Abstract:

Ligusticum is a highly specialized genus in the tribe Ammineae Koch of the

subfamily Apioideae. It is transitional between the tribe Ammineae Koch and the tribe

Peucedaneae DC., and shows a very close affinity to the genus Selinum.

      In the present paper, the taxonomic history is reviewed; the external morphology, pollen

morphology and geographic distribution are analysed, and its evolutionary tendencies are

discussed. In addition, a key to the 34 species is provided, and economic uses reported in the

literature are summarized.

     Ligusticum consists of over 60 species widely distributed in Eurasia and North America;

the genus is typically temperate. There are two principal distribution centers, one in the

Himalayas, including the Hengduan Mountains of western China, and the other in North

America. Thirty-four species occur in China, most of which are distributed in the alpine belt

of south-western China, with only a few species occurring in northern China. They usually

grow in alpine thicket meadows or in alpine meadows. Among them are 28 species endemic

to China, 4 of which are described as new in the present paper, i. e. L.yuayuanense,

L.litanense, L.filifolium, and L.yunnanense. L.elatum (Edgew.) C. B.  Clarke, a species of

India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and L. thomsonii C.B.Clarke var. evolutior C. B. Clarke,

of India, Pakistan and Kashmir, are reported from China for the first time.

     Some species are important in traditional Chinese medicine, for example, L. sinense

Oliv., L. sinense Oliv. cv. Chuanxiong, L. sinense Oliv. cv. Fuxiong, L. delavayi Franch.,

L. jeholense (Nakai et Kitagawa) Nakai et Kitagawa, L. tachiroei (Franch. et Sav.) Hiroe

et Constance, etc.

    The genus Tilingia was established by Regel in 1858, based on Tilingia ajanensis. The

chief characters of the genus are distinct calyx teeth and carpels bearing a solitary vitta in

each furrow. However, these characters do not differentiate Tilingia from Ligusticum, so

that Tilingia was transferred to Ligusticum by Kozo-Poljansky in 1916. Tilingia tachiroei

(Franch. et Sav.) Kitagawa was transferred to Ligusticum by Hiroe et Constance in

1958. Shan et Sheh in “F1. Reip. Pop. Sin.” Tom. 55 supported the treatment by

Kozo-Poljansky and Hiroe and Constance

     The genus Ligusticopsis was separated from Ligusticum by Leute in 1969, based on

the prominent calyx teeth of the former. Ligusticopsis included 14 species, all confined

to China. But this genus has not been accepted by any other botanists since its estab-

lishment.

     The subdivision of Ligusticum in this paper is based mainly on the characters of

involucel bracteoles and mericarps, combined with the shape and aperture types of pollen

grains. The genus is divided into the following two sections.

     Sect.1  Ligusticum, Bracteoles linear or lanceolate, entire; mericarps slightly

lateral-compressed to slightly dorsal-compressed; vittae solitary to numerous in each

furrow; leaf-segments ovate, lanceolate, or linear; pollen grains mainly rhomboidal or

ellipsoidal; apertures gonitreme.

     Sect. 2  Pinnatibracteola Pu. Bracteoles 1-3-pinnatisect or 2-3-lobed at apex;

mericarps dorsal-compressed; vittae usually numerous in each furrow; leaf-segments

usually   linear,   rarely   ovate   or   lanceolate;  pollen   grains   rectangular,

elongate-rhomboidal, or equatorially constricted; apertures mainly peritreme, rarely

 gonitreme or intermediate.

Key words: Umbelliferae, Ligusticum, China