A new species of Atriplex (Amaranthaceae) from the Indian subcontinent

Alexander P Sukhorukov; Nidhan Singh; Maria Kushunina; Maxim A Zaika; Alexander N Sennikov

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.229.105162

A new species of Atriplex (Amaranthaceae) from the Indian subcontinent

PhytoKeys. 2023 Jul 27:229:167-183. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.229.105162. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Alexander P Sukhorukov^{1

2}, Nidhan Singh³, Maria Kushunina^{2

4}, Maxim A Zaika^{1

2}, Alexander N Sennikov⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Higher Plants, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1/12, Moscow, 119234, Russia Moscow State University Moscow Russia.
² Laboratory Herbarium (TK), Tomsk State University, Lenin Ave. 36, Tomsk, 634050, Russia Tomsk State University Tomsk Russia.
³ Department of Botany, I.B. College, Panipat, Haryana-136021, India I.B. College Panipat India.
⁴ Department of Plant Physiology, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia.
⁵ Botanical Museum, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland.

Abstract

A new subshrubby C₄-species from the lowlands and foothills of India, Pakistan and SE Afghanistan, Atriplexpseudotatarica, is described and illustrated. Previously, it was incorrectly identified as A.crassifolia auct. non C.A.Mey. belonging to a distant C₃-group of the genus. A phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS and nrETS revealed its position as sister to A.schugnanica (sect. Obionopsis). Both species share aphyllous inflorescence and smooth bract-like cover, but differ in life form, leaves, seed colour, and geographical distribution. We revised native Indian Atriplex species and excluded some of them from the flora of the country. An improved checklist of the native Atriplex species in India with their corrected synonymy and nomenclature is given, and a new diagnostic key is provided.

Keywords: Atriplex; Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae; Indian subcontinent; new species.

Alexander P. Sukhorukov, Nidhan Singh, Maria Kushunina, Maxim A. Zaika, Alexander N. Sennikov.