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Abstract. As delimited herein, Solmslaubachia consists of nine species, of which eight are endemic to China and one is distributed also in Bhutan and Sikkim. A new species, S. gamosepala, is described. Seven species are reduced to synonymy, and a key to species and detailed descriptions and distributions are given.

Keywords: Brassicaceae, China, Solmslaubachia, taxonomy.

Although several species of Solmslaubachia Muschler were originally described as Parrya R. Brown, the two genera have little in common and are not very closely related. Solmslaubachia has wingless seeds, equal sepals with the lateral pair not saccate, rounded replum concealed by strongly angled valve margins, valves apically united with obsolete style and replum, fruit readily detached basally from pedicel, entire or lobed stigmas with free and non-decurrent lobes, and eglandular trichomes. By contrast, Parrya has winged seeds, unequal sepals with the lateral pair strongly saccate, strongly flattened and readily visible replum, flat and not angled valve margins, valves readily separated from well-developed styles, fruits persistently united basally with pedicels, strongly 2-lobed stigmas with decurrent and connate lobes, and often glandular trichomes.

Several recent authors (e.g., Grierson, 1984; Hajra et al., 1993; Srivastava, 1998) overlooked Botschantsev’s (1955) treatment of Solmslaubachia and erroneously retained S. platycarpa in Parrya, thereby overlooking the important features above that readily separate the two genera.

Solmslaubachia is most closely related to the central Asian and Himalayan Desideria Pampanini (12 spp.) and Leiospora (C. A. Meyer) Dvorák (6 spp.). All three genera have fruits readily detached from the pedicel, and their valves are adnate apically to the replum. Therefore, when the fruit is fully mature, it falls off the plant and its apex remains tardily dehiscent. The three genera also have obsolete or no styles, and the fruit valves are strongly angled at the margin and completely concealing the replum. This combination of characters is not found in any Himalayan or central Asian genera of the Brassicaceae.

Solmslaubachia is readily separated from Leiospora by its wingless seeds, equal sepals with the lateral pair nonsaccate, entire leaves, oblong-linear anthers 1.0--1.5(--1.8) mm long, and capitate, entire, or slightly 2-lobed stigmas with neither decurrent nor connivent lobes. By contrast, Leiospora often has winged seeds, unequal sepals with the lateral pair strongly saccate, often dentate leaves, narrowly linear anthers 2.5--3.0 mm long, and conical, prominently 2-lobed stigmas with connivent, decurrent lobes.

Solmslaubachia is easily separated from Desideria by its entire, pinnately veined leaves, linear-oblong anthers more than 1 mm long, and exclusively simple trichomes. In Desideria the leaves are apically 3- to 9(--11)-toothed and palmately veined, the anthers are ovate to oblong and often less than 1 mm long, and the trichomes are forked, although sometimes mixed with simple ones.

All except one of the nine species of Solmslaubachia have solitary flowers that originate from the center of the rosette. In S. platycarpa, the flowers are arranged in a distinct raceme. This feature alone, however, does not support the removal of the species to another genus because in many genera of the Brassicaceae, including Desideria and Leiospora, both solitary flowers and distinct racemes are found.

An (1995) described Solmslaubachia carnosifola Z. X. An and S. pamirica Z. X. An from Xinjiang (China). The first is definitely a synonym of Braya scharnhorstii Regel & Schmalhausen. The second, which was based on flowering material with no fruits and for which no type material was seen, is not a Solmslaubachia because it was described as having yellow flowers, median nectaries, and glandular leaves, scapes, and pedicels. It is likely that the plant belongs to Chorispora R. Brown ex de Candolle or Dontostemon Andrzejowski ex C. A. Meyer, but without fruits it is almost impossible to assign S. pamirica to its proper genus.

Solmslaubachia Muschler, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 5: 205. 1912. Type species: S. pulcherrima Muschler.

Herbs perennial, sometimes pulvinate, with well-developed thick caudex covered with petioles of previous years. Trichomes absent or simple. Stems absent or rarely erect and few-leaved. Basal leaves petiolate, rosulate, simple, entire. Cauline leaves absent; if present, sessile entire. Flowers solitary on long pedicels originating from center of rosette, rarely in few- to several-flowered, ebracteate racemes elongated slightly in fruit. Fruiting pedicels slender, erect to divaricate. Sepals oblong, free or rarely united, usually persistent, erect, equal, base of inner pair not saccate, margin not membranous. Petals purple, blue, pink, or rarely white, suborbicular, obovate, to spatulate, apex obtuse to emarginate; claw subequaling or longer than sepals. Stamens 6; filaments not dilated at base; anthers oblong-linear, not apiculate at apex. Nectar glands 2, lateral, often annular; median nectaries absent. Ovules 5--10 per ovary. Fruit dehiscent siliques or silicles, linear, oblong, ovate, or lanceolate, latiseptate, sessile, readily detached from pedicel; valves papery, reticulate veined, with a prominent midvein and marginal veins, glabrous or hairy, smooth, margin angled; replum rounded, concealed by connate valve margins; septum complete or rarely perforated, membranous, tansluscent; style absent, obsolete, rarely to 1 mm; stigma capitate, entire or slightly 2-lobed, lobes not decurrent. Seeds uniseriate or biseriate, wingless, broadly ovate to suborbicular, flattened; seed coat reticulate, rugose, or papillate, not mucilaginous when wetted; cotyledons accumbent.

Eight of the nine species are endemic to China. Solmslaubachia platycarpa also occurs in Bhutan and Sikkim.

Key to the Species of Solmslaubachia

1. Solmslaubachia platycarpa (J. D. Hooker & Thomson) Botschantsev, Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 17: 171. 1955.

Parrya platycarpa J. D. Hooker & Thomson, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 5: 136. 1861, not P. platycarpa Rydberg, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 39: 326. 1912. TYPE: INDIA. Sikkim: alpine region, 17,000 ft, J. D. Hooker s.n. (Holotype: K!).

Parrya finchiana Dunn, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927: 247. 1927. Syn. nov. TYPE: CHINA. Tibet: along Chongphu torrent, ca. 20 miles NE of Mt. Everest, 17,000 ft (5182 m), 8 June 1922, E. F. Norton 41 (Holotype: K!).

Solmslaubachia orbiculata Y. C. Lan & T. Y. Cheo, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 473. 1981. Syn. nov. TYPE: CHINA. Xizang: Cona, 5020 m, 20 July 1975, C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen 75-1129 (Holotype: HNWP (as HQ); Isotype: KUN).

Herbs (2--)4--10(--15) cm tall, glabrous to densely pubescent with straight to crisped retrorse trichomes to 1.1 mm; caudex covered with petioles of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves (0.5--)1.5--3.0(--6.0) cm long, ciliate, thickened and subcorky, persistent, often ciliate at least basally; leaf blade lanceolate, elliptic, oblanceolate, or spatulate, rarely broadly obovate, suborbicular, or linear-oblanceolate, (0.5--)1.0--3.5(--5.0) cm × 2--7(--10) mm, glabrous to densely pilose, sometimes only sparsely so at leaf apex and petiole base, base cuneate to attenuate, apex acute to rounded. Cauline leaves 1 or 2, much narrower than basal ones, sessile. Raceme 4- to 10-flowered. Fruiting pedicel divaricate-ascending, 3--10(--15) mm long. Sepals oblong to oblong-linear, 4.5--6.5(--8.0) × 1.5--2.0 mm, glabrous or pilose. Petals pale blue to purplish, obovate, (1.0--)1.2--1.5(--1.7) cm × 4--5 mm; claw 6--9 mm long. Filaments of median staminal pairs 3--4 mm long, those of lateral pair 2.0--2.5 mm long; anthers 1.0--1.5 mm long. Ovules 5--10 per locule. Fruit elliptic, oblong, to broadly ovate, (1.0--)1.5--3.0 × (0.5--)1.0--1.7 cm; valves glabrous or short pilose, prominently reticulate veined; septum complete; style 0.5--3.0 mm long; stigma entire to slightly lobed. Seeds biseriate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, papillate, 2.5--3.5 × 1.7--2.2 mm. Flowering June--July, fruiting July--September.

Rocky ravines, cliff ledges, beneath boulders, stony hillsides; 4200--5800 m. Xizang [Bhutan, Sikkim].

Specimens examined: BHUTAN. Tagland La, Paro Chu, Ludlow, Sherriff & Hicks 16265 (BM, E). CHINA. Xizang (Tibet): Chongphu, Norton 12 (K); hills W of Lhasa, beyond Trisum bridge, Ludlow & Sherriff 9063 (BM, E); Nyenchengtang La, Ludlow & Sherriff 9678 (BM, E); Yadong Xian, Qinghai-Xizang Team 7351 (KUN). INDIA: Sikkim. Lhonak, Dolmasampa, 5 July 1989, Lang s.n. (E); Lhonak, Chapman 213 (K); Langma Chu, Smith & Cave 2333 (K).

Of the two specimens of Parrya finchiana that were collected by Norton and deposited at K, Norton 41, which was cited by Dunn (1927), is clearly the holotype. This specimen matches the original description very closely and has a well-developed raceme. The other collection, Norton 12, which was erroneously annotated by Botschantsev as the type, has undeveloped, sessile racemes with apparently solitary flowers. Botschantsev (1955) reduced P. finchiana to synonymy of Solmslaubachia ciliaris without seeing the holotypes of both taxa. Had he examined the holotype of P. finchiana, with its distinct raceme, he would have reduced the species to synonymy of S. platycarpa instead of that of S. ciliaris. In fact, Dunn (1927) indicated that P. finchiana is similar to S. platycarpa (as Parrya) and differs in having densely pilose peduncles and petioles. An examination of all collections of S. platycarpa in the major herbaria consulted reveals that young pubescent plants with flowers only were identified as P. finchiana, whereas glabrous or glabrescent fruiting specimens were determined as S. platycarpa. Botschantsev (1955) separated S. ciliaris (including P. finchiana) from S. platycarpa on the basis of its having solitary flowers instead of distinct racemes, and this erroneous circumscription of the species was later followed by Kuan (1985) and Lan (1987). As shown below, S. ciliaris is based on a fragmentary flowering material indistinguishable from S. pulcherrima.

Solmslaubachia platycarpa is highly variable in leaf shape, petiole length, indumentum, flower size, and fruit shape and size. However, this high variability is often encountered within the same population. For example, in Ludlow & Sherriff 9063 (BM) completely glabrous and densely pubescent plants are found, whereas another, Ludlow & Sherriff 9678 (BM), has small-flowered plants (sepals 4.5 mm and petals 10 mm) and large-flowered ones (sepals 8 mm and petals 15 mm).

The type collection of Solmslaubachia orbiculata consists of three short, petiolate plants with two detached young fruits. The overall aspects of leaf shape, fruit, young seeds, and indumentum clearly fall within the variation ranges of S. platycarpa, and therefore S. orbiculata does not merit recognition even at the infraspecific rank.

An (1995) listed Solmslaubachia platycarpa as occurring in Xinjiang, but we have not seen any material of the species from that autonomous region of China.

2. Solmslaubachia retropilosa Botschantsev, Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 17: 171. 1955. TYPE: CHINA. Tibet (as Sikkan): between Toutan and Lamaja, Alabosan (Ngarolak), 27 May 1893, V. Kaschkarov s.n. (Holotype: LE!; Isotype: PE!).

Solmslaubachia floribunda Y. C. Lan & T. Y. Cheo, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 475. 1981. Syn. nov. TYPE: CHINA. Xizang, Zogang, 5100 m, 3 July 1976, Qinghai-Xizang Expedition 12173 (Holotype: PE!, as HC; Isotypes: HNWP!, KUN!, NAS!).

Herbs 3--10 cm tall, densely lanate with trichomes to 1.5 mm long; caudex covered with petioles of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves (0.3--)1.0--3.0 (--4.0) cm long, retrorsely lanate, papery, persistent, often ciliate at least basally; leaf blade linear-lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, rarely oblanceolate, (0.6--)1.2--4.5(--6.0) cm × 1.5--5.0 (--7.0) mm, retrorsely lanate, base attenuate, apex acute to obtuse. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers solitary. Fruiting pedicel erect to ascending, (1.5--)2.5--5.0 (--7.0) cm long. Sepals oblong to oblong-linear, 5--8 × 1.5--2.5 mm, lanate. Petals purplish, broadly obovate, (1.0--)1.2--1.8 cm × (5--)6--7(--9) mm; claw 5--9 mm long. Filaments of median staminal pairs 3.5--5.0 mm long, those of lateral pair 2--3 mm long; anthers 1.2--1.5 mm long. Ovules 5--10 per locule. Fruit lanceolate, oblong, to broadly ovate, (1.0--)2.0--5.2(--6.0) × (0.6--)0.9--1.5(--2.0) cm; valves glabrous to lanate, obscurely reticulate veined; septum complete; style obsolete; stigma entire to slightly lobed. Seeds biseriate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, rugose, 3.0--4.5(--5.0) × (2.0--)2.5--3.0 mm. Flowering May--July, fruiting July--August.

Scree, open scrub; 4200--5100 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

Specimens examined: CHINA. Sichuan: W slope of Zhe Duo Shan, ca. 1/4 km from Rte. 318 at km 2880, ca. 30 km W of Kangding, Al-Shehbaz, Tai & Yang 9363 (B, BM, CAS, E, G, GH, K, KUN, LE, MO, NAS, P, PE, US, W); above Kangding, Yang Jingshen 91-144 (KUN); Xiangcheng, Yang Jingsheng 8376 (KUN); between Xiangcheng and Litang, Qinghai-Xizang Team, 5024 (PE). Deirong Xian, Cheigei Shan, Qinghai-Xizang Team 3481 (KUN). Xizang: Mangkong Xian, Dongdala Shan, Qinghai-Xizang Team 8636 (PE); Tra La, Hanbury-Tracy 164 (BM). Yunnan: Zhongdian snow mt., Yang Jingsheng 6756 (KUN).

According to Lan and Cheo (1981), the holotype of Solmslaubachia floribunda is at PE. However, the isotype at HNWP, on which the original illustration was based, is marked as the type, and it is likely that the HNWP specimen is the holotype. Furthermore, the type collection number was given by Lan and Cheo (1981) as 12178, but the labels carry the original number 12173 that was subsequently changed to 12178.

Lan and Cheo (1981) and Lan (1987) separated Solmslaubachia floribunda from S. retropilosa primarily on the basis of its having short (1.0--1.2 cm) instead of long (3.0--3.5 cm) petioles, light purplish red instead of lilac petals, and pilose instead of glabrous fruits. However, these alleged differences do not hold, and in one population, Al-Shehbaz et al. 9363, petiole length varies from 0.3 to 4.0 cm and fruits valves can be completely glabrous or sparsely to densely lanate. As for flower color, which was based on dry specimens, it is impossible to distinguish lilac from light purplish red.

Solmslaubachia retropilosa appears to be more widespread in Sichuan than in Yunnan and Xizang. It was not reported from Sichuan by Wang (1993), and the three collections cited there under S. floribunda are included herein under S. retropilosa.

As in the other species of Solmslaubachia, fruit morphology in S. retropilosa is highly variable and offers no taxonomic value. In one population, Al-Shehbaz et al. 9363 (MO), fruit shape ranges from lanceolate to oblong, elliptic, or broadly ovate, and the fruits are 1--6 cm long and 0.5--2.0 cm wide (Fig. 1).

3. Solmslaubachia lanata Botschantsev, Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 17: 171. 1955. TYPE: CHINA. Tibet: near Yerpa Monastery, 14,000 ft, August 1821, R. S. Kennedy 9 (Holotype: K!).

Herbs 2--8 cm tall, densely lanate with trichomes to 1.5 mm long; caudex with some petiolar remains of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves 0.5--2.0 cm long, antrorsely lanate, papery, persistent, often ciliate at least basally; leaf blade broadly spatulate, oblong, to obovate, 1.2--4.0 × (0.5--)0.7--1.7 cm, antrorsely lanate, base cuneate to attenuate, apex rounded to obtuse. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers not seen. Fruiting pedicel solitary, erect to ascending, 1.5--3.5 cm long. Ovules 5--10 per locule. Fruit lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 1.8--3.2 × 0.7--1.5 cm; valves sparsely to densely to lanate, prominently reticulate veined; septum complete; style 0.5--2.0 mm long; stigma entire to slightly lobed. Seeds biseriate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, rugose, 2.0--3.5 × 1.5--3.0 mm. Fruiting August--October.

Grasslands, meadows; 4000--5000 m. Xizang.

Specimens examined: CHINA. Xizang: near Lhasa, Xizang Team 2068 (HNWP), Zhang Yongtian & Lang Kaiyong 1898 (PE), Wu Chengyi s.n. (KUN).

Solmslaubachia lanata is a very rare and distinct species most closely related to S. retropilosa and easily separated by the characters listed in the key above.

4. Solmslaubachia eurycarpa (Maximowicz) Botschantsev, Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 17: 169. 1955.

Parrya eurycarpa Maximowicz, Fl. Tangut. 1: 56. 1889. TYPE: CHINA. Tibet: near Jagem-Gol, 20 July 1884, N. M. Przewalski s.n. (Holotype: LE!; Isotype: PE!).

Solmslaubachia pulcherrima Muschler var. latifolia O. E. Schulz, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 11: 229. 1931; Solmslaubachia latifolia (O. E. Schulz) Y. C. Lan & T. Y. Cheo, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 477. 1981. Syn. nov. TYPE: CHINA. SW Sichuan: Mount Konka, Risonquemba, Konkaling, 4475 m, June-August 1928, J. F. Rock 16870 (Lectotype, here designated: B!; Isolectotypes: E!, US!, W!).

Solmslaubachia dolichocarpa Y. C. Lan & T. Y. Cheo, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 477. 1981. Syn. nov. TYPE: CHINA. Sichuan: Zoige, 4300 m, 4 August 1960, Sichuan Drug Plant Expedition 20279 (Holotype: NAS!, as HJ).

Solmslaubachia eurycarpa var. brevistipes Y. C. Lan & T. Y. Cheo, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19: 476. 1981. TYPE: CHINA. Winghai, Nanggen, 4400 m, 9 July 1965, Yang Yung-chang 1121 (Holotype: HNWP!, as HQ; Isotype: HNWP!).

Solmslaubachia eurycarpa var. lasiophylla R. F. Huang in S. W. Liu, Fl. Qinghaiica 1: 510. 1997. TYPE: CHINA. Qinghai, Hen Xian, Waisxan Amishan, 19 July 1972, 4100--4200 m, Kuo Pungchao 9908 (Holotype: HNWP, as NWBI).

Herbs 3--12 cm tall, sparsely pilose with trichomes 0.2--0.5 mm long; caudex covered with petioles of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves often purplish, (0.7--)1.0--5.0 (--8.0) cm long, thickened and subcorky, persistent, shortly ciliate; leaf blade oblanceolate, broadly spatulate, oblong, or lanceolate, (1.0--)1.5--5.0 (--6.5) × (0.7--)1.0--1.6(--2.3) cm, somewhat fleshy and drying subleathery, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, base attenuate to cuneate, apex obtuse to rounded. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers solitary. Fruiting pedicel erect to ascending, (0.5--)1.0--3.0 (--5.0) cm long. Flowers not seen. Ovules 10--16 per locule. Fruit lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, (3.5--)5.0--8.5(--11.0) × (0.7--)0.9--1.4(--1.8) cm; valves glabrous or sparsely pilose, with a prominent midvein and obscure lateral ones; septum complete; style obsolete to 2 mm long; stigma entire to slightly lobed. Seeds biseriate, broadly ovate, reticulate, 3.0--4.5 × 2--3 mm. Fruiting July--September.

Scree slopes, gravelly areas, cliffs, rocky slopes, alpine meadows, glacier margin; 3800--4900 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

Specimens examined: CHINA. Qinghai: Yushu Xian, WNW of Yushu, pass about half way between Yushu and Gyairong, 38° 8¢ N, 96° 43¢ E, Ho, Bartholomew, Watson & Gilbert 2053 (BM, CAS, E, HNWP, MO); Baitang Shan, pass between Machang and Shanglaxiu, 32° 53¢ N, 96° 41¢ E, Ho, Bartholomew, Watson & Gilbert 2178 (BM, CAS, E, HNWP, MO); Nangqên Xian, pas at head of Xiaolong Gou, W of Nangqên on road to Domba, 32° 17¢ N, 96° 12¢ E, Ho, Bartholomew, Watson & Gilbert 2847 (BM, CAS, E, HNWP, MO); Jiangxi Gou, Wei Zhengzhou 22060 (HNWP); Hwangnanzhou, Guo Benzhao 10553 (HNWP). Sichuan: Mt. Konka, Risonquemba, Konkaling, Rock 16420 (E, GH, US); Kongkaling, Tsunga, Yü 12973 (KUN); Daocheng Xian, Kegaqu, Gongga Shan, Qinghai-Xizang Team 5428 (PE); Taofu (Dawo) district, Taining (Ngata), N range of Zungkong La, Smith 11964 (S, UPS) between Taining (Nagata) and Maoniu (Ndröme) Zungkong La, Smith 12513 (UPS). Xizang: Zhasheng Shan, Wu et al. 5020 (KUN); Basho Xian, Xizang Team 2096 (HNWP); upper Mekong basin, Mekong-Zi Qu divide, Qamdo-Riwoqe, 31° 08¢ N, 96° 54¢ E, Dickoré 9040 (GOET, MO); Bafu Xian, Deimula Shan, Ni Chicheng et al. 1207 (PE); Seinghku Wang, 28° 08¢ N, 97° 24¢ E, Kingdon Ward 7071 (E, K); river Dzhagin Gol, Ladygyn 183 (LE); basin of river Yandzidzian, Ladygyn 47 (LE). Yunnan: Deqin County, Bai Ma Shan, 28° 23¢ N, 99° 01¢ E, Aldén, Alexander, Long, McBeath, Noltie & Watson 782 (E); Mt. Peimashan, between Atuntze and Pungtzera, Rock 9933 (E, US); Mekong-Yangtze divide, 27° 36¢ N, 99° 01¢ E, Forrest 19687 (E, K, P, US).

The division by Lan and Cheo (1981), Lan (1987), and Huang (1997) of Solmslaubachia eurycarpa into varieties exclusively on the basis of petiole length or the density of indumentum is artificial and unreliable. Short- versus long-petiolate leaves or glabrous versus pubescent leaves are always found within the same population. The leaves are often glabrous except for the short ciliate petioles and apically small tuft of hairs.

The types of Solmslaubachia eurycarpa, S. dolichocarpa, and S. latifolia are indistinguishable in every character, and the alleged differences in leaf shape and width used by Lan and Cheo (1981) and Lan (1987) to separate them simply do not hold. Solmslaubachia eurycarpa is readily distinguished from the other Solmslaubachia species with solitary flowers by its thickened, subcorky, and often purplish petioles and broad leaf blades (0.5--)0.7--1.6(--2.3) cm wide.

5. Solmslaubachia pulcherrima Muschler, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 5: 206. 1912. TYPE: CHINA. NW Yunnan: E flank of Lichiang Range, 27° 20¢ N, 12,000 ft, May 1906, G. Forrest 2164 (Holotype: B!; Isotypes: BM!, E!, P!).

Pegaeophyton sinense (Hemsley) Hayek & Handel-Mazzetti var. stenophyllum O. E. Schulz, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 477. 1926. Syn. nov. TYPE: CHINA. Yunnan: Yangtze watershed, Prefectural District of Likiang, E slope of Likiang snow range, 5300 m, 11 August 1922, J. F. Rock 5719 (Holotype: B!; Isotypes: E!, GH!, P!, US!).

Solmslaubachia pulcherrima f. angustifolia O. E. Schulz, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 477. 1926. TYPE: CHINA. Yunnan: Yangtze watershed, W slopes of Likiang snow range, 13,000 ft, 30 May--6 June 1922, J. F. Rock 4277 (Holotype: B!; Isotypes: E!, GH!, P!, US!, W!).

Solmslaubachia pulcherrima f. atrichophylla Handel-Mazzetti, Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math. Naturwiss. Kl. 62: 24. 1926. TYPE: CHINA. Sichuan: Mt. Gonschiga, Muli monastery, Yungning toward Dschungdien, 4500 m, H. F. Handel-Mazzetti 7503 (Holotype: WU!; Isotype: W!).

Parrya ciliaris Bureau & Franchet, J. Bot. (Morot) 5: 20. 1891; Solmslaubachia ciliaris (Bureau & Franchet) Botschantsev, Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 17: 169. 1955. Syn. nov. TYPE: CHINA. Tibet: route de Batang, 12 May 1890, M. Bonvalot & H. D'Orléans s.n. (Holotype: P!).

Herbs 3--9 cm tall, glabrous to sparsely pubescent with crisped trichomes rarely to 1 mm long; caudex covered with petioles of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves 0.7--2.0 cm long, thickened, persistent, not ciliate; leaf blade lanceolate to oblanceolate or linear, (0.5--)1.5--5.5(--7.5 cm × (1.5--)3.0--5.0 (--7.0) mm, glabrous to sparsely pubescent with crisped trichomes, ciliate, base attenuate, apex acute to obtuse. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers solitary. Fruiting pedicel erect to ascending, 1.5--4.5(--5.5) cm long. Sepals oblong to oblong-linear, 5--8(--10) × 1.5--2.0 mm, pubescent. Petals pink to light or turquoise blue, obovate to broadly so, (1.5--)1.7--2.0 (--2.5) cm × (5.0--)6.5--8.0 (--10.0) mm; claw (0.7--)1.0--1.5 mm long. Filaments of median staminal pairs 4.0--5.5 mm long, those of lateral pair 2.5--3.5 mm long; anthers 1.4--1.6 mm long. Ovules 8--10 per locule. Fruit lanceolate, 2.5--3.5(--4.5) cm × 7--11 mm; valves glabrous or sparsely pilose along margin, reticulate veined; septum complete; style obsolete; stigma entire to slightly lobed. Seeds biseriate, broadly ovate, reticulate, 2.5--3.5 × 2.0--2.5 mm. Flowering May--July, fruiting June--August.

Scree, boulders, stony outcrop, limestone gravel or rock, crevices of limestone cliffs, stony moist meadows; 3300--5200 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

Specimens examined: CHINA. Sichuan: N of Chiu-Lung Hsien, Minya, SW of Tatsienlu, Rock 17452 (BM, F, US, W); Mt. Mitzuga, W of Muli Gomba, Rock 16248 (B, P, US); Muli, Mt. Mitzuga, Rock 18296 (E, GH, NY, US); Danba, Huang, Lou & Jiang 1445 (KUN); Litang River divide, W of Muli, Kingdon Ward 4005 (E). Xizang: Batang, Yargong, Soulié 3082 (P), Soulié 3996 (P). Yunnan: Haba Shan, Zhongdian Expedition 1808 (KUN); N flank of Haba Shan, Feng 1132 (A); Lijiang Xian, Yulong Shan, Beishui, Chamberlain, Grey-Wilson, Li, McBeath, Schilling, Xu & Huan 232 (E, K); Wutoudi, Kunming-Edinburgh Yulong-Shan Expedition 274 (E); Yulong Shan, Qinghai-Xizang Team 320 (PE), China-England Expedition 85-274 (KUN); Yangtze watershed, E slopes of Likiang range, Rock 4860 (GH, US), Rock 4956 (A, US), Rock 4999 (GH), Rock 5438 (US); E slopes of Mt. Dyinaloko, N peak of Likiang range, Rock 9020 (E, GH, US); between Likiang and Yong-Ning, Rock 17198 (GH, K, MO, US); E flank of Lichiang range, 27° 30¢ N, Forrest 5915 (BM, E, K, P, US); E flank of Lichiang range, 27° 20¢ N, 100° 10¢ E, Forrest 23058 (E, K, P, US); Likiang range, 27° 40¢ N, Forrest 10262 (BM, E, K, PE); NE of Chungtien, 27° 55¢ N, Forrest 16275 (E, K, W); Chienchuan-Mekong divide, 26° 40¢ E, Forrest 21525 (E, K, US); Yülung Shan, near Likiang, Handel-Mazzetti 6704 (G, P, W, WU); Mt. Waha, near Yungning, Handel-Mazzetti 7108 (W, WU); Yungning, McLaren 1 (E, P); E of Yungning, 27° 48¢ N, 101° E, Forrest 21397 (E, K, P, US, W); without locality, Forrest 29181 (E, PE).

Schulz (1926) described flowering material of Solmslaubachia pulcherrima as forma angustifolia and fruiting material of the same species as Pegaeophyton sinense var. stenophyllum. These plants are indistinguishable from the type collection of S. pulcherrima. Because they did not examine the type collection of P. sinense var. stenophyllum, Guo (1987), Wang (1993), and Li et al. (1995) listed this name in the synonymy of P. scapiflorum instead of treating it under S. pulcherrima.

Solmslaubachia pulcherrima is highly variable in leaf shape, size, and indumentum, and some of the minor variants described as var. stenophyllum, f. angustifolia, and f. atrichophylla approach S. linearifolia in leaf shape. However, as indicated in the key above, the last taxon is readily distinguished by the ciliate, papery petioles, longer indumentum of straight trichomes, and longer seeds and fruits.

Leaf shape in both Solmslaubachia pulcherrima and S. linearifolia varies from linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, though the occurrence of linear leaves is somewhat more common in the latter than in the former species. Therefore, the use of leaf shape to separate the two species, as was done by Botschantsev (1955), is unreliable.

Solmslaubachia ciliaris is based on young flowering material with small petals ca. 1.5 mm long. However, flower size is quite variable in S. pulcherrima and S. linearifolia, and S. ciliaris can easily be accommodated in and without expanding the limits of S. pulcherrima. In fact, the presence in S. ciliaris of indurated, nonciliate petioles and short, crisped trichomes less than 1 mm long strongly supports its reduction to synonymy of S. pulcherrima.

The recognition of Solmslaubachia ciliaris in various works (e.g., Lan and Cheo, 1981; Kuan, 1985; Lan, 1987; Wang, 1993; Ying et al., 1993; Li et al., 1995; Huang, 1997; Tan et al., 1999) was based on the initial work of Botschantsev (1955), who did not examine the type material of this species and thus made an erroneous interpretation of its limits. In fact, the illustrations and descriptions of S. ciliaris in these works are based on species of other genera. For example, the records in Wang (1993) and Ying et al. (1993) of S. ciliaris from Tibet were based on one collection, Qinghai-Xizang Team 73-399 (KUN, PE), which is a misidentification of young plants of Leiospora pamirica (Botschantsev & Vvedensky) Botschantsev & Pachomova.

Solmslaubachia pulcherrima was not reported from Xizang (Tibet) by Kuan (1985) or Lan (1987), and therefore the two collections cited above, Soulié 3082 and 3996 (P), represent the first report from that autonomous region.

6. Solmslaubachia linearifolia (W. W. Smith) O. E. Schulz, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 477. 1926.

Parrya linearifolia W. W. Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 11: 219. 1919, not P. linearifolia Pavlov, Vestnik Akad. Nauk Kazak. S.S.R. 1: 29. 1949. TYPE: CHINA. Yunnan, Beima Shan, Mekong-Yangtze divide, 28° 20¢ N, 14,500 ft, August 1914, G. Forrest 13,235 (Lectotype, here designated: E!; Isolectotypes: E!).

Solmslaubachia linearifolia var. leiocarpa O. E. Schulz, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 9: 477. 1926. TYPE: CHINA. NW Yunnan: Mount Peimashan, Mekong-Yangtze divide between Atuntze and Pungtzera, June 1923, J. F. Rock 9304 (Holotype: B!; Isotypes: E!, GH!, US!).

Herbs 3--10 cm tall, sparsely to densely pilose with straight trichomes to 1.5 mm long; caudex covered with petioles of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves (0.4--)0.8--2.0 (--3.0) cm long, papery, persistent, ciliate; leaf blade linear to lanceolate- or oblanceolate-linear, rarely lanceolate, (1--.0)1.8--4.5(--6.0) cm × (1.5--)2.0--3.5(--5.0) mm, sparsely to densely pilose, ciliate, base attenuate, apex acute to obtuse. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers solitary. Fruiting pedicel erect to ascending, 1.5--3.5(--5.0) cm long. Sepals oblong to oblong-linear, 5--8(--10) × 1.5--2.0 mm, pubescent. Petals purple, pink, to deep or turquoise blue, obovate to broadly so, (1.2--)1.5--2.2(--2.5) cm × (4--)6--8(--12) mm; claw 0.8--1.3 cm long. Filaments of median staminal pairs (3.0--)3.5--5.0 (--6.0) mm long, those of lateral pair 2.0--3.5 mm long; anthers 1.2--1.5 mm long. Ovules 7--10 per locule. Fruit lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, (3.0--)4.5--6.5(--8.0) cm × 6--11 mm; valves glabrous to pilose at least at margin, obscurely reticulate veined; septum complete; style obsolete; stigma entire to slightly lobed. Seeds uniseriate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, minutely reticulate, 3.5--5.0 × 2.5--3.5 mm. Flowering May--July, fruiting July--September.

Scree, stony slopes, moraine, among rocks, sandy slopes, cliff crevices, wet limestone meadows; 3400--4700 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

Specimens examined: CHINA. Sichuan: Muli, 28° 12¢ N, 100° 50¢ E, Forrest 20413 (E, K, P, W); Litang-Batang, Jinsha (Yangtze)-Yalong divide, pass to Litang plateau E of Yidun/Yarwa, 30° 15¢ N, 99° 33¢ E, Dickoré 8515 (MO). Xizang: Batang, Yerlalo, Soulié 4009 (P). Yunnan: Mt. La-Chou-Chou-Kha, SE of Chung-Tien, Rock 17262 (E, GH, NY, US); Piepun, SE of Chungtien, Handel-Mazzetti 4678 (P, W, WU); Chungtien plateau, Feng 1509 (A); Lai-cha Tse-ka, near Hsia Chungtien, Feng 1896 (A); Deqin, Baima Shan, Qinghai-Xizang Team 2741 (NAS), Qinghai-Xizang Team 2814 (PE); Pei-ma Shan, Mekong-Yangtze divide, between Atuntze and Pungtzera, Rock 10020 (E, GH, US); SE Atuntze, Rock 22763 (BM, E, GH, K, MO, NY, US); Atuntze, Paimashan, Sangyungpa, Yü 9288 (A, NAS, PE); A-tun-tsu, Kingdon Ward 55 (E); Weihsi, Tse-jao, Yü 8222 (A, PE); Deqin County, Bai Ma Shan, 28° 23¢ N, 99° 01¢ E, Aldén, Alexander, Long, McBeath, Noltie & Watson 773 (E); Bei-ma Shan, 28° 18¢ N, 99° 10¢ E, Forrest 19634 (E, K, P, US); Bei-ma Shan, 28° 12¢ N, Forrest 13980 (E, K, P, US, W); Mekong-Yangtze divide, 27° 36¢ N, 99° 10¢ E, Forrest 19686 (E, K, P, US); NE Likiang, Tzai-koo Mt., Ching 21244 (A); Yangtze watershed, E slopes of Likiang range, Rock 3967 (A, E, US); without locality, Forrest 18701 (E, P), Forrest 28858 (BM, E, PE), Forrest 29995 (BM, E, PE), Forrest 30803 (BM, E, PE).

Of the four syntypes of Parrya linearifolia cited by Smith (1919), Forrest 13,235 was the only collection annotated in his handwriting as type and co-type. This collection is taken here as the lectotype.

Solmslaubachia linearifolia is highly variable in leaf shape, density of indumentum, and flower size and color. Petal size often exhibits tremendous variation within the same population, and in Forrest 13980 and Rock 22763 the petals are 1.2--2.1 cm × 4--7 mm. The longest petals (2.5 cm long) were found in Forrest 30803 (E), and the widest (1.2 cm long) in Forrest 29995 (E). However, this variation in petal size and color, as well as that of leaf shape and indumentum, does not correlate with geography, and there appears to be no sound basis for recognizing any infraspecific taxa in the species. Schulz (1926) described var. leiocarpa solely on the basis of having glabrous instead of pubescent fruits, but both glabrous and pubescent fruits are often found in the same population.

Solmslaubachia linearifolia was not reported from Xizang (Tibet) by Kuan (1985) or Lan (1987), and therefore the single collection cited above, Soulié 4009 (P), represents the first report from that autonomous region.

7. Solmslaubachia xerophyta (W. W. Smith) Comber, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 18: 249. 1934.

Parrya xerophyta W. W. Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 12: 217. 1920. TYPE: CHINA. Yunnan: NE of Chungtien, 27° 55¢ N, July 1918, G. Forrest 16444 (Holotype: E!; Isotypes: E!, K!, P!, W!).

Herbs 3--10 cm tall, subglabrous to pilose with trichomes (1--)2--3 mm long; caudex covered with petioles of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves 0.7--2.0 (--2.5) cm long, thickened, persistent, ciliate pilose; leaf blade filiform to narrowly linear, (1.5--)2.0--5.5(--7.5) cm × 0.3--1.0(--1.5) mm, long ciliate to glabrous, often grooved adaxially, base attenuate, apex subacute. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers solitary. Fruiting pedicel erect to ascending, (1.0--)1.5--3.5(--4.5) cm long. Sepals oblong to oblong-linear, 6--8 × 1.5--2.5 mm, united or free. Petals pink to blue, obovate, (1.5--)1.7--2.2 cm × 5--8 mm; claw 7--12 mm long. Filaments of median staminal pairs 3.5--5.0 mm long, those of lateral pair 2--3 mm long; anthers 1.5--1.8 mm long. Ovules 6--10 per locule. Fruit lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, (1.5--)2.0--5.5(--7.0) cm × 5--8 mm; valves glabrous to pilose, obscurely veined; septum complete; style obsolete; stigma entire to slightly lobed. Seeds biseriate, broadly ovate to suborbicular, minutely reticulate, 2--4 × 2--3 mm. Flowering June--August, fruiting July--October.

Among rocks, cliff ledges, stony meadows, scree; 3700--5200 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.

Specimens examined: CHINA. Sichuan: Mont Konka, Risonquemba, Konkaling, Rock 16381 (E, US), Rock 16412 (BM, US, W), Rock 16413 (E, F, LE, P, S, US), Rock 16419 (GH, NY, US), Rock 16857 (B, K, MO, PE, US); Gonggalin, Yü 13043 (A, KUN, PE); between Litang and Yalung rivers, Muli Gomba and Baurong and Wa-Erh-Dje, Rock 16702 (LE, S, US); Muli Xian, Qinghai-Xizang Team 13871, 13980 (KUN, PE); Mt. Mitzuga, W of Muli, Rock 16059 (E, GH, NY, US), Rock 16204 (E, NY, US); Muli, Mi-tzu-ga, Yü 5653 (A, KUN); Chuchen Xian, Gongga Shan, Qinghai-Xizang Team 5818 (PE). Yunnan: Zhong Dian Xian, Yang Jingshen 7524, 8943 (KUN); Zhong Dian, Nilonggi, Qian Zhigang & Sun Hang 977 (KUN); Dongwang Xian, Yang Jingshen 6757 (KUN); Goo-du, Shan, 28° 12¢ N, 100° 12¢ E, Forrest 20520 (E, K, P, US, W).

Solmslaubachia xerophyta is highly variable in leaf length, flower size and color, density of indumentum, and trichome length. The variation in all of these characters is continuous and does fall in discrete entities that merit formal recognition. On one sheet, Yang 8943 (KUN), two plants are mounted, of which one is completely glabrous and the other is long pilose. A notable variant is the coherence or union of sepals in all of Rock’s gatherings from Sichuan. These collections are indistinguishable otherwise from the type gathering of the species and therefore have not been given an infraspecific rank. It is interesting to note that in another member of the Brassicaceae, Phaeonychium jafrii Al-Shehbaz, both gamosepalous and polysepalous flowers are found.

8. Solmslaubachia minor Handel-Mazetti, Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math. Naturwiss. Kl. 59: 246. 1922. TYPE: CHINA. Sichuan: Mt. Holoscha, 27° 48¢ N, between Yenyuen and Kwapi, 4325 m, 18 May 1914, H. F. Handel-Mazzetti 2318 (Holotype: WU!; Isotypes: E!, P!, W!).

Herbs 1.0--2.5 cm tall, densely pilose with trichomes 1.0--2.5 mm long; caudex covered with curling leaves of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves 2--5 mm long, not thickened, persistent, ciliate; leaf blade filiform to narrowly linear, 2.5--10.0 (--1.5) × 0.3--1.0 mm, long ciliate, often grooved adaxially, base attenuate, apex subacute. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers solitary. Fruiting pedicel erect to ascending, 2--7(--10) mm long. Sepals oblong to oblong-linear, 4.5--5.5 × 1.0--1.5 mm, free. Petals pinkish mauve, pale lilac, to purple, obovate, 1.0--1.2 cm × 3.5--5.0 mm; claw 6--7 mm long. Filaments of median staminal pairs 3--4 mm long, those of lateral pair 2.0--2.5 mm long; anthers 1.2--1.5 mm long. Ovules 6--8 per locule. Fruit lanceolate, 1.5--2.0 cm × 4--5 mm; valves densely subhirsute, obscurely veined; septum complete or perforated; style 0.5--1.0 mm long; stigma 2-lobed. Seeds biseriate, suborbicular, minutely reticulate, 1.0--1.5 mm in diam. Flowering May--June, fruiting July--August.

Rocky crevices, cliff ledges, alpine meadows, scree, sandy areas; 2500--4600 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.

Specimens examined: CHINA. Sichuan: Muli, Mi-tzu-ga, Yü 5653 (KUN). Yunnan: Xianren Dong, Yü 12160 (KUN); Wei-si Xian, Yeh-chih, Wang 68411 (A, PE); Xhungtien, Juatze, Yü 13635 (A, BM, E); Zhong Dian Xian, Yang Jingshen 83043 (KUN); Zhongdian Xian, Kunming Institute of Botany 23339 (PE); Zhongdian, Wengsui, Da Xue Shan, 28° 34¢ 34² N, 99° 48¢ 42² E, Alpine Garden Society Expedition 606 (K); Lichiang Xian, Wang 71304 (A, PE), Bei-ma Shan, 28° 18¢ N, 99° 10¢ E, Forrest 19672 (E, K, P, US) Diqing, Da Xue Shan, 28° 34¢ N, 99° 49¢ E, Aldén, Alexander, Long, McBeath, Noltie & Watson 336 (E).

The single specimen of Solmslaubachia minor cited above from Sichuan, Yü 5653 (KUN), was mounted with a specimen of S. xerophyta. The species appears to be rather rare in Sichuan.

Solmslaubachia minor is readily distinguished from the other species of the genus by its small flowers, short, fleshy leaves, and short pedicels. The illustrations in Lan (1987), Li et al. (1995), and Tan et al. (1999) are based on accurately determined plants and therefore should help in easily distinguishing the species from all other members of the genus.

The type of Solmslaubachia minor is much less pilose than the other collections examined. However, the density of indumentum in the genus is quite variable, so one can expect to find pilose and glabrous or subglabrous plants within a given population.

9. Solmslaubachia gamosepala Al-Shehbaz & G. Yang, sp. nov. TYPE: CHINA. Yunnan: Deqen, Beima Shan, north side of road, 28° 23¢ N, 99° 01¢ E, 4700 m, 30 June 1994, limestone scree, Alpine Garden Society Expedition to China ACE 855 (Holotype: K).

Herbs perennial, forming woody cushions ca. 2 cm tall, very sparsely pilose with crisped trichomes to 0.5 mm long; caudex covers persistent leaves of previous years. Petioles of basal leaves 0.5--1.5 cm long, becoming strongly thickened, persistent, ciliate; leaf blade spatulate to oblanceolate, 0.5--1.5 cm × 3--5 mm, subapically pilose, base cuneate, apex subacute. Cauline leaves absent. Flowers solitary. Fruiting pedicel erect ca. 7 mm long. Sepals oblong, 2.5--3.5 × ca. 1 mm, united, membranous at apex, subapically sparsely pilose. Petals white, drying pink, oblanceolate, 5--6 × 1.5--2.0 mm; claw ca. 3 mm long. Filaments of median staminal pairs ca. 4 mm long, those of lateral pair ca. 3 mm long; anthers 0.7--0.9 mm long. Fruit lanceolate, 2.5--3.0 cm × 4--5 mm; valves glabrous, obscurely veined; septum complete; style ca. 1 mm long; stigma entire. Seeds uniseriate, oblong, minutely reticulate, 3 × 1.5 mm. Flowering and fruiting in June.

Solmslaubachia gamosepala, which is known thus far only from the type collection, is readily distinguished from all species of Solmslaubachia by having gamosepalous calyx to 3.5 mm long and small white petals to 6 mm long. Other species of the genus have much larger calyces with free sepals 4.5--10.0 mm long and pink to purple or turquoise blue petals (1.0--)1.2--2.5 cm long. Gamosepaly is occasionally found in S. xerophytica, a species with filiform to narrowly linear leaf blades 0.3--1.0(--1.5) mm wide and often grooved adaxially, as well as much longer sepals (6--8 vs. 2.5--3.5 mm) and pink to blue obovate petals (1.5--)1.7--2.2 cm × 5--8 mm (instead of white oblanceolate petals 5--6 × 1.5--2.0 mm). The flowers in S. lanata and S. eurycarpa have not been seen by us, but the former is easily separated from S. gamosepala by having lanate fruits and leaves (instead of glabrous fruits and only apically pilose leaves), rugose (instead of reticulate) seeds, and fruits 7--15 mm (instead of 4--5 mm) wide. Solmslaubachia eurycarpa differs from S. gamosepala in having leaves (0.7--)1.0--1.6(--2.3) mm wide and fruits (3.5--)5.0--8.5(--11.0) × (0.7--)0.9--1.4(--1.8) cm. By contrast, S. gamosepala has leaves 3--5 mm wide and fruits 2.5--3.0 × 0.4--0.5 cm.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to Henk van der Werff for correcting the Latin. We thank the directors and curators of the cited herbaria.

Literature Cited