Flora of Bhutan Umbelliferae: Meeboldia

Meeboldia H.Wolff Mark F. Watson

Short-lived, almost glabrous, slender perennials; stems erect, terete. Leaves mainly basal, 4-pinnate, held on one plane; ultimate segments dark green, linear-lanceolate, acute; stem leaves similar but much smaller; petiole with narrowly sheathing base. Umbels compound; bracts and bracteoles present, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate. Calyx teeth lanceolate, acute. Petals yellow (in Bhutanese species), obovate, emarginate to rounded, apex somewhat incurved. Stylopodium broadly conical, abruptly merging into the spreading, curved styles. Fruit oblong-ovoid, subterete, slightly compressed laterally, rounded at base, attenuate towards the stylopodium, glabrous; rib very narrow, scarcely prominent; mericarps grooved along inner (commissural) surface, vittae 3–4 between the ribs, 4 on the inner surface.

Note: Sometimes misidentified as Vicatia species, which are readily distinguished by their obsolete calyx teeth.

Meeboldia digitata (Kljuykov) M.F.Watson

Sinodielsia digitata Kljuykov

Plant 8–45cm high. Basal leaves 9–11(–23) x 4–7(–9)cm (including petiole); ultimate segments (1.5–)2–6 x 0.3–0.4(–0.5)mm; petiole 2–6cm, sheathing base 3–5mm wide. Umbels 5–6(–7)-rayed, ray and pedicels sometimes minutely papillose puberulent; rays 1.2–4.6cm; bracts and bracteoles 2.5–5mm; pedicels 1–1.5mm in flower, elongating to 4mm in fruit. Calyx teeth unequal, the longest about equalling the stylopodium, 0.5–1mm. Petals yellow, c 1mm. Fruit 2.5–3 x 1.5–2mm.

Bhutan: S—Deothang district (Keri Gompa); C—Thimphu district (Chutang, Guljekha, Paga, Thimphu).

Ecology: Open areas in scrubland, dry turf, rocky ground, open coniferous forest, etc. 2000–2600m.
Flowers July–September.

Illustration [Fig. 49 a-d]

Specimen List [15130]

Note: M. digitata is endemic to Bhutan. The white-flowered Nepalese species, M. achilleifolia (DC.) P.K.Mukherjee & Constance, has been recorded in the literature for Bhutan, but no voucher specimens have been found. Apart from flower colour, this species also differs from M. digitata in its 7–16-rayed umbels, and coarser leaves.

Page developed and maintained by Mark Watson