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Clarification of the identity of Quercus patkoiensis and Q. semiserratoides (Fagaceae) using leaf epidermal features

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Abstract

Leaf epidermal features offer excellent diagnostic characteristics for genera of Fagaceae. The survey of leaf epidermal and acorn features of Quercus patkoiensis A. Camus, Quercus semiserratoides (Y.C. Hsu & H.W. Jen) C.C. Huang & Y.T. Chang, Q. semiserrata Roxb. and Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chun revealed that the type material of Q. patkoiensis belongs to two different taxa: the foliage branch—L. litseifolius; the acorns—Q. blakei Skan. The lectotype of Q. patkoiensis is designated here and the taxonomic treatment of the species is presented. Q. semiserratoides, usually regarded as a synonym of Q. semiserrata, is actually a distinct species, because significant differences in the leaf epidermal cells, trichome and trichome base, stomata, the epicuticular wax and cupule features were found between the two species. Leaf epidermal features are useful not only to distinguish genera in Fagaceae, but can also assist in species identification.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Ms. Alison Moore of K and Ms. Jin–Jin Hu of KUN for helping to collect the plant materials for anatomical study and to the keepers and staffs of BM, HT, IBK, IBSC, K, KUN, P, PE, SWFC, SYS and VNM for access to their collections. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31100154, 31270267, 31110103911), Shanghai Municipal Administration of Forestation and City Appearances (F112419, F132418) and Main Direction Program of Knowledge Innovation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-EW-Z-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences/Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China

    Min Deng, Yigang Song & Quanjian Li

  2. School of Ecology, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, 201418, China

    Qiansheng Li

  3. Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Benemerita Autonomous University of Puebla, Puebla, 72000, Mexico

    Allen Coombes

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  1. Min Deng
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  2. Yigang Song
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  3. Qiansheng Li
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  4. Allen Coombes
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  5. Quanjian Li
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Correspondence to Qiansheng Li.

Appendix: Taxonomic treatment

Appendix: Taxonomic treatment

Quercus blakei Skan in Hooker’s Icon. Pl. 27: 2662. 1899. —Cyclobalanopsis blakei (Skan) Schott. in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 47: 649. 1912. —TYPE: CHINA, Hongkong: “New British territory on mainland opposite Hongkong, near Ta-tit-in, alt. 500 ft. above sea-level”, 29 June 1899, Ford, C. 622 (holotype K!, isotypes: K!, P!).

Quercus patkoiensis A. Camus, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 80: 353. (1933). —Lectotype (designated here): (Acorns) INDIA, Assam: Monts Patkoi ridge (boundary between Burma and India), 22 Jun 1921, Hole, R.S. s.n. [excl. foliage branch which belongs to Lithocarpus litseifolius] (K! [K000227639]) (Fig. 1). syn. nov.

Distribution—N. Vietnam (Tonkin, Sapa), S China (mainly in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hongkong), Laos, NE India (Assam) and possibly NW Myanmar.

Phenology —Flowering July to August, fruiting March to early May of the next year.

Quercus semiserratoides (Y.C. Hsu & H.W. Jen) C.C. Huang & Y.T. Chang, Guihaia 12: 303. 1992. —Basionym: Cyclobalanopsis semiserratoides Y.C. Hsu & H.Wei Jen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 14(2): 84 (1976); Fl. Yunnan. 2: 319. (1979); Sylva. Sinica. 2: 2317 (1985); Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 22: 276. (1998). —TYPE: CHINA, Yunnan: Pingbian, Shi-ban village, Mi-chu, in ravine, humid place, alt. 400 m, 29 Sept. 1954, K.M. Feng 4731 (holotype KUN!, isotypes KUN!, PE!). —Cyclobalanopsis semiserrata auct non. (Roxb.) Oerst. in Fl. China. 4: 386. (1999).

Additional specimens examined—CHINA. Yunnan: Pingbian: 4 Apr. 1985, Yang, S.Z. s.n. (SWFC!); Yang, S.Z. 85044 (SWFC!); alt. 800 m, Aug. 1976, Wang, D.M. 4731 (SWFC!); Wang, D.M. 76-315 (SWFC!); Qian-Jin Village, by stream, humid place, alt. 410 m, 27 Aug. 1953, Mao, P.I. 3095 (IBSC!, KUN!, PE!, WUK!); Xin-nong Village, Lao-ba-qing, 19 Oct. 1983, Anonymous 121 (KUN). Hekou, Yao-shan region, from Liang-zi to Qing-jiao, in ravine, by stream, alt. 750 m, 30 Oct. 1992, Sui, Y.M. 981 (KUN!, PE!).

Distribution and Habitat—This species is only found in SE Yunnan, China. It mainly grows in ravines, and humid and closed forests, alt. 500–800 m.

Conservation status—Currently, the population of Q. semiserratoides in Pingbian county is regarded as extinct based on our field survey. The latest collection was reported by Shui and Chen (2010) who cited voucher specimens from Hekou county, Yunnan province. It is an extremely endangered species. Further field surveys on its population and habitat are essential for conservation of this oak.

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Deng, M., Song, Y., Li, Q. et al. Clarification of the identity of Quercus patkoiensis and Q. semiserratoides (Fagaceae) using leaf epidermal features. Plant Syst Evol 301, 849–860 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-014-1119-4

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