Taxonomic study of the Sino-Himalayan and Sino-Japanese species of section Sinarisaema Nakai

by Guy Gusman

Bulletin of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium, 67: 217-229 (31-3-1999)

Characteristics

1. The species is non-stoloniferous (0) or stoloniferous (1).
2. The fruiting peduncle, at maturity, is nodding (0) or erect (1).
3. When the leaf unfolds, the central leaflet is turned upwards (0) or downwards (1).
4. The leaflets are filiform at the apex (0) or not (1).
5. The pseudostem is nearly the size of the petiole (0) or much shorter (1).
6. The spadix-appendix is present (0) or absent/extremeely short (1).
7. The spathe-limb is distinctly wider than the tube (0) or not (1).

Species/Characters	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
A. consanguineum	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
A. formosanum	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
A. taiwanense	0	0	1	0	1	0	0
A. echinatum	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
A. ciliatum	1	0	0	1	0	0	0
A. fraternum	1	1	0	1	0	0	0
A. concinnum	1	1	0	1	0	0	1
A. exappendiculatum	1	1	0	1	0	1	1

Proposed Key

1a. Non-stoloniferous species

2a. Pseudostem nearly the size of the petiole; central leaflet turned upwards when leaf unfolding; leaflets usually with long threads at apex.

3a. Spathe-limb wider than the tube; distribution: Asia, from W. Himalaya to C. and S. China.

3b. Spathe-limb in the prolongation of the tube, distribution: Taiwan. 

2. Pseudostem much shorter than the petiole. 

4. Central leaflet turned downwards when leaves unfold; leaflets usually with long threads at apex; distribution: Taiwan.

4. Central leaflet turned upwards when leaf unfurls; distribution: Himalaya.

1b.Stoloniferous habit

5a. Spadix-appendix slightly exserted from the tube
6a. Nodding fruiting peduncle; distribution: Continental China 
A. ciliatum 

6b. Erect fruiting peduncle; short ovate and acute spathe-limb; distribution: Meghalaya, India.

A. fraternum

6c. Erect fruiting peduncle; long and acuminate spathe-limb; distribution: Himalaya

A. concinnum

5b. Spadix-appendix extremely short or absent, erect fruiting peduncle; distribution: Himalaya