Aralia lihengiana J. Wen, L. Deng & X. Shi, 2002

Aralia lihengiana J. Wen, L. Deng & X. Shi View in CoL , sp. nov.

Frutex epiphytica. Folia (3-)5-(7) foliolata, glabra ; foliola chartacea , ovata , 9-21 × 5-13 cm, apice acuta vel acuminata , basi rotundata vel subcordata , raro cuneata , margine remote serrata. Inflorescentia terminalis, leviter pilosa ; flores racemosi, pedicellis 1-1.5 longis; bracteola lanceolata , 0.7-1.2 mm longis; ovarium 3-4 raro 5 loculare. Fructus elliploidea, 3-4 × 2.2-3 mm, stylis connatis usque ad medium.

TYPUS. — Wen et al. 6515, China, Yunnan Prov., Tengcong Xian, Jaitou Xiang , Datang Village , near the source of Lunshuihe , at the border between the Gaoligongshan National Nature Preserve and private forests , riverside moist area in evergreen forest , epiphytic on a Litsea tree, 2300 m, 24 June 2002, fr. (holo-, F!; iso-, KUN!, PE!, SWFC!).

Epiphytic shrubs. Branches with conspicuous elliptic lenticels. Leaves exstipulate, 25-55 × 16- 32 cm, with (3-)5(-7) leaflets, petioles glabrous, 9-17 cm long; leaflets chartaceous, ovate, 9-21 × 5-13 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded to subcordate to rarely acute, margins sparsely serrate, lateral veins 8-10 pairs, conspicuous on both sides, blades glabrous on both surfaces; petiolules glabrous, those of the two lower leaflets of the pinna with an inconspicuous articulation below the leaflet blade, those of the lateral leaflets 0.1-1.5 cm long, those of the terminal leaflets 3.5-7 cm long. Inflorescences terminal at the branch apex, pilose, primary branches 10-16, with a main axis 6-15 cm long; scales of the reproductive buds shiny brown, narrowly triangular, 1.5-2.2 × 0.8-1 cm; primary branches 18- 35 cm long, with 15-30 secondary branches; secondary branches 4-7 cm long, racemosely arranged on primary branches, secondary bracts lanceolate, 2-3.5 mm long. Flowers in a raceme, each secondary inflorescence branch bearing 15- 30 white flowers, pedicels pilose, 1-1.5 mm long at anthesis, bracteoles lanceolate, 0.7-1.2 mm long at anthesis. Sepals triangular, 0.25-0.3 mm long. Petals ovate, 1-1.3 mm long. Stamens 5, 1.5-1.8 mm long. Ovary 3-(or sometimes 4- to rarely 5-) locular, base of the style enlarged, forming a conical stylopodium-like structure; styles divided to the midpoint. Fruits ovoid-globose, 3- 4 × 2.2-3 mm, with recurved persistent styles. — Fig. 1. View Fig

ETYMOLOGY. — The species epithet honors Professor Li HENG at Kunming Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, who is a leading authority of the Gaoligongshan flora and who has been an inspiration to many young botanists.

PHENOLOGY. — Flowering in late May and June; fruiting in June.

DISTRIBUTION. — Western, southwestern to southern Yunnan, China.

ECOLOGY. — In evergreen to warm temperate forests; 1700-2650 m.

PARATYPES. — CHINA. Yunnan Prov.: Peng & Bai 990, Jingdong , Man Wan , Xingchun , 2080 m, 4 July 1993, fl. ( KUN); Wu 9135, Jingdong , Xiao-huangchao-ba , 2500 m, 13 May 1963, fl. ( KUN, 2 sheets); China-Soviet Union Exped. Team 1565, Jingping Xian , Yünping Xiang , Yanshijiao , 17 May 1956, bud ( KUN, PE); Luchun Exped. Team 804, Luchun , at the border of Luchun and Yuanyang , 1700-1800 m, 13 May 1974, fl. ( KUN, 2 sheets); Yü 16326, Shunning , Wenkuankai , 2100 m, in forest, 17 June 1938 ( KUN, 2 sheets, PE, 2 sheets); Yü 16375, Shunning , Huaiyaopu , 2100 m, 19 June 1938, fl. ( KUN, 3 sheets, PE, 2 sheets); Yü 16685, Shunning , Hila , 2650 m, in forest near ravine , 11 July 1938, fl. ( KUN, 2 sheets, PE, 2 sheets); Wen et al. 6519, Tengcong Xian , Jaitou Xiang , Datang Village, Shijiapingzhi, 2000 m, in riverside evergreen forest , epiphytic on a Lithocarpus tree, 24 June 2002, fl. ( F, KUN, SWFC); Northwest Yunnan Yangtze River Exped. Team 4221, Yangbi Xian , 2500 m, 2 June 1963, fl. ( KUN, 2 sheets); 1984 Sino-Amer. Bot. Exped. 589, W side of Diancang Shan mountain range , vicinity of Dajiuping , broad-leaved evergreen fagaceous forest , 2500-2600 m, 25°50’N, 99°59’E, tree 10 m tall, fl. greenish white, in fl. clustered at branch apex, 30 June 1984 ( BM, MO, 2 sheets); GoogleMaps Yü 16894, Zhengkang ( Chengkang ), Hsiaoaifang , 2550 m, in forest, 22 July 1938, fl. ( KUN, 2 sheets, PE, 2 sheets) .