Taxonomic Studies on the Genus Delphinium (Ranunculaceae) from China (Ⅲ)：The Identities of D. pseudothibeticum, D. motingshanicum and D. caeruleum var. crassicalcaratum

Abstract:

Both herbarium and field observations have shown that Delphinium pseudothibeticum W. T. Wang & M. J. Warnock described from Mo-ting (= Mao-ding) Shan, Deqen, northwestern Yunnan, China, is identical with D. ceratophorum Franch. var. brevicorniculatum W. T. Wang, and that both D. motingshanicum W. T. Wang & M. J. Warnock and D. caeruleum Jacq. ex Camb. var. crassicalcaratum W. T. Wang & M. J. Warnock, also described from Mo-ting Shan, are identical with D. beesianum W. W. Smith (D. motingshanicum is no more than a gigantic form of D. beesianum). Delphinum ceratophorum var. brevicorniculatum is currently known only from Deqen, while D. beesianum is a very common species in northwestern Yunnan. Delphinium pseudothibeticum, D. motingshanicum and D. caeruleum var. crassicalcaratum are all synonymized.

Key words:Delphinium;Ranunculaceae;Taxonomy