Plant Diversity ›› 2009, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (02): 97-116.DOI: 10.3724 SP.J.1143.2009.08131

• Articles •     Next Articles

A New System of Ligustrum (Oleaceae)

QIN Xiang-Kun   

  1. Herbarium, Shanghai Museum of Natural History ( Shanghai Science and Technology Museum) , Shanghai 200231 , China
  • Received:2008-06-25 Online:2009-04-25 Published:2009-04-25
  • Contact: QIN Xiang-Kun

Abstract:

Based on an extensive examination of specimens of 48 taxa in the genus Ligustrum, it was found that four types of seeds could be divided: 1) sphaercular, 2) compressed ellipsoidal, 3) compressed ovoid , and 4) crescent-shape with two channels on the back . There is a close relationship between the form of seeds and the type of fruit . Thus, a new infrageneric
system of Ligustrum is proposed based on the morphology of seeds and endocarps . In addition , L. xingrenense is regarded as a subspecies of L. nepalense; L. longipedicellatum and L. yunguiense are treated as synonyms of L. lianum; L. longitubum and L. robustum subsp . chinense are synonyms of L. leucanthum and L. expansum respectively . L. robustum only occured in India , Burma and Sri Lanka but not in China . The records of L. robustum in China are based on misidetifications of L. expansum .

Key words: Ligustrum

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