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Issue: Vol. 777 No. 2: 30 Sept. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-09-30
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.777.2.7
Page range: 175-184
Abstract views: 34
PDF downloaded: 2

Taxonomic status of Cirsium bolocephalum subsp. setschwanicum (Asteraceae), with its reinstatement as C. setschwanicum

Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing100049; China
Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China; Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China; Guangzhou 510650; China
Eudicots Compositae Cirsium morphology taxonomy Sichuan

Abstract

Based on a critical review of the literature, examination of herbarium specimens, and field investigations, we reassess the taxonomic status of Cirsium bolocephalum subsp. setschwanicum, which has long been treated as a synonym of C. eriophoroides. Our results demonstrate that it is morphologically distinct from C. eriophoroides; therefore, we remove it from the synonymy of the latter and reinstate it at species rank as C. setschwanicum. It differs from C. eriophoroides in having nodding capitula, inner phyllaries with spinose apices (vs. unarmed), white corollas (vs. purple), and a corolla tube approximately equal in length to the limb (vs. tube ca. 2/3 longer than the limb). Detailed photographs, a distribution map, and a morphological comparison with closely related species are provided.

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How to Cite

Jin, Z.-C. & Chen, Y.-S. (2026) Taxonomic status of Cirsium bolocephalum subsp. setschwanicum (Asteraceae), with its reinstatement as C. setschwanicum. Phytotaxa 777 (2): 175–184. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.777.2.7