Flora of Bhutan Umbelliferae: Schulzia

Schulzia K.Sprengel Mark F. Watson

Small, nearly glabrous biennial or perennial herbs; stem not thickened, non-fibrous remains of leaves sometimes present at base. Leaves 2-pinnate, pinnae pinnatifid, ultimate segments linear-lanceolate, acute; petiole winged and sheathing at base. Umbels compound, compact, stem bearing one main terminal umbel with 1–2 lateral smaller secondary umbels; bracts when present like upper stem leaves; bracteoles characteristically deeply pinnately divided into linear acute segments. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals obovate, somewhat unequal, attenuate at base. Stylopodium rounded, slightly flattened, rugose in fruit. Fruit oblong, distinctly constricted below the stylopodium, mericarps subterete, slightly compressed laterally, ridges prominent but scarcely winged when mature.

Key to species

1	Ultimate leaf segments short, <5mm	*S. dissecta*
+	Ultimate leaf segments long, usually >7mm	*S. bhutanica*

Schulzia dissecta (C.B.Clarke) C.Norman

Trachydium dissectum C.B.Clarke.

Slender erect, single-stemmed herb 3–35cm tall, often suffused purple; stems sparingly branched, 0.75–2.5mm thick; thickened rootstock short, 5–20 x 3–5mm. Leaves 2–9 x 1.5–3cm, very finely dissected, ultimate segments 1–5 x 0.5–0.75mm; sheathing petiole base usually minutely papillose puberulent especially on the veins. Umbels 1–3cm across, 5–10-rayed; rays 0.8–2.5cm, minutely papillose pubescent at least at the ends, elongating slightly in fruit; bracts often absent or few, 1–2cm, early falling; umbellules densely flowered, 8–13mm across, pedicels2–7.5mm; bracteoles as long as or slightly longer than the flowers, margins minutely papillate. Petals white to purple. Stylopodium dark purple; styles cream or tinged purple. Fruit brown with pale ridges when mature, 2–3 x 0.75mm.

Bhutan: S—Sankosh district (Daga La); C—Thimphu district (Nya Tso, Shodu); N—Upper Mo Chu district (Gangyuel Chu).
Chumbi: Natu La to Champitang.
Sikkim: Khangchengyao, Thanggu.

Ecology: Moist, rather open habitats, river banks, moorland, dwarf Rhododendron scrub, rocky areas, alpine turf. 3680–4900m. Flowers August–October.

Specimen List [12706]

Schulzia bhutanica M.F.Watson

Very similar in flower and fruit structure to S. dissecta, but usually much less puberulent, and leaves larger with longer ultimate segments; plants 5–22cm high from rootstock, slightly larger than S. dissecta; leaves 4–12 x 1.5–4cm, with long filiform segments, ultimate segments (5–)7–17mm; flowers white.

Bhutan: S—Sankosh district (Daga La); C—Thimphu district (Phajoding to Dongshola, Tataka); N—Upper Mo Chu district (Lingshi).

World Distribution: Endemic to Bhutan.

Ecology: Moist to wet habitats: rocky areas in grassland, underhangs, stone walls. 3850–4100m. Flowers September–October.

Illustration

Specimen List [15133]

Note: This species prefers damper habitats to S. dissecta and flowers somewhat later.

Page developed and maintained by Mark Watson