Heracleum apaense (Shan et Yuan) Shan et TS Wang comb. nov.——Angelica apaensis Shan et Yuan in Act. Pharmaceut. Sin. 13 (5): 329-331. f. 21-24. 1966; Yuan et Shan in Bull. Nanjing Bot. Gard. Mem. Sun Yat-Sen 1983: 7; The Flora of Tibet 3: 510, 1986.
Classification and Morphological Characteristics
Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) perennial herbs
Plant type: erect herb, 1-2 m tall, culms stout and hollow, epidermis reddish brown with longitudinal grooves, densely white pubescent
Root system: main root cylindrical to conical, ca. 2.5 cm in diameter, with obvious lignification features
Leaf structure
- Petiole: 8-10 cm long, base expanded into a broadly ovoid broad-pocketed leaf sheath (7 cm long × 3.5-4 cm wide), clasping stem growth
- Leaf blade:
Outline: long elliptic or triangular-ovate
Mode of division: bi- to ternate-pinnate, with 3-4 pairs of pinnate lobes
ultimate segments: long elliptic or lanceolate (4-5 cm × 1.5-2.5 cm), margins serrate, pinnatipartite - Cauline leaves: upper leaves simplified, petioles reduced, only broad leaf sheaths remain, leaf size decreasing step by step.
Characteristics of reproductive organs
- Inflorescence and floral parts:
- Inflorescence type: terminal or axillary compound umbels, up to 20cm in diameter.
- Inflorescence type: compound umbels terminal or axillary, up to 20cm in diameter, peduncle: 16-20cm long, coarsely pilose, without involucral bracts.
- Rays: 28-35, 6-15 cm long, purplish, sparsely pilose
- Single-flowered structures:
- Umbellules containing more than 30 florets.
- Involucral bracteoles linear, 12-14mm long.
- Calyx teeth reduced, petals white dimorphic, stylopodium short conical.
Fruit Characteristics
- Type: double hanging fruit broadly ellipsoid, yellowish brown
- Size: about 5mm long, 4-6mm wide.
- Surface: smooth and glabrous, fruit wall thick and hard.
- Vittae distribution: mericarp ribs and grooves each with 1 vittae, extending below the middle of the fruiting body; no vittae on commissure surface
Ecological habits and geographical distribution
Season: June-July, August.
Habitat:
- Distributed on the shady slopes of high mountains at an altitude of about 3800 meters.
- Prefers moist and cool environments, commonly found in the shade of forest meadows or thickets.
Distribution range:
- Type locality: Xiaojin County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China.
- Main distribution areas: western Sichuan (Xiaojin), northeastern Yunnan (Dongchuan).
Systematics value
The leaf sheath expansion characteristics, compound umbel structure and the distribution pattern of double pendant fruit vittae of this species are of great taxonomic significance to the study of the evolution of alpine adaptations in the Umbelliferae, and its morphological characteristics can be used as a key differentiation basis for the identification of the same genus.