全 文 ：植 物 分 类 学 报 44 (6): 641–648(2006) doi:10.1360/aps06077
Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica http://www.plantsystematics.com
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Received: 29 April 2006 Accepted: 12 September 2006
* E-mail: (USA); (France).
** E-mail: .
Contributions to the study of Chinese Araliaceae: New
species and synonyms in Brassaiopsis and Schefflera
1,2Porter P. LOWRY II* 3SHANG Chih-Bei**
1 (Missouri Botanical Garden, P. O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, U.S.A.)
2 (Département Systématique et Evolution (UMS 602), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle,
CP 39, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris CEDEX 05, France)
3 (College of Forest Resources and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)
Abstract Two new species of Araliaceae from China are described based on material
examined while preparing a treatment of the family for the Flora of China. Brassaiopsis
pseudoficifolia Lowry & C. B. Shang, primarily found in Yunnan with a single collection
known from adjacent Guangxi, most closely resembles B. ficifolia Dunn, but differs in having
more numerously lobed leaves, more umbels per inflorescence, and prickles on the
inflorescence axes and the stems. Schefflera zhuana Lowry & C. B. Shang, restricted to
Mêdog County in southeastern Xizang, resembles S. leucantha R. Vig., but is distinguished by
its ovaries with more carpels, an evident calyx forming a rim, a flat to depressed nectar disc,
and thin leaf texture. Three previously recognized species (Brassaiopsis gaussenii Bui,
Schefflera tenuis H. L. Li, and S. glomerulata H. L. Li) are formally placed in synonymy under
currently recognized taxa.
Key words Brassaiopsis, Schefflera, Brassaiopsis pseudoficifolia Lowry & C. B. Shang,
Schefflera zhuana Lowry & C. B. Shang, Araliaceae, new species, new synonymy, China.
In the course of preparing a treatment of Araliaceae for the Flora of China, we
exhaustively examined all of the material deposited in the herbaria of the Institutes of Botany
of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing (PE) and in Kunming (KUN). This included
hundreds of specimens that had been identified only to family or genus, most of which could
be assigned without undue difficulty to previously recognized species. However, a small
portion of the material did not correspond to any of the taxa we recognized, and while a
number of these collections were either too fragmentary or damaged to permit an adequate
assessment of their identity, we also found material that clearly represents two distinctive,
undescribed species, one each in the genera Brassaiopsis Decne. & Planch. and Schefflera J.
R. Forst. & G. Forst. Here we describe and illustrate these new species, making them
available for inclusion in our Flora of China treatment.
Our examination of herbarium material of these two genera (including numerous types),
along with a comprehensive review of published names for Araliaceae in China, has also
revealed several taxa that must be placed in synonymy, which we formalize here.
1 New species
1. Brassaiopsis pseudoficifolia Lowry & C. B. Shang, sp. nov. Fig. 1
拟榕叶罗伞
Haec species a Brassaiopse ficifolia foliis 5- ad 7-lobis, inflorescentia ex 7 ad 9 (vs. 2 vel
3) umbellis constanti atque inflorescentiae axe primario sicut caule aculeato differt.
Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica Vol. 44 642


Fig. 1. Brassaiopsis pseudoficifolia Lowry & C. B. Shang. A, branch with young fruit; B, enlargement of leaf margin;
C, umbel with young fruit; D, umbel with mature fruit. A–C based on W. Q. Yin 766 (PE), D based on H. T. Tsai 56307
(PE).
No. 6 LOWRY and SHANG: Contributions to the study of Chinese Araliaceae 643
Tree to 15(–25) m, apparently hermaphroditic, stem with scattered stiff, partially
flattened prickles to ca. 5 mm long (some specimens without prickles), and also with light
brown stellate trichomes. Leaves simple, 5–7-lobed, the sinuses reaching 2/3 to 3/4 to the
base; stipules adnate in lower portion to the petiole, free portions triangular, 1.5–2 mm long;
petiole (11–)15–45 cm long, unarmed, or rarely with a few small prickles just below blade;
blade nearly orbicular, 14–26 cm long, 18–37 cm wide, papyraceous, glabrous on both
surfaces, lobes elliptic to ovate, primary veins equal in number to lobes, secondary veins
visible on both surfaces, slightly raised, tertiary veins visible or nearly obscure, base cordate,
often deeply so, margins ± regularly serrate, the teeth narrowly triangular, 0.5–2 mm long,
with the tip slightly curved apically, apex acute or more often acuminate. Inflorescence a
terminal panicle, erect, primary axis slender, ca. 15 cm long, 0.4 cm in diam., with moderately
dense to sparse ferrugineous to light brown stellate indument, partially glabrescent, and also
with a few small prickles to ca. 1.5 mm long, secondary axes 7–9, 3.5–6 cm long, ascending,
subtending bracts persistent until well after anthesis, triangular-ovate, adaxially concave and
sheathing the young axes prior to their elongation, densely short stellate; umbels borne at ends
of secondary axes, 2.5–5 cm in diam., with 30–45 flowers; pedicels inarticulate, finely brown
to ferrugineous stellate, 5–6 mm long just before anthesis, expanding in fruit to 11–15 mm,
bracteoles subtending the pedicels linear-lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm long, caducous in fruit. Sepals
5, narrowly triangular, 0.25–0.5 mm long, 0.1–0.4 mm wide, caducous; petals 5, narrowly
ovate-triangular, 2.5–4 mm long, 1.75–2.2 mm wide, minutely stellate pubescent (flowers at
anthesis unknown); ovary 2-carpellate, styles connate, 1.5–2.5 mm long just after anthesis,
stigma minutely capitate, disc rounded. Fruit globose, 8–10 mm in diam., styles persistent,
2–3 mm long.
China. Yunnan (云南): Shuangbai (双柏), Aini District, dense forest, alt. 1950 m,
1957-04-16 (fl., young fr.), W. Q. Yin (尹文清) 766 (holotype, PE; isotypes, K, KUN (2
sheets), MO).
Additional specimens examined:
China. Yunnan (云南): Gongshan (贡山), Beihailuo, mixed forest, alt. 2300–2500 m, 1940-09-01 (fr.),
K. M. Feng (冯国楣) 7296 (PE); the same locality, on the way from Shandang to Bingzhongluo, moist
evergreen forest, alt. 1700 m, 1960-05-23 (fr.), Nanshuibeidiao Exped. (南水北调队) 8757 (PE); the same
locality, Cike, evergreen forest, alt. 1700 m, 1960-05-29 (fr.), Nanshuibeidiao Exped. (南水北调队) 9137
(KUN, PE); the same locality, road between Bingzhongluo and Nidadang, secondary scrub forest near Nu
(Salween) River, alt. 1650 m, 1982-06-23 (fr.), Qinghai-Xizang Exped. (青藏队) 7401 (KUN); the same
locality, road between town and the Du-long River area, near Pu-la River, alt. 1700 m, 1979-05-07 (fr.),
Salween River Exped. 79-0028 (KUN, 2 sheets); the same locality, Dzung-duei, under forest, alt. 2000 m,
1935-10 (fl.), C. W. Wang (王启无) 66927 (PE); Bi-bi-li, near Nu (Salween) River, 1959-02-08 (ster.),
Anonymous 74476 (KUN); Jingdong (景东), Mang City, near Hetou village, near river or in forest, alt.
1700–2000 m, 1988-12-13 (fl., young fr.), C. Chen (陈介) 804 (KUN, 2 sheets); the same locality, Feng
Kuan Shan, mixed forest, alt. 1800 m, 1939-10-29 (bud), M. K. Li (李鸣刚) 907 (KUN (2 sheets), PE);
Lushui (泸水), La mu-kou, near the river, alt. 1680 m, 1957-03-27 (fr.), W. X. Liu 0111 (KUN, 2 sheets);
precise county name unknown, Mong-ka, forest, alt. 1550 m, 1934-02-20 (fr.), H. T. Tsai 56307 (KUN (2
sheets), PE). Guangxi (广西): Longzhou (龙州), Daqing Shan (大青山), 1953-07-30, Guangxi Exped. (广
西队) s.n. (PE).
Most material of Brassaiopsis pseudoficifolia was originally identified as B. ficifolia
Dunn, but can be easily distinguished by its 5–7-lobed leaves (vs. 3(–5)-lobed in B. ficifolia),
inflorescences with 7–9 (vs. 2–3) umbels, and the presence of prickles on the primary
inflorescence axis and the stems (vs. unarmed). Previous authors (e.g., Li, 1942; Feng & Li,
1979; Hoo & Tseng, 1965, 1978) adopted a broad circumscription of B. ficifolia that would
include not only the material belonging to the novelty we described here, but also to another
Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica Vol. 44 644
new species, B. ficifolioides J. Wen & Lowry, from Lao Cai Province in northern Vietnam
(Wen & Lowry, 2006).
Brassaiopsis pseudoficifolia occurs primarily in Yunnan, with a single population
recorded from Guangxi. It is known from a total of 13 collections, the most recent dating from
1988.
2. Schefflera zhuana Lowry & C. B. Shang, sp. nov. Fig. 2
光华鹅掌柴
Haec species a Schefflera leucantha gynoecii (7 vel) 8 vel 9 carpellis stylisque, calyce
evoluto oram manifestam formante, disco nectarifero complanato vel leviter depresso atque
foliolis longitudine 11(13–21) cm attingentibus differt.
Tree to 20 m, sometimes a climber, hermaphrodite. Leaves palmately compound, petiole
3.5–18.5 cm long, glabrous, petiolules (0.5–)1.5–8 cm long, leaflets (3–)4–5, 5.5–20.5×
2.8–7.5 cm, the terminal one larger than the others, blade elliptic to slightly ovate, thinly
papyraceous, light to yellow green, often somewhat mottled, glabrous on both surfaces, base
rounded to broadly acute, margin entire, revolute, minutely thickened, apex acuminate, the
acumen to ca. 1.5 cm, sometimes slightly falcate, secondary veins 6–8 pairs, slightly raised on
upper surface, more prominently raised below, tertiary veins conspicuous. Inflorescence
terminal or less often lateral (then borne just below the leaves), densely light gray stellate
when young, primary axis 1–6 cm long, erect, secondary axes 4–5, 5.5–8 cm long, subtending
bracts ovate, strongly adaxially concave, ca. 5 mm long, caducous before anthesis, peduncles
5–9 per secondary axis, 4–8 mm long, each with a single umbellule, evenly distributed along
secondary axis, subtending bracts slightly smaller. Flowers (3–)4–5 per umbellule, pedicels
1–2 mm at anthesis, expanding to 8 mm in fruit, subtended by small, caducous bracts to
1.5–2 mm long, calyx a narrow rim, petals 5, 3–3.5 mm long, pink, stamens 5, filaments
2.5–3.5 mm long, anthers ellipsoid, 0.8–1 mm long, ovary (7–)8–9-carpellate, disc flat,
stigmas (7–)8–9, sessile. Fruits globose to slightly obovoid, 4×3.5–4 mm, yellow in fresh
material, pale brownish-orange in dried specimens, covered with deep red-orange punctate
dots 0.1–0.2 mm in diam., calyx a distinct rim ca. 0.2 mm high, nectar disc weakly depressed,
ca. 2 mm in diam., slightly undulate, stigmas (7–)8–9, subglobose, 0.15–0.2 mm in diam.,
sessile.
China. Xizang (西藏): Mêdog, Bei-beng Dist., Bei-beng Commune, shore of Xi-gong
Lake, evergreen broad-leaved forest, alt. 1650 m, 1983-05-12 (fr.), S. Z. Cheng et al. (程树志
等) 04881 (holotype, PE (mounted on 2 sheets: 1268894, 1268895)).
Additional specimens examined:
China. Xizang (西藏): Mêdog, Xi Rang Xi Deng Shan, evergreen broad-leaved forest, alt. 2000 m,
1983-04-25 (young fr.), S. Z. Cheng & B. S. Li (程树志, 李勃生) 04687 (PE); the same locality, on the way
from Jialasa to Bangxin, evergreen broad-leaved forest, alt. 2000 m, 1982-12-23 (bud), B. S. Li & S. Z.
Cheng (李勃生, 程树志) 02307 (PE); the same locality, Mati Commune, Xiang Bei Shan, evergreen
broad-leaved forest, alt. 1400–1700 m, 1983-01-25 (bud), B. S. Li & S. Z. Cheng (李勃生, 程树志) 02698
(PE); the same locality, Beibeng Commune, side of Xi-gong Lake, evergreen broad-leaved forest on
mountain slope, alt. 1680 m, 1983-03-10 (bud), B. S. Li & S. Z. Cheng (李勃生, 程树志) 02886 (PE); the
same locality, Pangxin District, western bank of Yajiang River, in forest, alt. 2700 m, flowers green-brown,
1982-12-07 (bud), B. S. Li & S. Z. Cheng (李勃生, 程树志) 03307 (PE); the same locality, on the way from
Bei-beng District to Deyang, evergreen broad-leaved forest, alt. 1500–1700 m, 1983-04-22 (bud), B. S. Li &
S. Z. Cheng (李勃生, 程树志) 04227 (PE); the same locality, on the way from Beibengsangxing to
Ganglong, Alnus and Castanopsis forest, alt. 1500 m, 1983-05-05 (fr.), B. S. Li & S. Z. Cheng (李勃生, 程
树志) 04525 (PE); the same locality, Buqiang Lake, forest, alt. 1400 m, 1992-11-12 (bud), Mêdog Exped. (墨
脱队) 1257 (KUN, 2 sheets); the same locality, Xiran, forest, alt. 600 m, 1992-11-23 (bud), Mêdog Exped.
(墨脱队) 1410 (KUN); the same locality, Didong, Bei-beng area, E bank of river, forest, alt. 700 m,
No. 6 LOWRY and SHANG: Contributions to the study of Chinese Araliaceae 645




Fig. 2. Schefflera zhuana Lowry & C. B. Shang. A, leaf; B, inflorescence; C, infructescence; D, enlargement of mature
fruit; E, top view of mature fruit showing stigmas. A based on B. S. Li & S. Z. Cheng 02307 (PE), B based on B. S. Li & S.
Z. Cheng 02698 (PE), C–E based on S. Z. Cheng et al. 04881 (PE).



Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica Vol. 44 646
1992-12-14 (bud), Mêdog Exped. (墨脱队) 3197 (KUN, 2 sheets); the same locality, Dergong, Bei-beng area,
forest, alt. 1650 m, 1992-12-24 (bud), Mêdog Exped. (墨脱队) 2468 (KUN); the same locality, near
Jindangka, Jialasha area, forest, alt. 1950 m, 1993-02-18 (fl.), Mêdog Exped. (墨脱队) 3420 (KUN, 2 sheets);
the same locality, Pangxing, alt. 1500 m, 1993-03-04 (fl.), Mêdog Exped. (墨脱队) 4225 (KUN).
Schefflera zhuana resembles S. leucantha R. Vig. in having fruits covered with
distinctive deep orange-red punctate dots and predominantly elliptic leaves with prominent
tertiary venation on both surfaces (Shang, 1984). It can, however, be distinguished on the
basis of several features, as summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 Comparison of key features distinguishing Schefflera zhuana and S. leucantha.
Character S. zhuana S. leucantha
Number of carpels and styles (7–)8–9 5
Calyx evident, forming a distinct rim obscure, forming a line
Nectar disc flat to slightly depressed rounded to nearly flat
Leaf texture thinly papyraceous subcoriaceous, less often thickly papyraceous

Schefflera zhuana appears to be restricted to Mêdog County in southeastern Xizang, well
to the northwest of the recorded range of S. elliptica Harms, which is known from Guangxi,
Guizhou, western Hunan and Yunnan provinces in China, as well as from India and Vietnam
(Frodin & Govaerts, 2004).
Several recent phylogenetic studies using molecular sequence data have shown that the
large, pantropical genus Schefflera is clearly polyphyletic (Lowry et al., 2004; Plunkett et al.,
2004, 2005), and that the generic name will ultimately have to be restricted to a small group
of species from the southwest Pacific (Lowry, 1989). All of the Asian members of Schefflera
included in these phylogenetic studies were found to belong to a single, well-supported,
morphologically coherent clade. It thus appears likely that each of the region’s 350+ species
currently assigned to Schefflera will have to be transferred to one or more other genera.
However, further phylogenetic studies will be needed to evaluate relationships within the
Asian Schefflera clade and to establish appropriate generic limits. Until this work has been
completed, we feel that nomenclatural stability is best served by continuing to use Schefflera
in its traditional (albeit non-monophyletic) sense.
This new species is named in honor of our dear friend and colleague Guanghua ZHU,
who passed away on November 2, 2005. Guanghua directed his passion and energy to
ensuring the success of the Flora of China project, promoting plant systematics in his native
country, and encouraging closer collaboration and friendship among botanists from
throughout the world. His jovial nature, love of life and family, and devotion to botany will be
missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him.
2 New synonyms
Based on our examination of Chinese material of Brassaiopsis and Schefflera in various
herbaria (including AA, K, KUN, MO, P and PE, among others), we propose the following
new synonymies.
1. Brassaiopsis dumicola W. W. Smith in Notes Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 10: 11. 1917.
Type: China. Yunnan (云南): N of Tengyueh, Ma-chang-kai Valley, 1913-02 (fl.), G. Forrest
9671 (holotype, E (mounted on 2 sheets)(image seen)).
Brassaiopsis gaussenii Bui in Adansonia, ser. 2, 6: 440. 1966, syn. nov. Type: Vietnam.
Lao Cai Prov.: Col des Nuages, 25–30 km de Phong Thô, alt. 1500–1600 m, 1937-12-01
(bud), Poilane 26693 (holotype, P! (mounted on 2 sheets)).
Examination of a scanned image of the holotype of Brassaiopsis dumicola at E, collected
No. 6 LOWRY and SHANG: Contributions to the study of Chinese Araliaceae 647
in Yunnan Province, confirms that it belongs to the same taxon as the type of B. gaussenii, a
species described later on the basis of a gathering from adjacent northern Vietnam. These two
type collections have structurally similar unarmed, pendant inflorescences borne laterally on
woody stems well below the leaves, stout pedicels, and essentially identical deeply 9-lobed
leaves. Bui (1966) provides an excellent illustration of the type of B. gaussenii.
2. Schefflera leucantha R. Vig. in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., IX, 9: 358. 1909. Type: Vietnam.
Dong-Dang (Tonkin), 1886-02-18 (bud, fl.), B. Balansa 1357 (holotype, P!; isotypes, P (2
sheets)!).
Schefflera tenuis H. L. Li in Sargentia 2: 32. 1942, syn. nov. Type: China. Yunnan (云
南): Gongshan (贡山), Kiukiang Valley, Taron, alt. 1700 m, 1938-07 (fr.), T. T. Yu (俞德浚)
19475 (holotype, AA!; isotypes, PE (2 sheets)!).
Viguier (1909) described Schefflera leucantha based on material from Vietnam,
characterized in particular by the presence of distinctive red-brown glandular punctate dots on
its 5-carpellate fruits. More than 30 years later Li (1942) recognized S. tenuis for Chinese
material from Yunnan, making no mention of Viguier’s earlier name. Subsequent authors
(e.g., Shang, 1984) distinguished S. tenuis on the basis of having fewer leaflets (3–5 vs. 5–7 in
S. leucantha) with a caudate-acuminate, falcate apex (vs. acuminate and not falcate).
Examination of the material at several herbaria shows, however, that the type of S. tenuis falls
well within the range of morphological variation of S. leucantha, and that material with
various numbers of leaflets and both acuminate as well as caudate-acuminate apices has been
collected widely in Guangxi and Yunnan, suggesting that the presence of this combination of
features is not geographically structured.
3. Schefflera pauciflora R. Vig. in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., IX, 9: 357. 1909. Type: Vietnam.
Vallée de Lamkok (Mont Bavi), 1887-08 (fr.), B. Balansa 3464 (holotype, P!; isotypes; K!, P!).
Schefflera glomerulata H. L. Li in Sargentia 2: 32. 1942, syn. nov. Type: China. Yunnan
(云南), without precise locality, H. T. Tsai (蔡希陶) 60037A (holotype, AA!; isotype, KUN!).
When Li (1942) published Schefflera glomerulata, he indicated that it was close to S.
pauciflora, sharing sessile or short-pedicelled fruits in heads, but that it could be distinguished
by its longer peduncles (i.e., secondary inflorescence axes) in fruit. Examination of the type
material (including paratypes) of S. glomerulata shows, however, that they fall within a
continuous range of inflorescence size and robustness, including in the length of the
secondary axes, and that it is not possible to distinguish Li’s species unambiguously from S.
pauciflora.
Acknowledgments We wish to thank LI Ai-Li for preparing the illustrations, Roy
GEREAU for assistance with the Latin diagnoses, Mark WATSON for providing scanned
images of type specimens from E, and G. McPHERSON for photographs of types from K. We
are also grateful to Dr. YANG Qin-Er for help with the manuscript, Dr. SUN Hang and Mr.
ZHU Wei-Dong for valuable help at KUN, and Mrs. GONG Xiao-Lin for her hospitality at
PE. Financial assistance for the first authors’ visit to Beijing was provided by the Missouri
Botanical Garden and Starr Foundation in support of the Flora of China project.
References
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中国五加科植物的分类学研究:
罗伞属和鹅掌柴属的新种和新异名
1,2Porter P. LOWRY II 3向其柏
1 (Missouri Botanical Garden, P. O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166-0299, U.S.A.)
2 (Département Systématique et Evolution (UMS 602), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle,
CP 39, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris CEDEX 05, France)
3 (南京林业大学森林资源与环境学院, 南京 210037)

摘要 在编写《Flora of China》五加科Araliaceae时 , 发现两个新种 , 即拟榕叶罗伞Brassaiopsis
pseudoficifolia Lowry & C. B. Shang和光华鹅掌柴Schefflera zhuana Lowry & C. B. Shang。前者与榕叶罗
伞B. ficifolia Dunn很相似, 其区别在于, 叶裂片数目较多, 花序上具较多的伞形花序, 花序轴具刺, 主
要分布于云南, 广西偶见。后者与白花鹅掌柴S. leucantha R. Vig.相似, 其区别在于, 子房心皮数目较多,
果时具明显的萼缘, 花盘扁平, 叶质地较薄, 局限分布于西藏墨脱县。同时发现越南产的Brassaiopsis
gaussenii Bui和中国产的细序鹅掌柴Schefflera tenuis H. L. Li、球序鹅掌柴S. glomerulata H. L. Li均不能
成立, 处理为异名。
关键词 罗伞属; 鹅掌柴属; 拟榕叶罗伞; 光华鹅掌柴; 五加科; 新种; 新异名; 中国