Flora of Bhutan Umbelliferae: Cnidium

Cnidium Cusson Mark F. Watson

Bhutanese species are essentially glabrous erect biennials or perennials; rootstock a short woody tap-root; stems solitary, unbranched (excepting the lateral umbel), purplish, base clothed in papery leaf remains. Leaves distantly 1–2-pinnate or -pinnately lobed, almost entirely basal, the 1–2 stem leaves reduced, the uppermost almost to a sheathing petiole; leaflets lanceolate-ovate, margin regularly serrate and/or incised; petioles long and slender, abruptly and broadly sheathing at base. Umbels 1–2, compound, the solitary main terminal umbel usually subtended by a much smaller lateral with long slender peduncle; bracts linear-subulate, sometimes with a larger subtending leaf/leaf-like bract; bracteoles subulate. Calyx teeth minute, ovate-triangular, persistent in fruit. Petals dark purple, obovate, subequal. Stylopodium dark purple, domed; styles short often reflexed in fruit. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid, dorsal and lateral ribs equally winged, wings somewhat corky; vittae small, one per furrow and 2 on the commissure.

Cnidium bhutanicum M.F.Watson

Cnidium atropurpureum M.F.Watson

Plants 35–85cm tall, essentially glabrous with just a minute scabrescence on the leaf margins and main veins, around the nodes and below the umbels. Basal leaves 4–6, 25–40 x 7–18cm (including petiole), ovate in outline, mid green above, paler below; ultimate segments 1.8–5 x 0.5–3cm; petioles to 30cm, sheathing base 1.8–4 x 1.3–2.8cm, often purplish. Terminal umbel 7–16-rayed; rays subequal 1.5–4.5cm, thickening and lengthening in fruit to 5cm or more, ribbed, glabrous or with sparse minute scabrescence on ribs; bracts 0–4, 1–1.3cm; umbellules 7–10mm across, c 20-flowered; pedicels 1.5–6mm; bracteoles 9–12, to 6mm long. Calyx teeth c 0.3mm. Petals dark purple with pale midrib above, c 1.7 x 1.2mm. Fruit 6–6.5 x 3–3.5mm; wings 0.5–0.75mm broad.

Bhutan: C—Ha district (Sage La to Ha) and Thimphu district (Gida Valley, Phajoding Monastery, Tataka Gompa to Tataka La).

Ecology: Scrubland, rough hill pasture and open fir (Abies) woodland, 3300–3800m. Flowers August–September.

Illustration

Specimen List [15545]

Note: Apparently endemic to W Bhutan.

Page developed and maintained by Mark Watson