China, Thibet oriental: Moupin [Baoxing], March 1869, David (P). China, Sichuan, Tianquan Xian, east side of mount Erlangshan 1700-2050 m, 26 April 1986, Naito et al, No 196 (PE).
Synonyms: Shibatheranthis
albiflora (Franch.) Nakai
Illustrations: missing
Eranthis albiflora was described by Adrien Franchet in the year
of 1885 from material collected in March 1869 by Armand David during his stay
in Mouping (now Baoxing) in western Sichuan, China. Striking is the fact that
the 1869 collection seems to be the only record of the species for the next 117
years. Next record is a specimen in Beijing (PE) collected by The Tohoku
University China Expedition in the year of 1986. By this reason Eranthis albiflora is one the most
unknown species in the genus. Present knowledge bases only on the original
collection of David from 1869 (P) and the more recent collection by Naito et al
from 1986 (PE). The diagnosis in Flora of China (Liangqian and Tamura 2001) is
basically a translation of Franchet’s description from 1885 (Franchet 1885) and
so are also the diagnosis in FRPS (1979). The 1986 collection made it possible
to fill in information about the tuber which is missing in Franchet 1885 and
FRPS 1979.
Eranthis
albiflora makes a perennial with globose tuber, 10 cm tall with five to six
bracts finely lobed and divided to the middle. In March small flowers (about 15
mm in diameter) appear with translucent white elliptic or oblong sepals
encircle four or five funnel-formed bifid petals resembling them in Eranthis byunsanensis. The flower has
ten stamens with linear filaments and orbicular anther followed later in spring
by four to five follicles each with three to four seeds.
Eranthis albiflora, Sichuan, Erlang Shan (photo Eric Wahlsteen)
Either FoC
2001, FRPS 1979 or Franchet 1885 illustrate the species why pictures of the
herbarium sheets have been the only source to recognize the species. On (P) a
small drawing probably prepared by Franchet illustrates the parts of the
flower, here reproduced after image processing.
Eranthis albiflora, Sichuan, Erlang Shan (photo Eric Wahlsteen)
.JPG)
Eranthis albiflora, narrow leaved form, Hailuogou, Sichuan, China (photo Eric Wahlsteen).
.JPG)
Eranthis albiflora, and narrow leaved form, Hailuogou, Sichuan, China (photo Eric Wahlsteen).
Description. Rhizome
tuberous globose circa 8 mm across, blackish brown with white roots. Basal leaves Leaf blade Involucre consists of five to six bracts. Bracts glabrous, tripartite with obovate-cuneate segments, parted
to middle, unequally lobed. Each lobe is linear with acute to obtuse apex. Pedicel short. Flower white, 1.2-1.5 cm across, shortly stalked. Sepals white, elliptic or oblong, obtuse
at apex. Petals 4 or 5
obcordate-funnelform, emarginate outside, bifid inside; stalks long,
subequaling blade. Filaments circa ten linear. Anthers orbicular. Style Follicles four
or five, sessile, narrowly oblong, 8-10 × 2.5-3 mm. Persistent style 3-5 mm. Seed three or four, flat-globose, 1.8-2
mm across, slightly lucid.
Distribution: China: western Sichuan recorded from
the counties of Baoxing and in Tianquan on the east side of Erlang Shan,
1700-2100 m.
Habitat. Recorded in grass at margin of mixed forests
and on alpine meadows.
Phenology. Flowering March, fruiting May.
Eranthis albiflora collected by David 1869 outside Baoxing, P.
Eranthis albiflora collected 1986 by The Tohoku University China Expedition (PE)
Eranthis albiflora colleted by Potanin 1893 showing a great variation within species (LE).
Drawing on the herbarium sheet of David illustrates the parts of the flower.
Distribution of Eranthis albiflora
