中国珍珠菜属植物的分类与分布

中国科学院大学学报

中国珍珠菜属植物的分类与分布

陈封怀, 胡启明

（中国科学院华南植物研究所）

收稿日期:1900-01-01 修回日期:1900-01-01 出版日期:1979-11-18 发布日期:1979-11-18
通讯作者: 陈封怀

Taxonomic and phytogeographic studies on Chinese species of Lysimachia

Chen Feng-Hwai, Hu Chi-Ming

(South China Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica)

Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:1979-11-18 Published:1979-11-18
Contact: Chen Feng-Hwai

摘要/Abstract

Abstract:

Lysimachia, one of the largest genera in Primulaceae, has received considerable

attention from many authors and was intensively studied. Klatt (1866) in his well-

illustrated monograph described forty-five species in nine sections. Knuth in Engler's

Pflanzenreich (1905) recognized 110 species and divided them into sixteen sections.

Handel-Mazzetti (1928), in a revision of the Chinese species, emumerated 147 species in

the whole world, among them 83 species are from China. He also proposed a new

system by subdividing this genus into five subgenera and 18 sections. He was the first

author to give a due emphasis to the floral structure, especially to the nature of

androecium. We realize that his system seems to be more natural than all of the pre-

vious ones; though not without faults the phylogenetic trend of this genus has been

generally elucidated (fig. 1).

In this paper, the basic idea of Handel-Mazzetti was adopted, but some important

alternations have been made for our systematic arrangements:

1. With a marked increase of species discovered recently in our country and ample

materials now at our disposal, we find that the previously accepted distinction between

the subgenus Idiophyton and the sect. Apodanthera of subgenus Lysimachia seems to

be ambiguous and impossible to demarcate clearly. The apically clustered leaves and

the lateral racemes prove to be no longer peculiar to L. insignis Hemsl. alone but in com-

mon with at least two other species in the sect. Apodanthera. As to the indehiscent

capsule, it occurs not infrequently in species belonging to the sect. Apodanthera.

Together with these characters, there are even more primitive features of morphologi-

cal significance such as ligneous stem, short filaments, large basifixed anther mostly

dehisced by apical pores that have never been found in any other group of this genus.

Consequently, we suggest that Handel-Mazzetti's subgeneric conception of Idiophyton

should be amplified to include the sect. Apodanthera.

2. Owing to the undue emphasis given by previous authors on the flower colour

as the major criterion to distinguish the subgen. Palladia from subgen. Lysimachia and

neglecting a number of other characters of equal taxonomical importance, the white

flowered species L. huitsunae Chien has long been erroneusly placed in subgen.

Palladia. After a careful examination, we find that it agrees in all respects with the

species of subgen. Lysimachia morphologically. Furthermore, it bears a strong resem-

blance both in habit and floral features to L. omeiensis Hemsl. and L. hypericoides

Hemsl. To be sure, it should be a member of Handel-Mazzetti's subsect. Hypericoideae

which we reduced as a series of sect. Nummularia.

Having transferred the white flowered species L. huitsunae Chien to, and excluded

the sect. Apodanthera from this subgenus, we then had to amend the circumscription

of Handel-Mazzetti's subgen. Lysimachia.

3. As a section, Rosulatae comprises only two species indigenous to the coast

region of south China. Handel-Mazzetti put it together with the Hawaiian section

Cilicina to form a subgenus Lysimachiopsis. But, we can hardly find out any tenable

characters to support such a relationship. These two restricted and isolated groups are

lacking evidence either in phytogeographical affinities or in their flower features and

their habit. In view of the fact that the section Rosulatae is closely related to Asian

yellow flowered groups, we think there are reasons for transfering it to the subgenus

Lysimachia.

4. Morphological evidence shows that L. crispidens Hemsl. is a more specialized

and isolated species in this genus. Its diagnostic characters are: rosulate leaves, scape-

like stem, long corolla tube and its unique heterostylandra which may indicate the

origin of heterostyly in other advanced groups of Primulaceae. Phylogenetically, this

species may also represent the topmost twig of one of the evolutional lines in this genus.

It is more reasonable to treat this monotypic section Heterostylandra with subgeneric

rank.

In the present study, Lysimachia from China are classified into 5 subgenera with

122 species and 20 varieties in which 24 species and 5 varieties are as new.

In regard to the geographical distribution, Lysimachia occurs all over the world

except northern Siberia, Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska and New Zealand.

Although the total range of the genus as a whole may be said as worldwide, the separate

subgenera or sections are more restricted in distribution. As shown in Table I. the

center of diversity of the genus as well as that of the distribution proves apparently

to be in China. Out of a total of about 180 species ascribed to this genus, 122 are from

this country. In addition, most of its subgenera and sections are endemic here. It is

worth mentioning that the species endemic to China now are up to 110 in number.

Furthermore, it may be seen that starting from this center the number of species

becomes less and less as they proceed towards different directions, and in particular

the primitive sections and species disappear rapidly (fig. 2).

However, the distribution pattern of species over the whole area of our country is

uneven. Lysimachia has scarcely ever been found in northern Tibet, Qinghai,

Xinjiang, Gansu and Nei Monggol, and only a few species occur in northern and north-

eastern China. The majority of the species inhabit regions below 32°N. Lat. The

greatest concentration of the species of this genus appears in the following provinces,

such as Yunnan, southern Sichuan, western Guizhow and Guangxi. We have found

that the great abundance of the species and well-known taxa of phylogenetical impor-

tance are all existing in this region, and the representatives of more primitive taxa are

also much richer here than in any other regions of the world.

Considering the foregoing floristic evidence and the relative antiquity of the area

geologically, it may be reasonable to presume that the center of origin of this genus

may be in the south-western part of China.

陈封怀, 胡启明. 中国珍珠菜属植物的分类与分布[J]. 中国科学院大学学报.

Chen Feng-Hwai, Hu Chi-Ming. Taxonomic and phytogeographic studies on Chinese species of Lysimachia[J]. .