Revision of Pedicularis Series Tenuirostres (Orobanchaceae)

Abstract

Pedicularis ser. Tenuirostres Maxim. (Orobanchaceae) is demonstrated to be the correct name for the group usually referred to as P. ser. Pectinatae Prain. The series is here revised and 12 species are accepted. Its species are centred in the NW Himalaya, particularly Pakistan where there is much local infraspecific variation. Two species are excluded from the series: Pedicularis rhynchotricha P.C.Tsoong from China (Xizang) is placed in P. ser. Rhynchotrichae R.R.Mill and P. birmanica Bonati is confirmed as a member of P. ser. Brevifoliae (Prain) Bonati. One new species of Pedicularis ser. Tenuirostres is described: P. yamazakiana R.R.Mill from Nepal, which was formerly confused with P. pectinata subsp. palans Prain. Pedicularis jainii Aswal & Mehrotra is demonstrated to be a superfluous name for P. pyramidata Royle ex Benth. Pedicularis kashmiriana var. ornata Pennell is considered to be indistinguishable from P. pyramidata although P. kashmiriana var. kashmiriana is a recognisable taxon. An IUCN conservation assessment is proposed for Pedicularis rhynchotricha and for each taxon within P. ser. Tenuirostres.

Evidence for hybridization and introgression in two Canadian Arctic louseworts: Pedicularis langsdorffii subsp. arctica and Pedicularis hirsuta

“…With over 600 species worldwide (Robart et al 2015), Pedicularis is most diverse in temperate Eurasia, where over 70% of known species occur (Yang and Wang 2007). Many species can be found throughout the western hemisphere (Mill 2011), and approximately 40 are known from North America (Robart et al 2011).…”

Flora of Nepal, Volume 3, Magnoliaceae to Rosaceae edited by M. F.Watson, S.Akiyama, H.Ikeda, C. A.Pendry, K. R.Rajbhandari and K. K.Shrestha. Edinburgh: Royal Botanic Gardens, 2011. 512 pp. Hardback. ISBN 978-1-906129-78-1. £90.

“…Even though most species from Nepal were described in the times of early exploration, new species are still being discovered (e.g. Adhikari et al ., ; Lidén, ; Ohba & Akiyama, ; Pendry, ; Rushforth, ; Egan, ; Mill, ), emphasizing the importance of taxonomic studies by describing and mapping the biodiversity of Earth.…”