3.4 Taxonomic treatment
Roegneria yenchiana X. Fan et L. N. Sha, sp. nov .
(Figures 1 and 2)
TYPE: CHINA, Yunnan , Shangri-la, Tiger Leaping Gorge, in stony
slope of Haba Snow Mountain, 3200m, 11 November 2021, X. Fan & L.N. Sha
20211127 (holotype: SAUTI; isotype: SAUTI).
3.4.1 Diagnosis
Roegneria yenchiana is morphologically the most similar species
to R. ciliaris (StY ) but is distinguished from R.
ciliaris by its lower glume length (3-5 mm vs. 7-8 mm), ciliates in
lemma margin (absent vs. about 1 mm), lemma back (scabrous or pubescent
on lower parts vs. hispid), and the paleas length (slightly shorter than
lemma vs. 2/3 the length of lemma).
3.4.2 Description
Perennial herb, cespitose; culms usually erect, 50-100 cm tall, purplish
at maturity. Leaf sheaths glabrous; ligule about 0.3-0.6 mm long,
truncate or lacerate; blades flat, 27-40 cm long, 4-6mm wide, glabrous.
Spikes linear, inclined to nodding, purplish at maturity, 10-26cm long
(excluding awns), 5-10 mm wide, 7-16 spikelets per spike; 1 spikelets
per node; rachises scabrous and margin shortly ciliolate; internodes
14-25 mm long; usually 1-4 rudimentary spikelets at the tortuous
inflorescence base. Spikelets 18-25 mm (excluding awns) long, with 6-10
florets, disarticulation above the glumes, beneath each floret. Glums
unequal, rectangular, oblique, margin membranous, usually lower glume
2/3 the length of upper glume, lower glum 3-5 mm, upper glume 5-8 mm,
3-5 prominent veins, sometimes setulose on upper veins, apex acuminate
and with 1 tooth. Lemmas oblong-lanceolate to oblong, scabrous,
pubescent on lower parts, 3 veins, prominent midvein, first lemma 9-12
mm, awned, awns 17-25 mm, reflexed, awns flanked by 2 short teeth with
about 0.5 mm long. Paleas oblong, slightly shorter than lemma, ciliolate
along keels in the distal 1/3, apex truncate. Chromosome number 2n = 4x
=28; genome constitution StStYY .
3.4.3 Phenology
Flowering: July-August and fruiting October-November.
3.4.4 Distribution, habitat, and name
Roegneria
yenchiana is known only from a few localities in the northwest of
Yunnan, China. It was found among bushes or on stony mountain slopes
between 2500 and 3500 m growing together with Campeiostachys
nutans (Griseb.) J. L. Yang, B. R. Baum et C. Yen andCampeiostachys dahurica var. cylindrica (Franch.) J. L.
Yang, B. R. Baum et C. Yen. This two species were previously included
into the genus Elymus . According to the genome system of
classification, they were transferred into the genusCampeiostachys because of their StYH genome
constitutions.
Roegneria yenchiana is named for commemorating Prof. Yen Chi, a
biosystematic scientist of the Triticeae from the Triticeae Research
Institute of Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU), China. He was
evaluated as an important person in the taxonomic research of the
Triticeae by Chairman Prof. Roland von Bothmer in eighth international
Triticeae symposium.