Ligusticum thomsonii

24 (21) Calyx teeth persistent. (25)

+ Calyx teeth obsolete. (29)

25 (24) Bracteoles margin narrow membranous. 4 Ligusticum gyirongense

+ Bracteoles without narrow membranous margin. (26)

26 (25) Plant pubescent throughout; leaves 1–2-pinnate. 5 Ligusticum xizangense

+ Plant subglabrous; leaves ternate-2–3-pinnate. (27)

27 (26) Petal apex mucronate without incurved lobule. 17 Ligusticum weberbauerianum

+ Petal apex notched with incurved lobule. (28)

28 (27) Rays 15–20; seed face slightly concave (Xizang). 6 Ligusticum littledalei

+ Rays 7–11; seed face plane (E and NE China). 7 Ligusticum ajanense

29 (24) Rootstock apparently swollen at nodes; styles longer than or ca. 0.5 × fruit. (30)

+ Rootstock not swollen at nodes; styles usually less than 0.5 × fruit. (31)

30 (29) Internodes of rootstock short; rays 15–30, 3–5 cm; petal base cuneate; styles ca. equaling fruit (or plants not flowering). 8 Ligusticum sinense

+ Internodes of rootstock slender; rays 10–14, 1.5–2 cm; petal base short-clawed; styles ca. 0.5 × fruit. 9 Ligusticum reptans

31 (29) Rays extremely unequal. (32)

+ Rays slightly unequal to subequal. (34)

32 (31) Plants 30–50 cm; rays 5–8, 1–3 cm. 10 Ligusticum litangense

+ Plants 100–150 cm or more; rays (10–)20–50. (33)

33 (32) Rays (10–)20–25, 1–6 cm; petals purple (NC and SW China). 11 Ligusticum angelicifolium

+ Rays 30–50, 3–12 cm; petals white (Xinjiang). 12 Ligusticum discolor

34 (31) Bract margins narrow membranous (NE and NW China). 14 Ligusticum jeholense

+ Bracts without narrow membranous margin (NC, SC, and WC China). (35)

35 (34) Umbels 15–20 cm across; rays 4–8(–15) cm. 13 Ligusticum kingdon-wardii

+ Umbels 5–10(–12) cm across; rays 2–4 cm. (36)

36 (35) Rays 8–10; pinnae abaxial glaucescent. 15 Ligusticum glaucifolium

+ Rays (7–)12–25(–40); pinnae abaxial pale green. (37)

37 (36) Leaves 1–3-pinnate; bracts 1–4 (Xizang). 16 Ligusticum elatum

+ Leaves ternate-3-pinnate; bracts 5–10, sometimes caducous (NC and SC China). (38)

38 (37) Rootstock slender; secondary pinnae 3–5 pairs, remote; terminal pinnae acute. 18 Ligusticum pteridophyllum

+ Rootstock thick; secondary pinnae 8–10 pairs, crowded; terminal pinnae caudate. (39)

39 (38) Fruit oblong-ovate, ca. 3 × 2 mm; vittae 2–3(–4) in each furrow, 6–8 on commissure. 19 Ligusticum acuminatum

+ Fruit oblong-obovate, ca. 4 mm long; vittae absent. 20 Ligusticum nullivittatum

List of lower taxa

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