四川蒲公英 si chuan pu gong ying

Type: China. Sichuan: "Sikang [西康], Kangting [康定] (Tachienlu) distr., Yülingkong, Gomba-La, in prato herboso futicoso," 3700 m, 22 Jul 1934, H. Smith 11950 (holotype, UPS; isotype, PRA).

Paratypes: China. Sichuan: H. Smith 12508 (CAS, PRA, UPS); H. Smith 11561 (UPS).

Plantae phyllariis involucralibus numerosis, subimbricatis, atro-viridibus, marginibus ciliatis, apicibus ecorniculatis, involucro basi rotundato, ligulis apice distincte denticulatis, stigmatibus aterrimis, polline irregulari, acheniis saturate griseo-olivaceis, pyramide conica brevi insignes.

Herbs 12-21 cm tall. Petiole purplish, narrow; leaf blade mid-green, narrowly oblanceolate, 9-12 × 1.3-2(-2.5) cm, abaxially glabrous or sparsely hairy on midvein, margin subentire to deeply lobed; lateral lobes 3-6 pairs, narrowly triangular, ± patent to recurved, margin entire or on distal side with 1 tooth, apex acute; terminal lobe triangular-sagittate. Scapes ± overtopping leaves, apically sparsely arachnoid. Capitulum 3-4.5 cm wide. Involucre blackish, 8-10 mm wide, base rounded. Outer phyllaries 11-15(-17), blackish green, subimbricate, narrowly lanceolate, outermost ones 4.3-7.5 × 1.3-1.8 mm and 1/3-1/5 as long as inner ones, appressed to recurved at apex, border paler and less than 0.1 mm wide, margin ciliate to densely ciliate; inner phyllaries blackish, 1.1-1.4 cm. Ligules (?pale) yellow; outer ligules flat, outside striped greenish pink; inner ligules with dark blackish 0.5-0.7 mm teeth. Stigmas black. Anthers polliniferous; pollen grains irregular in size. Achene dark grayish olivaceous but straw-colored when unripe, 4.2-4.5 × 1-1.2 mm; body apically with distinct erect spinules and squamules, subgradually narrowing into a conic 0.7-0.9 mm cone; beak 6-6.5 mm. Pappus slightly yellowish white, 5-6 mm. Fl. summer. Agamosperm.

● Alpine meadows; 3700-4200 m. W Sichuan.

Taraxacum apargia is similar to T. apargiiforme but differs in having involucre rounded at base, outer phyllaries usually with a very narrow paler border, achenes ± densely covered with distinct spinules and squamules above, pollen irregular, and agamospermous reproduction.