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FOC | Family List | FOC Vol. 8 | Saxifragaceae

15. Parnassia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 273. 1753.

梅花草属 mei hua cao shu

Gu Cuizhi (Ku Tsue-chih); Ulla-Maj Hultgård

Parnassia wightiana

Credit: Harvard University Herbaria

Herbs perennial, glabrous. Rhizome sympodial, robust. Stems (scapes) 1 to several, 1- or 2- or several leaved, rarely leafless. Basal leaves 2 or several, forming a rosette; stipules membranous; petiole usually long; leaf blade entire. Cauline leaves 1 to several or absent, often sessile and semiamplexicaul. Flower solitary, terminal; hypanthium free or fused with ovary proximally. Sepals 5, usually imbricate. Petals 5, imbricate, white or yellowish, rarely greenish, margin fimbriate, erose, or entire. Stamens 5, inserted opposite sepals, a few species with anther connective projected into a lanceolate appendage; staminodes 5, inserted opposite petals, terete and entire or flat and divided into lobes or filiform rays, apically somewhat glandular or with a distinct, globose gland. Pistil 1; ovary superior or semi-inferior, 1-loculed; placentation parietal; ovules numerous. Fruit a capsule, superior or semi-inferior, sometimes longitudinally angled, loculicidally dehiscent on abaxial suture into 3 or 4 valves. Seeds numerous, brown, obovoid or oblong, very small, 1-2 mm; testa thin, membranous, reticulate, smooth; endosperm thin or absent.

About 70 species: temperate regions of the N hemisphere, mainly in S and SE Asia; 63 species (49 endemic) in China.

Also see Wu, Ding et al. 2009. Taxonomic notes on Parnassia sect. Saxifragastrum (Parnassiaceae) from China. Ann. Bot. Fennici 46: 559-565.


Key 1

1 Staminodes 3-5- or 7-23-branched, branches with globose glands at apex.   (2)
+ Staminodes terete and divided at apex or not, or flat and 5-7-dentate or 2- or 3- or 5-lobed at apex, apex usually eglandular.   (12)
       
2 (1) Staminodes 7-23-branched   63 P. palustris
+ Staminodes 3- or 5-branched.   (3)
       
3 (2) Staminodes 3-branched; cauline leaves 2 or more.   (4)
+ Staminodes (3-)5(or 7)-branched; cauline leaf 1.   (7)
       
4 (3) Leaf blade broadly oblanceolate to narrowly ovate; petals rhomboid, margin subentire or undulate   53 P. rhombipetala
+ Leaf blade reniform; petals not rhomboid, margin fimbriate proximally or throughout.   (5)
       
5 (4) Petal margin fimbriate proximally; cauline leaves 3-6   54 P. amoena
+ Petal margin fimbriate throughout; cauline leaves 2-8.   (6)
       
6 (5) Petals oblanceolate or oblong, marginal fimbriae turgid at apex, becoming clavate; cauline leaves usually 2-5   55 P. noemiae
+ Petals ovate or triangular-ovate, marginal fimbriae not turgid at apex; cauline leaves usually more than 3   56 P. foliosa
       
7 (3) Petal margin fimbriate throughout; staminodes divided for 1/3-1/2 their length.   (8)
+ Petal margin slightly undulate, or fimbriate proximally and undulate or entire distally; staminodes divided for up to 1/2 their length or more.   (9)
       
8 (7) Leaf blade ovate-cordate, thick textured, base cordate   61 P. perciliata
+ Leaf blade ovate or reniform, thin textured, base often truncate or subcordate   62 P. davidii
       
9 (7) Petal margin slightly undulate; basal leaf blade ovate to oblong-ovate   57 P. guilinensis
+ Petal margin fimbriate proximally, undulate or entire distally; basal leaf blade ovate-cordate to broadly orbicular.   (10)
       
10 (9) Basal leaf blade broadly orbicular, obviously wider than long   60 P. longshengensis
+ Basal leaf blade ovate-cordate, about as long as wide.   (11)
       
11 (10) Staminodes divided nearly to base   58 P. gansuensis
+ Staminodes divided for ca. 1/2 their length   59 P. simaoensis
       
12 (1) Staminodes terete, apex divided or not.   (13)
+ Staminodes flat, apex 5-7-dentate or (2 or)3(or 5)-lobed, usually eglandular.   (24)
       
13 (12) Staminodes terete, apex 2-lobed and ± 2-labiate.   (14)
+ Staminodes terete, apex entire, rounded or discoid.   (15)
       
14 (13) Basal leaf blade 6-15 mm, broadly obovate, broadly ovate, or broadly rhomboid-ovate; staminodes 2-lobed, posterior lobes 2- or 3-lobed   11 P. faberi
+ Basal leaf blade 2-3 mm, rhomboid, ovate-rhomboid, or suborbicular; staminodes 2-lobed, posterior lobes 2-5-lobed   12 P. labiata
       
15 (13) Basal leaves numerous, forming a rosette.   (16)
+ Basal leaves few, 3-5(-8), not forming a rosette.   (17)
       
16 (15) Petals broadly elliptic; staminodes knoblike at apex; sepals oblong; cauline leaf borne near middle of stem   9 P. petitmenginii
+ Petals narrowly obovate-spatulate; staminodes sublingulate at apex; sepals lanceolate; cauline leaf borne near apex of stem   10 P. esquirolii
       
17 (15) Basal leaf blade reniform or deeply cordate, rarely cordate at base; petals green.   (18)
+ Basal leaf blade ovate-cordate, ovate-reniform, or ovate-triangular, cordate or attenuate at base; petals white or green.   (19)
       
18 (17) Plants 15-30 cm tall; petals lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 14.5-22.5 × 4.5-5.5 mm; leaf blade 2-6 × 5-9.5 cm   1 P. longipetala
+ Plants 5-11 cm tall; petals broadly obovate, 4-8 × 3-6 mm; leaf blade 0.8-2.5 × 1.3-3 cm   2 P. tenella
       
19 (17) Petals green or yellow-green.   (20)
+ Petals white or yellowish.   (22)
       
20 (19) Petals yellow-green; cauline leaf cordate-reniform; basal leaf blade ovate-reniform   5 P. longipetaloides
+ Petals green; cauline leaf oblong or ovate-lanceolate; basal leaf blade ovate-cordate or ovate-reniform.   (21)
       
21 (20) Petals densely purple-brown punctate; staminodes rounded at apex; basal leaf blade ± ovate-cordate   3 P. angustipetala
+ Petals not punctate; staminodes truncate or emarginate at apex; basal leaf blade mostly ovate-reniform   4 P. yulongshanensis
       
22 (19) Petals minutely purple-brown punctate, often emarginate at apex; staminodes often indistinctly 3-crenate at apex or entire   6 P. yunnanensis
+ Petals not punctate, acute or rounded at apex; staminodes rounded at apex.   (23)
       
23 (22) Staminodes broad and flat; basal leaf blade ovate-cordate, base cordate; cauline leaf borne near apex of stem, much smaller than basal leaves; petals yellowish   7 P. yanyuanensis
+ Staminodes thin and long; basal leaf blade ovate-triangular, base attenuate; cauline leaf borne near base of stem, slightly smaller than or subequaling basal leaves; petals white   8 P. humilis
       
24 (12) Staminodes 5-7-dentate at apex.   (25)
+ Staminodes (2 or)3(-5)-lobed at apex.   (26)
       
25 (24) Petals broadly spatulate or obovate, margin erose or subentire, base with a claw ca. 1 mm wide; leaf blade cuneate or subcordate at base   13 P. degeensis
+ Petals triangular-ovate, margin long fimbriate proximally, base with a long claw; leaf blade deeply cordate at base   14 P. farreri
       
26 (24) Staminodes 2- or 5-lobed at apex.   (27)
+ Staminodes 3(-5)-lobed at apex, lobes usually eglandular, rarely inconspicuously glandular at apex.   (33)
       
27 (26) Staminodes 2-lobed at apex, lobes subequal; cauline leaves 2   46 P. bifolia
+ Staminodes 5-lobed at apex, lobes equal or unequal; cauline leaf 1.   (28)
       
28 (27) Petal margin sparsely and shortly fimbriate throughout; stem not more than 10 cm   52 P. omeiensis
+ Petal margin long fimbriate proximally; stem more than 10 cm.   (29)
       
29 (28) Staminodes 5-lobed or 5-parted at apex, lobes unequal.   (30)
+ Staminodes 5-lobed to middle, lobes subequal.   (31)
       
30 (29) Petals yellow-white; leaf blade reniform   50 P. yiliangensis
+ Petals white; leaf blade ovate-cordate   51 P. chengkouensis
       
31 (29) Basal leaf blade oblong-cordate or broadly cordate   49 P. monochoriifolia
+ Basal leaf blade broadly cordate, broadly orbicular, or suborbicular.   (32)
       
32 (31) Basal leaf blade broadly orbicular, rarely suborbicular, usually wider than long, rarely as wide as long; cauline leaf broadly ovate or reniform   48 P. dilatata
+ Basal leaf blade reniform, broadly cordate, or broadly ovate, about as wide as or wider than long; cauline leaf similar in shape to basal ones   47 P. wightiana
       
33 (26) Connective of anther apically projected into a lanceolate appendage.   (34)
+ Connective of anther not apically projected.   (36)
       
34 (33) Basal leaf blade ovate-cordate or ovate; staminodes 3-lobed for 1/4-1/3 their length, central lobe narrower than lateral ones; styles usually short, not exserted beyond staminodes, occasionally longer   43 P. brevistyla
+ Basal leaf blade reniform or suborbicular; staminodes 3-lobed or -parted, lobes subequal; styles usually long, exserted beyond staminodes, rarely shorter.   (35)
       
35 (34) Staminodes 3-lobed to middle or almost so; basal leaf blade reniform or suborbicular   44 P. delavayi
+ Staminodes 3-parted beyond middle; basal leaf blade reniform   45 P. leptophylla
       
36 (33) Cauline leaves absent.   (37)
+ Cauline leaves 1 or 2.   (38)
       
37 (36) Staminodes lobed for ca. 1/3 their length, lobes narrow; petals yellow, apex emarginate or 2-lobulate; leaf with 3 parallel veins   15 P. lutea
+ Staminodes lobed for ca. 1/5 their length, lobes short and broad, central one longer than lateral ones; petals white, apex rounded-obtuse; leaf usually with 5 parallel veins   16 P. scaposa
       
38 (36) Cauline leaves 2   42 P. lijiangensis
+ Cauline leaf 1.   (39)
       
39 (38) Staminodes 3-lobed at apex, lobes unequal.   (40)
+ Staminodes 3(-5)-lobed at apex, lobes equal or subequal.   (41)
       
40 (39) Central lobe of staminode much shorter than lateral ones; petals greenish, narrowly oblong, margin sparsely and shortly fimbriate; cauline leaf borne distally on stem   39 P. cooperi
+ Central lobe of staminode longer than lateral ones; petals white, obovate, rarely subspatulate, margin entire; cauline leaf borne near base of stem   40 P. laxmannii
       
41 (39) Petal margin long fimbriate proximally.   (42)
+ Petal margin entire or shortly fimbriate and erose proximally.   (45)
       
42 (41) Basal leaf blade obovate or oblong-obovate   41 P. obovata
+ Basal leaf blade reniform, orbicular, broadly ovate-orbicular, ovate-cordate, or occasionally other shapes.   (43)
       
43 (42) Basal leaf blade ovate-cordate, 2-4.5 × 1.8-3.5 cm, thick textured, subleathery   19 P. crassifolia
+ Basal leaf blade reniform, orbicular, or broadly ovate-orbicular, rarely ovate-cordate.   (44)
       
44 (43) Basal leaf blade orbicular or broadly ovate-orbicular, base cordate with a deep sinus, apex obtuse and apiculate; cauline leaf much smaller than basal ones; petals oblanceolate, with 2 green, oblong glands near base, apex acute   17 P. yui
+ Basal leaf blade reniform, rarely ovate-cordate, apex rounded, rarely subobtuse or emarginate; cauline leaf about as large as basal ones; petals obovate, eglandular, apex emarginate   18 P. chinensis
       
45 (41) Petal margin shortly fimbriate proximally.   (46)
+ Petal margin erose or entire.   (47)
       
46 (45) Sepals and petals purple-brown punctate; petals 5-6 × 3-4 mm; basal leaf blade 9-10 × 8-9 mm   21 P. venusta
+ Sepals and petals not punctate; petals 7.8-9.5 × 5.2-6.1 mm; basal leaf blade 1-1.5 cm × 9-14 mm   20 P. epunctulata
       
47 (45) Ovary superior.   (48)
+ Ovary semi-inferior.   (54)
       
48 (47) Basal leaf blade oblong or elliptic, truncate or cuneate at base.   (49)
+ Basal leaf blade ovate-reniform, -cordate, -oblong, or broadly ovate, cordate at base.   (50)
       
49 (48) Basal leaf blade oblong, 8-9 × 4-5 mm; petals spatulate   23 P. filchneri
+ Basal leaf blade elliptic, 1.8-6 × 1-2.5 cm; petals suborbicular or elliptic   24 P. xinganensis
       
50 (48) Petals green, lanceolate, margin minutely and densely purple punctate, densely erose, apex acuminate   25 P. lanceolata
+ Petals white, obovate, margin sparsely erose or entire, apex rounded or cleft.   (51)
       
51 (50) Basal leaf blade ovate-reniform; plants not more than 4 cm tall   26 P. kangdingensis
+ Basal leaf blade ovate-cordate, ovate-oblong, or broadly ovate; plants usually more than 4 cm tall.   (52)
       
52 (51) Petals usually cleft or emarginate at apex; staminodes 3-lobed for ca. 1/3 or occasionally ca. 1/2 their length   27 P. mysorensis
+ Petals rounded at apex; staminodes shallowly 3-lobed for ca. 1/6 their length.   (53)
       
53 (52) Plants 16-27 cm tall; basal leaf blade ovate-oblong or broadly ovate, deeply cordate at base, 2-9-veined; staminodes 3(-6)-lobed, lobes truncate at apex, central one narrower than lateral ones   28 P. submysorensis
+ Plants 7-10 cm tall; basal leaf blade ovate, densely brown punctate, with 5-7 arcuate veins; staminodes 3-lobed, lobes rounded at apex   29 P. cacuminum
       
54 (47) Basal leaf blade ovate-cordate to reniform, base usually cordate.   (55)
+ Basal leaf blade oblong, base not cordate.   (59)
       
55 (54) Stem usually more than 28 cm; basal leaf blade ovate-cordate, 3-4.1 cm, deeply cordate at base   30 P. cordata
+ Stem usually 2-8 cm, occasionally to 20 cm; basal leaf blade not more than 2 cm.   (56)
       
56 (55) Petals pale yellow-green   22 P. qinghaiensis
+ Petals white.   (57)
       
57 (56) Basal leaf blade reniform, rarely ovate-cordate; cauline leaf borne near middle of stem; staminode lobes lanceolate   31 P. pusilla
+ Basal leaf blade ovate-cordate; cauline leaf borne near base of stem; staminode lobes oblong.   (58)
       
58 (57) Petals broadly obovate, purple punctate; stem less than 6 cm; basal leaf petiole ca. 1 cm, leaf blade usually cordate at base   35 P. subscaposa
+ Petals obovate, not or indistinctly punctate; stem 8-20 cm; basal leaf petiole (1.5-)3-6 cm, leaf blade usually truncate at base   36 P. deqenensis
       
59 (54) Stem relatively low; basal leaves small.   (60)
+ Stem relatively tall; basal leaves large.   (61)
       
60 (59) Petals white; basal leaf petiole 8-15(-40) mm, leaf blade usually cuneate at base   37 P. trinervis
+ Petals green; basal leaf petiole (1-)15-25 mm, leaf blade usually subcordate at base   38 P. viridiflora
       
61 (59) Staminodes 3-parted for ca. 2/3 their length, lobes parallel, to 3.2 mm   32 P. oreophila
+ Staminodes 3-lobed for 1/5-1/4 their length.   (62)
       
62 (61) Staminodes broad, lobes linear, ca. 1 mm; petals yellow   33 P. tibetana
+ Staminodes narrow, lobes lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm; petals white   34 P. nubicola

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