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FOC | Family List | FOC Vol. 6 | Ranunculaceae

21. Thalictrum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 545. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 242; 1754.

唐松草属 tang song cao shu

Fu Dezhi

Thalictrum alpinum

Credit: Harvard University Herbaria

Physocarpum Berchtold & J. Presl; Praticola Ehrhart; Ruprechtia Opiz (1852), not C. A. Meyer (1840); Schlagintweitiella Ulbrich; Tripterium Berchtold & J. Presl.

Herbs perennial, from woody rhizomes, caudices, or tuberous roots. Leaves basal and cauline, proximal leaves petiolate, distal leaves sessile; cauline leaves alternate. Leaf blade 1--4-ternately or -pinnately compound, rarely simple (Thalictrum rotundifolium); leaflets cordate-reniform, obovate, lanceolate, or linear, sometimes lobed, margin entire or crenate. Inflorescences terminal, sometimes also axillary, monochasial cymes, or sometimes racemelike, paniculate, flat topped, or umbel-like, 1--200-flowered; involucres absent or present, involucral bracts 2 or 3, leaflike, often resembling a whorl of 6--9 simple bracts, not closely subtending flowers. Flowers usually all bisexual, rarely bisexual and unisexual (T. smithii), or all unisexual (not in China), radially symmetric; sepals 4--10, whitish to greenish yellow or purplish, lanceolate to reniform or spatulate, flat, 1--18 mm, not persistent in fruit; petals absent; stamens 7--70; filaments filiform to clavate or distally swollen; staminodes absent; carpels 1--50(--70), 1-ovulate; style usually present and persistent, less often absent. Fruits achenes, usually aggregated, sessile or stipitate, fusiform to ovoid, obovoid, falcate, or discoid, laterally prominently ribbed; persistent style (when present) forming straight to circinately coiled beak. x = 7.

About 150 species: worldwide, mainly in temperate regions; 76 species (49 endemic) in China.

Our understanding of the genus Thalictrum is far from complete. Numerous species and varieties are poorly defined owing to insufficient field studies and because highly variable characters have been used as diagnostic features in the literature. Useful characters in identifying species of Thalictrum include leaflet shape, indumentum (glands and/or hairs) of leaves and achenes, degree of dilation of filaments, anther length, shape of anther apex, and achene shape and venation patterns. Leaflets described in this treatment are the terminal, ultimate ones on the main rachis of leaves at the middle of the stem (where available); proximal and distal leaves on the stem are more variable and are often not representative of the species. Filament and stigma colors cited refer to fresh material.

Thalictrum punduanum Wallich (Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 26. 1831), from NE India and N Thailand, has not yet been recorded from China, but might be expected to occur in Xizang and/or Yunnan.

Thalictrum ussuriense Luferov (Bjull. Moskovsk. Obshch. Isp. Prir., Otd. Biol., 94(5): 103. 1989) was described from the Far East region of Russia and was also said to occur in NE China and N Korea. However, no Chinese specimens have been seen by the current authors, and the species is therefore not described here.

The identities of the taxa to which the following names apply could not be ascertained. All were described from China, but none of the types has been seen by the present authors: Thalictrum micrandrum Hayata (Icon. Pl. Formos. 3: 4. 1913), described from Taiwan; T. morii Hayata (Icon. Pl. Formos. 3: 5. 1913), described from Taiwan; T. oshimae Masamune (J. Soc. Trop. Agric., Taiwan 6: 569. 1934), described from Taiwan; T. pumilum Ulbrich (Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 48: 623. 1913), described from Yunnan; T. rockii B. Boivin (J. Arnold Arbor. 26: 115. 1945), described from Gansu and Qinghai; and T. silvestrii Pampanini (Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 22: 291. 1915), described from Hubei.

Thalictrum sinense Loureiro (Fl. Cochinch. 1: 346. 1790) was regarded by Merrill (Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n.s., 24(2): 403. 1935) as a doubtful species and certainly not a Thalictrum.


1 Leaves simple   50 T. rotundifolium
+ Leaves pinnately or ternately compound.   (2)
       
2 (1) Flowers unisexual or bisexual; stigma flagelliform, longer than ovary   58 T. smithii
+ Flowers always bisexual, never unisexual; stigma never flagelliform, rarely longer than ovary.   (3)
       
3 (2) Leaflets linear   19 T. foeniculaceum
+ Leaflets ovate, obovate, or orbicular, often lobed.   (4)
       
4 (3) Leaflets peltate; petiolule inserted above base   28 T. ichangense
+ Leaflets not peltate; petiolule inserted at base.   (5)
       
5 (4) Flowers solitary, axillary   60 T. squamiferum
+ Flowers in few- to many-flowered, terminal inflorescences.   (6)
       
6 (5) Inflorescence racemelike; leaves all basal   2 T. alpinum
+ Inflorescence cymose; cauline leaves usually present.   (7)
       
7 (6) Plants hairy.   (8)
+ Plants glabrous.   (30)
       
8 (7) Leaves densely branched stellate hairy adaxially   9 T. cirrhosum
+ Leaves not as above.   (9)
       
9 (8) Style reflexed or recurved, often hooded, stigma inconspicuous.   (10)
+ Style erect, never hooded, stigma conspicuous.   (19)
       
10 (9) Achenes sessile or subsessile.   (11)
+ Achenes stipitate.   (14)
       
11 (10) Leaflets 3--8 cm   48 T. robustum
+ Leaflets 1.2--3 cm.   (12)
       
12 (11) Leaflets glandular hairy   6 T. brevisericeum
+ Leaflets pubescent, not glandular hairy.   (13)
       
13 (12) Anthers apically obtuse   76 T. yunnanense
+ Anthers apically mucronate   54 T. scabrifolium
       
14 (10) Sepals purplish, 10--15 mm   12 T. diffusiflorum
+ Sepals white, 2--3 mm.   (15)
       
15 (14) Inflorescence many flowered.   (16)
+ Inflorescence few flowered.   (17)
       
16 (15) Inflorescence paniculate; achene body 2--2.2 mm   69 T. uncinulatum
+ Inflorescence racemelike, monochasial; achene body 8.5--11 mm   23 T. fusiforme
       
17 (15) Leaflets papery   32 T. laxum
+ Leaflets herbaceous.   (18)
       
18 (17) Leaflet veins flat; plants to 60 cm tall   49 T. rostellatum
+ Leaflet veins raised abaxially, at least on larger leaflets; plants ca. 1 m tall   7 T. chayuense
       
19 (9) Sepals reddish pink, 9--13 mm   46 T. reniforme
+ Sepals white, 3--8 mm.   (20)
       
20 (19) Filaments conspicuously dilated distally.   (21)
+ Filaments uniformly linear or only slightly thickened distally.   (23)
       
21 (20) Achene stipe equaling or longer than body   44 T. przewalskii
+ Achene stipe obviously shorter than body.   (22)
       
22 (21) Styles conspicuous   15 T. fargesii
+ Styles inconspicuous or very short   1 T. acutifolium
       
23 (20) Leaves pubescent on both surfaces.   (24)
+ Leaves glabrous, at least adaxially.   (25)
       
24 (23) Achenes 1--3; stigma not winged   72 T. viscosum
+ Achenes 4--8; stigma winged   24 T. glandulosissimum
       
25 (23) Inflorescence flat topped, few flowered.   (26)
+ Inflorescence not flat topped, many flowered.   (27)
       
26 (25) Achenes laterally compressed, crescent-shaped   73 T. wangii
+ Achenes not laterally compressed, obliquely globose   65 T. tsawarungense
       
27 (25) Stigma not winged.   (28)
+ Stigma winged.   (29)
       
28 (27) Pedicels pubescent   55 T. shensiense
+ Pedicels glabrous   17 T. finetii
       
29 (27) Stigma broadly winged, triangular; achenes laterally compressed, shortly hairy   20 T. foetidum
+ Stigma narrowly winged, narrowly triangular; achenes only slightly laterally compressed, glabrous   10 T. cultratum
       
30 (7) Basal leaves absent; cauline leaves ternate; inflorescence few flowered; sepals white   71 T. virgatum
+ Basal leaves present or absent, when absent, cauline leaves 2--4-pinnately compound; inflorescence few to many flowered; sepals pink, blue, or white.   (31)
       
31 (30) Styles reflexed or recurved, often hooded, stigma inconspicuous.   (32)
+ Styles erect, never hooded, stigma conspicuous or rarely inconspicuous.   (46)
       
32 (31) Achenes stipitate.   (33)
+ Achenes sessile or subsessile.   (37)
       
33 (32) Achenes 6--12, crescent-shaped, strongly compressed   68 T. uncatum
+ Achenes 10--50, fusiform, not strongly compressed.   (34)
       
34 (33) Achenes 30--50 per flower   51 T. rubescens
+ Achenes 10--25 per flower.   (35)
       
35 (34) Achenes 7--9 mm   35 T. macrorhynchum
+ Achenes 4--6 mm.   (36)
       
36 (35) Leaflets leathery   70 T. urbainii
+ Leaflets herbaceous   43 T. philippinense
       
37 (32) Filaments filiform, sometimes weakly dilated distally .   (38)
+ Filaments oblanceolate, ± enlarged distally.   (39)
       
38 (37) Plants 18--30 cm tall; carpels 25--70   53 T. saniculiforme
+ Plants 9--15 cm tall; carpels 10--13   56 T. simaoense
       
39 (37) Leaflets 3--8 mm   38 T. myriophyllum
+ Leaflets more than 8 mm.   (40)
       
40 (39) Inflorescence a monochasium.   (41)
+ Inflorescence a panicle or pleiochasium.   (43)
       
41 (40) Monochasium elongate, racemelike, densely flowered   4 T. atriplex
+ Monochasium not elongate, sparsely flowered.   (42)
       
42 (41) Achenes 3--6, fusiform; sepals 3--4.5 mm; rootlets often enlarged   22 T. fortunei
+ Achenes 8--16, narrowly ovoid; sepals ca. 2 mm; rootlets never enlarged   45 T. ramosum
       
43 (40) Leaflets ovate, apex acute or shortly acuminate.   (44)
+ Leaflets cuneate, orbicular, or broadly ovate, apex rounded, truncate, or obtuse.   (45)
       
44 (43) Leaflets 3-lobed, base rounded or subcordate; achenes 3--6   14 T. faberi
+ Leaflets entire, base broadly cuneate; achenes 10--13   25 T. grandidentatum
       
45 (43) Leaflets 3--7 cm   40 T. omeiense
+ Leaflets 1.2--2.5 cm   30 T. javanicum
       
46 (31) Stigma not conspicuously thicker than style.   (47)
+ Stigma conspicuously thicker than style, often winged.   (48)
       
47 (46) Plants 20--30 cm tall; sepals pink, 13--20 × 5--10 mm; leaflet margin entire   26 T. grandiflorum
+ Plants 60--200 cm tall; sepals pale purple, 5.5--9(--12) × 2.2--4.5(--5) mm; leaflet margin 3-lobed   11 T. delavayi
       
48 (46) Distal cauline leaves with axillary buds   8 T. chelidonii
+ Distal cauline leaves without axillary buds.   (49)
       
49 (48) Filaments conspicuously enlarged distally.   (50)
+ Filaments linear or only slightly enlarged distally.   (65)
       
50 (49) Achenes sessile or subsessile.   (51)
+ Achenes stipitate.   (55)
       
51 (50) Inflorescence a sparsely flowered monochasium or 3- or 4-flowered cincinnus   74 T. wuyishanicum
+ Inflorescence a flat-topped, densely flowered pleiochasium.   (52)
       
52 (51) Styles inconspicuous   47 T. reticulatum
+ Styles conspicuous.   (53)
       
53 (52) Filaments conspicuously broader than anthers   42 T. petaloideum
+ Filaments narrower than or as broad as anthers.   (54)
       
54 (53) Leaflets 0.7--2.2 × 0.7--2.9 cm; styles 1.5--2 mm   31 T. lancangense
+ Leaflets 1--2.8 × 1--4.6 cm; styles 0.2--0.3 mm   34 T. leve
       
55 (50) Cauline leaves 3--5, 3- or 4-pinnately ternate; styles conspicuous.   (56)
+ Cauline leaves 1 or 2, or absent, simple, ternate, or 2-ternate; styles inconspicuous.   (60)
       
56 (55) Achene stipe equaling or longer than achene.   (57)
+ Achene stipe 1--2 mm, shorter than achene.   (58)
       
57 (56) Achenes obovoid, with 3 or 4 wings   3 T. aquilegiifolium
+ Achenes strongly compressed, wingless   59 T. sparsiflorum
       
58 (56) Achenes ovoid or broadly ellipsoid   5 T. baicalense
+ Achenes fusiform.   (59)
       
59 (58) Achenes 2--5   15 T. fargesii
+ Achenes 6--13   75 T. xingshanicum
       
60 (55) Cauline leaves 2, opposite, simple   16 T. filamentosum
+ Cauline leaves alternate, ternate or 2-ternate.   (61)
       
61 (60) Achenes 1.5--1.8 mm   36 T. microgynum
+ Achenes 2--3 mm.   (62)
       
62 (61) Inflorescence globose, few flowered; stamens 3--7; filaments narrower than anthers   39 T. oligandrum
+ Inflorescence flat topped, many flowered; stamens more than 10; filaments broader than anthers.   (63)
       
63 (62) Leaflets obovate or orbicular   67 T. umbricola
+ Leaflets ovate.   (64)
       
64 (63) Rootlets with tubers; cauline leaves often opposite   66 T. tuberiferum
+ Rootlets without tubers; cauline leaves often alternate   1 T. acutifolium
       
65 (49) Stigma wingless.   (66)
+ Stigma winged.   (69)
       
66 (65) Inflorescence 1- or 2-flowered   63 T. tenuisubulatum
+ Inflorescence several to many flowered.   (67)
       
67 (66) Inflorescence a racemelike pleiochasium; achenes reflexed   52 T. rutifolium
+ Inflorescence an elongated panicle; achenes erect.   (68)
       
68 (67) Leaflets 1.5--4 mm   13 T. elegans
+ Leaflets 4.4--8.5 mm   27 T. honanense
       
69 (65) Leaflets entire   62 T. tenue
+ Leaflets lobed or ± toothed.   (70)
       
70 (69) Stigma elongate, narrowly winged   33 T. leuconotum
+ Stigma not elongate, broadly winged.   (71)
       
71 (70) Leaflets 1.5--4 mm   29 T. isopyroides
+ Leaflets more than 6 mm.   (72)
       
72 (71) Inflorescence spreading, slender; anther apex obtuse   64 T. trichopus
+ Inflorescence not spreading, stout; anther apex acute.   (73)
       
73 (72) Panicles flat topped; achenes 5--6 mm   61 T. squarrosum
+ Panicles racemelike; achenes less than 4 mm.   (74)
       
74 (73) Cauline leaves and inflorescence branches erect   57 T. simplex
+ Cauline leaves and inflorescence branches spreading.   (75)
       
75 (74) Stigmas broadly winged, triangular.   (76)
+ Stigmas narrowly winged, linear or narrowly triangular.   (78)
       
76 (75) Veins abaxially on leaflets raised   37 T. minus
+ Veins abaxially on leaflets flat.   (77)
       
77 (76) Leaflets 0.6--1(--1.5) cm; achenes strongly compressed   20 T. foetidum
+ Leaflets 4--7 cm; achenes slightly compressed   18 T. flavum
       
78 (75) Veins abaxially on leaflets flat; filaments weakly clavate   41 T. osmundifolium
+ Veins abaxially on leaflets raised; filaments filiform.   (79)
       
79 (78) Achenes stipitate, body strongly compressed; leaflets abaxially powdery white when dry   10 T. cultratum
+ Achenes sessile, body slightly compressed; leaflets abaxially not powdery white when dry   21 T. foliolosum

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