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Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2012, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1): 4-9.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2012.01.002

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Taxonomic Status of Cephalotaxus alpina(Li) L.K.Fu(Cephalotaxaceae) in the Views of Morphological Characteristics of Seeds and Leaves

LANG Xue-Dong;SU Jian-Rong*;LU Shu-Gang;ZHANG Zhi-Jun;LI Shuai-Feng   

  1. 1.Research Institute of Resources Insects,Chinese Academy of Forestry,Kunming 650224; 2.College of Life Sciences,Yunnan University,Kunming 650091
  • Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2012-01-20 Published:2012-01-20
  • Contact: SU Jian-Rong
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Abstract: The significant differences in length, width, thickness, length/thickness ratio, and width/thickness ratio of seeds, as well as in length and width of leaves between Cephalotaxus alpina(Li) L.K.Fu and Cephalotaxus fortunei Hooker were shown in this study. The width range and mean of leaf of C.fortunei Hooker are 3.50-6.20 cm and 5.02 cm, respectively. In contrast, C.alpina(Li) L.K.Fu has only 2.00-3.50 cm and 2.89 cm. The range of seed width/thickness ratio and mean of C.fortunei Hooker are 0.53 and 1.43, respectively, while C.alpina(Li) L.K.Fu is 0.23 and 1.02, respectively. Scatter diagrams of C.alpina(Li) L.K.Fu and C.fortunei Hooker illustrated that the variations in leaves length, seeds length, seeds width, seeds thickness, seeds length/width ratio and seeds length/thickness ratio between these two taxa can not differ C.alpina(Li) L.K.Fu from C.fortunei Hooker, but the variation in leaves width and seeds width/thickness ratio can differ C.alpina(Li) L.K.Fu from C.fortunei Hooker notably. Based on these significant differences, we supported the view that Fu (1984) treated C.fortunei Hooker var. alpina H.L.Li as C.alpina(Li) L.K.Fu, and disagreed with the argument that Silba(2007) thought C.fortunei Hooker var. alpina Li as C.fortunei Hooker subsp. alpina(Li) Silba. On the other hand, there were evidences supporting that C.fortunei Hooker var. globosa S.Y.Hu(1964) should be the same taxon with C.alpina(Li) L.K.Fu. Finally, a new plates 1-6 was provided.

Key words: Cephalotaxus alpina(Li) L.K.Fu, taxonomic status, morphological characteristics, seeds, leaves, Cephalotaxaceae

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