Abstract

New information on (1) Hippophae goniocarpa Y.S. Lian et al. ex Swenson et Bartish and (2) H. goniocarpa ssp. litangensis (Lian et X.L. Chen ex Swenson et Bartish) Lian et K. Sun from China is provided and illustrated. Based on morphological characters and distribution, H. litangensis Y.S. Lian et X.L. Chen ex Swenson et Bartish is re-described as a subspecies. H. goniocarpa (including ssp. litangensis) is a distinct species and should be placed in Section Gyantsensis of Hippophae, although it has been suggested that sspp. litangensis and goniocarpa are the result of hybridization between H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis and H. neurocarpa ssp. neurocarpa, and H. rhamnoides ssp. yunnanensis and H. neurocarpa ssp. stellatopilosa, respectively. The type subspecies of H. goniocarpa is distributed in Songpan and Hongyuan Counties of Sichuan Province and Qilian County of Qinghai Province, at 3500–3750 m, whereas ssp. litangensis is found only in Jiawa, Litang County, Sichuan Province at c. 3700 m. A key including the four taxa of sect. Gyantsensis is provided.

You do not currently have access to this article.