You-Sheng Chen

Tree of life for the genera of Chinese vascular plants

We reconstructed a phylogenetic tree of Chinese vascular plants (Tracheophyta) using sequences of the chloroplast genes atpB, matK, ndhF, and rbcL and mitochondrial matR. We produced a matrix comprising 6098 species and including 13 695 DNA sequences, of which 1803 were newly generated. Our taxonomic sampling spanned 3114 genera representing 323 families of Chinese vascular plants, covering more than 93% of all genera known from China. The comprehensive large phylogeny supports most relationships among and within families recognized by recent molecular phylogenetic studies for lycophytes, ferns (monilophytes), gymnosperms, and angiosperms. For angiosperms, most families in Angiosperm Phylogeny Group IV are supported as monophyletic, except for a paraphyletic Dipterocarpaceae and Santalaceae. The infrafamilial relationships of several large families and monophyly of some large genera are well supported by our dense taxonomic sampling. Our results showed that two species of Eberhardtia are sister to a clade formed by all other taxa of Sapotaceae, except Sarcosperma. We have made our phylogeny of Chinese vascular plants publically available for the creation of subtrees via SoTree (http://www.darwintree.cn/flora/index.shtml), an automated phylogeny assembly tool for ecologists.

Acer yangbiense (Aceraceae), a New Species from Yunnan, China

Acer yangbiense Y. S. Chen & Q. E. Yang, a new species from Yangbi County, Yunnan Province, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to Acer leipoense Fang & Soong from western Sichuan in having a pale gray abaxial surface of the leaves, a much longer glabrous infructescence and fruiting pedicels, and convex nutlets, but differs by its larger 5-lobed leaves with a cordate base, abaxially densely pubescent veins and veinlets, and pubescent young branchlets and petioles.

Saussurea megacephala (Asteraceae), a New Species from Xizang, China

Saussurea megacephala C.C. Chang ex Y.S. Chen, sp. nova (Asteraceae) is described and illustrated from southeastern Xizang, China. Its morphology is compared with that of S. przewalskii and S. semifasciata.

A New Species and a New Combination in Parasenecio (Asteraceae)

Parasenecio dissectus Y.S. Chen, sp. nova (Asteraceae) from Hubei province (China) is described and illustrated. It is similar to P. sinicus, but differs from it by its much larger leaves usually with more lobes, smaller capitula, five phyllaries and florets, longer florets, shorter achenes and white pappus. Parasenecio levingii (C.B. Clarke) Y.S. Chen, comb. nova is proposed based on Senecio levingii from west Himalayan region.

New species and nomenclatural action in Saussurea DC. (Asteraceae)

Saussurea zhuxiensis Y. S. Chen & Q. L. Gan, sp. nov. (S1-1. Figs. 1, 2) Type: China. Hubei: Zhuxi County, Shuangqiao, rock crevices along stream, alt. 900 m, 2006-08-09, Q. L. Gan 1508 (PE). Latin diagnosis: Species Saussurea salicifoliae DC. similis, a qua radicibus numerosis fibrosis, foliis inferioribus parce dentatis vel incisis, laminis abaxialibus pallidis viridibus, capitulis laxioribus differt. Morphological description: Perennial herbs, 30–50 cm tall. Rhizome stout and repent, with numerous fibrous roots. Stems simple or 3–5, erect, puberulent, apically corymbosely branched. Leaves densely arranged, sessile, adaxially green, puberulent, abaxially light green, puberulent; basal and lower leaves lanceolate, 5–15 cm long 1–2 cm wide, apex acuminate, base attenuate, margin with sparse dentate or incised, apex apiculate; middle leaves lanceolate, usually entire, sometimes with short cusps; upper leaves smaller, entire. Capitula numerous, in loose corymbs; peduncle short, subglabrous. Involucre campanulate, 8–10 mm in diameter, 12–15 mm high. Receptacle slightly convex, sparsely bristly; receptacular bristles filiform, 5–6 mm long. Phyllaries in 5 rows; outer ones green, oblong-lanceolate, 4–5 cm long, ca. 1 mm wide, sparsely arachnoid, apex acute; innermost ones light green, lanceolate, 10–12 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, glabrous, apex acuminate. Pappus in one row, grayish-white, plumose, ca. 1 cm long. Florets purplish-red, limb ca. 7 mm long, tube ca. 7 mm long. Achenes elliptical, ca. 3 mm long. Flowering in August. Distribution: Saussurea zhuxiensis is only found in two localities (Shuangqiao and Xiangba) in Zhuxi County in Hubei province, growing in rock crevices or sandy places along streams at altitude ca. 900 m. Saussurea megaphylla (X. Y. Wu) Y. S. Chen, stat. nov. (S1-1. Figs. 3, 4) Basionym: Saussurea carduiformis Franch. var. megaphylla X. Y. Wu in Flora Tsinling. 1 (5): 423, 367, t. 261. 1985. syn. nov. Type: China. Shaanxi: Hu County, Laoyu, Xihe, 1951-09-09, P. C. Kuo 925 (holotype, WUK; isotype, PE!). Latin diagnosis: Affinis Saussurea recurvatae (Maxim.) Lipschitz, a qua differt foliis profunde pinnatisectis et magnioribus, capitulis sparsim corymbosis, pedunculis 3.5–4.5 cm longis. Morphological description: Perennial herbs to 45 cm tall. Stems erect, unbranched, 4–5 mm in diameter, with sparse glandular hairs.

A new record and new combination for Dolomiaea (Compositae, Cardueae) in China

Abstract Chen Y. S. & Raab-Straube E. von: A new record and new combination for Dolomiaea (Compositae, Cardueae) in China. — Willdenowia 43: 287–291. December 2013. — ISSN 0511-9618;

The Identity of Parasenecio subglaber (Asteraceae) from China

The type specimen of Parasenecio subglaber (CC. Chang) Y.L. Chen (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) is conflicting with the protologue and belongs to the genus Ligularia. A new name and a new type are designated to accommodate the original protologue, and the distribution range of the species is widely extended.