Key to Orobanchaceae in Mongolia

1. Corolla tubular-campanulate to funnelform, lobes subequal. Cistanche
– Corolla bilabiate, lobes unequal. 2.
2. Bracteoles 2 under or attached the calyx. Calyx cylindrical or campanulate with 4-5 teeth. Stem branched or simple. Corolla distinctly constricted above the ovary and gradually widen to the seam. Style mostly falls off. Capsule usually top opening. 2n = 24. Phelipanche (in Mongolia only Ph. caesia)
– Bracteoles absent. Calyx divided into 2 lateral, entire or divided segments. Stem simple. Corolla widen from the base. Style mostly persistent. Capsule usually lateral opening. 2n = 38. Orobanche
Cistanche
1. Bracts, bracteoles and calyx lobes glabrous or subglabrous. Corolla 30-40 mm, pale yellow-white or pale purple. Anthers sharp acuminate or apiculate-mucronate. Cistanche deserticola
– Bracts, bracteoles and calyx ± hairy or arachnoideous-lanate. Corolla-seam violet. Anthers abruptly mucronate. 2.
2. Calyx lobes ca. as well long as brood, ovate to subrounded (sometimes sparse hairy and denticulate). Corolla 25-37 mm, white, the seam violet. Cistanche salsa
– Calyx irregularly 5-parted, lobes unequal, acuminate. Corolla (25) 32-38 mm, yellow, becoming pale brown when dry, lobes brown-yellow when dry. Cistanche lanzhouensis
Orobanche
1. Inflorescences whitish arachnoid-villous. 2.
– Inflorescences glandular-pubescent, rarely sparsely villous. 3.
2. Flowers from whitish base light blue or blue-violet (very rare purple). Orobanche coerulescens
– Flowers white. Orobanche korshinsky
3. Corolla tubular or tubular-campanulate, slightly constricted below middle and above attachment of filaments, mostly from whitish base bluish or violet at seam; upper corolla lip 2-lobed or emarginate; filaments inserted 5-8(-12) mm above corolla base. Hosts: Artemisia L. 4.
– Corolla campanulate or tubular-campanulate, not constricted below middle, curved, pale yellow; upper corolla lip entire or emarginate; filaments inserted 1.5-6(-7) mm above corolla base. Host: Thalictrum L. Orobanche krylowi
4. Anthers densely villous along suture. Corolla mostly white-yellowish, at constriction ± geniculate. Stigma yellow, mostly stand out from the mouth of the corolla. Orobanche pycnostachya
– Anthers glabrous or slightly villous near base. Stigma white, not outstanding. 5.
5. Corolla 10-22 mm, strongly curved, becoming conspiciously inflated, pale yellowish to violet, darker bluish or violet at the seam, lobes small. Anthers glabrous, rarely subglabrous. Orobanche cernua var. cumana
– Corolla 20-25 mm, slightly curved, at constriction something geniculate, not inflated, from whitish base dark blue or blue-purple, lobes large. Anthers villous near the base, rarely subglabrous. Orobanche amoena

Created by: H. Uhlich
© Copyright: Reproduction and publication of this key to Orobanchaceae in Mongolia in words and pictures is allowed with written permission of copyright holder. Data may be used for research and teaching purposes if copyright holder is mentioned.

Differentiating features of Stipa capillata group in Mongolia

Table of used features in Stipa capillata group (FC: Flora of China Vol. 22, 2006; Grubov: Grubov 1996)

feature S. capillata S. baicalensis S. sareptana S. krylovii
leaf blades outside slightly scabrous glabrous scabrous glabrous
ligules of leaves on vegetative shoots (mm) 0.6-2.5 0.1-0.5 „0.1-0.5 after Grubov (in FC 2-10 mm, according to both: basal and calm leaves)“ 0.3-0.5
ligules of culm leaves (mm); lower ligules shorter than upper ones 3-10 1.5-2 5-7 (10) 2-3 (5)
glumes (mm) 2.5-4.5 2.5-3.5 1.5-2.5 1.5-2.5
lemma (mm) 10-12 often 10-11 measured (instead of 12-15 in FC & Grubov) 9-11 9-11.5
pappus (corona) of awn base missing present present present
awn (cm) 10-19 13-18 10-15 10-15
cm to first bend 3-10 3-4.5 1.5-2.5 (3.7) 1.5-3.0 (3.5)

In Mongolia 4 species belong to the Stipa capillata group. All have glabrous awns or awns with up to 0.8 mm long hairs only. The differentiating characters are summarized in the table, but a lot of intermediate specimens occur. The determination is also complicated by differences in the delimitation of the species within the relevant floras. Further studies are necessary to clear the taxonomic situation within the group.

data compiled by: S. Rilke

Differentiating features of Stipa-species with plumose awns in Mongolia

Table of used features in Stipa-species with plumose awns (hairs longer than 0.8 mm)

feature leaf blades outside ligule of vegetative shoots (mm) glumes (mm) lemma (mm) awn (cm) awn geniculate* awn hairs above bend
S. breviflora smooth 0.2-0.4, very short Grubov 1982: 8-12, Flora of China: 12-20 (5)6-8, apex spinulose 5.5-6.2 pilose throughout length (once or*) twice 1-1.5 mm
S. orientalis strongly scabrous 1-3 15-25 5-8 5-7 pilose throughout length twice 2.5-4( 5), shorten in length toward apex
S. glareosa scabrous (sometimes also glabrous) up to 0.5, densely pilose (19)20-35 7.5-8(9) 4.5-7 pilose throughout length once 3-5 mm, shorten in length toward apex
S. caucasica usually smooth up to 5 35-40 9-12 7-14 pilose throughout length once 3-5 mm, shorten in length toward apex
S. mongolorum smooth or almost so up to 6 14-19 6-7.5 4.5-6.5 pilose throughout length once 2-3.5 mm, shorten in length toward apex
S. gobica scabrous 0.2-0.6, long pilose 18-27 7-9 6-8 awn below bend glabrous once -3 mm (rarely up to 5)
S. klemenzii glabrous 0.2-0.6, long pilose 25-35 (40) 9-11 (7.5)9.5-13 awn below bend glabrous once -6.5 mm
S. rubens scabrous 0.5-3, glabrous no declaration 16-19 25-40 awn below bend glabrous twice
S. kirghisorum 0.5-3, glabrous 20-25 awn below bend glabrous twice
S. pennata 0.5-3, glabrous 20-40 awn below bend glabrous twice

* awn once or twice geniculate is sometimes not an accurate or properly applied attribute because it is often difficult to recognize

data compiled by: S. Rilke

Differentiating features of Carex sg. Vignea N2 spikes m/f in Mongolia

Carex sg. Vignea N2 spikes m/f

– Flora Sibirica 3: 77ff): sections Boernera, Holarrhenae & Incurvae

Content:

  • C. curaica
  • C. pseudocuraica
  • C. enervis
  • C. pseudofoetida
  • C. reptabunda
  • C. sajanensis
  • C. duriuscula
  • C. stenophylla
  • C. stenophylloides
Species C. curaica C. pseudocuraica
Kunth Fr. Schmidt
Syn.
Sect. Holarrhenae Holarrhenae
Flora Sibirica 3:page 77 79
Grubov 102 –
Stigmas N2 N2
Spikes upper/lower m/f, often m/f/m m/f, often m/f/m
Descr. Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, habit slightly similar to C. disticha, middle spiklets also sometimes purely staminate, but rarely leafy strap-like shoots Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, sometimes upper ones entirely staminate, habit slightly similar to C. disticha, with leafy strap-like shoots
growth creeping with long, thick rhizomes, shoots solitary or in fascicles, but distant creeping with long, thick rhizomes, shoots distant and solitary
habitat bogs & mires bogs & mires
rhizome 2.5-3.5 mm diam., bark thick, never crumbling 2.5-5.0 mm diam., bark thick, never crumbling
stems triangular, scabrous, 1.5-2 mm diam, 20-50 cm tall
sheaths brown, usually entire
leaves flat, 3-5(-7) mm wide narrow, 1-1.5 mm wide
inflo 1.5-3 cm long, compact 1.5-3 cm long, compact
perigynia 3-3.5 mm long, elongate-ovate, with 5-7 prominent costate veins, light straw-coloured, somewhat nitid, beak membraneous at the tip, not divided light coloured, broadly lanceolate, gradually narroweed and with narroww crenate wings, spongy tissue at base, nearly undivided short beak
glumes cinnamon to brown, narrow light-coloured margin, shorter than perigynium cinnamon, broad light-coloured margin, broadly lanceolate, as long or longer than perigynium
nut wholly filling perigynium wholly filling perigynium

 

Species C. enervis C. pseudofoetida C. reptabunda C. sajanensis
C.A. Meyer Kük. (Trautv.) V.Krecz. V.Krecz.
Sect. Incurvae Incurvae Incurvae Incurvae
Flora Sibirica 3:page 80 81 81 82
Grubov 102 102 102 102
Stigmas N2 N2 N2 N2
Spikes upper/lower m/f -> m//f m/f -> m//f m/f -> m//f m/f -> m//f
Descr. Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, often upper spikes purely staminate, lower purely pistillate Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, often upper spikes purely staminate, lower purely pistillate Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, often upper spikes purely staminate, lower purely pistillate Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, often upper spikes purely staminate, lower purely pistillate
growth creeping with long, rather thick rhizomes, shoots usually solitary creeping with long, rather thick rhizomes, shoots usually solitary creeping with long, rather thick rhizomes, shoots usually solitary creeping with long, rather thick rhizomes, shoots usually solitary
habitat bogs & mires bogs & mires bogs & mires bogs & mires
rhizome 1.5-2.0 mm diam., bark peeling off when dry, often crumbling 1-3 mm diam., bark peeling off when dry, often crumbling 1-2 mm diam., bark peeling off when dry, often crumbling 2.5-5.0 mm diam., bark peeling off when dry, often crumbling
stems triangular, scabrous above, 10-45 mm tall nearly cylindical, hollow, 2-2.5 mm diam, smooth nearly cylindical, solid, 0.8-1.3 mm diam., 15-60 mm tall, smooth but scabrous above nearly cylindical, solid, 0.8-1.3 mm diam., 5-20 mm tall
sheaths
leaves flat, 0.5-2.5 mm wide flattened, 2-4 mm wide folded, 1-2 mm wide folded, 1-2 mm wide
inflo 1-2 cm long, ovate 1-2 cm long 0.5-1.5 cm long 0.5-1.5 cm long
perigynia 3-4 mm long, not inflated, flat-convex, ovate to narrowly ovate, with scabrous margins and beak, brown 3.5-4.5 mm long, inflated, biconvex, abruptly narrowed into smooth or slightly biconvex beak, veins indistinct or lacking, nitid, brown 3.5-4.0 mm long, inflated, biconvex, with smooth or slightly biconvex beak, veins indistinct 3.0-3.5 mm long, inflated, biconvex, gently narrowed into smooth or slightly biconvex beak, indistinct veins in lower part
glumes brown or dark brown, acute, nearly as long as perigynia dark chestnut cinnamon, acute, slightly shorter than perigynia, brown, with light-coloured margin, slightly shorter than perigynia
nut not wholly filling perigynium not wholly filling perigynium not wholly filling perigynium not wholly filling perigynium

 

Species C. duriuscula C. stenophylla C. stenophylloides
C.A. Meyer Wahlenb. s.str. V.Krecz
Syn. C. stenophylla ssp. stenophylloides
(V.Krecz.) Egor.
Sect. Boernera Boernera Boernera
Flora Sibirica 3:page 62 63 63
Grubov 101 – 101
Stigmas N2 N2 N2
Spikes upper/lower m/f m/f m/f
Descr. Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, long-ovate inflorescence Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, long-ovate inflorescence Sg. Vignea, spikes with male flowers on top, female flowers below, long-ovate inflorescence
growth creeping with long, thin rhizomes, shoots in fascicles creeping with long, thin rhizomes, shoots in fascicles, young roots gray creeping with long, thin rhizomes, shoots in fascicles, young roots cinnamon
habitat steppe steppe steppe
rhizome 1.0(-1.5) mm diam., bark thin, ttached, not crumbling 1.0-1.5 mm diam., bark thin, attached, not crumbling 1.0-1.5 mm diam., bark thin, attached, not crumbling
stems 5-15 cm tall obtusely triangular, scabrous to nearly smooth above, 10-40 mm tall obtusely triangular, nearly smooth, 10-40 mm tall
sheaths fibrous, gray nearly entire, dark brown entire to slightly fibrous, ash brown
leaves setaceous, 0.8-1.8 mm wide folded, (0.7-)1.5-2.5 mm wide folded, 2-3 mm wide
inflo 0.5-1.5 cm long 1.5-2.5 cm long 1.5-2.5 cm long
perigynia 2.5-3 mm long, not inflated, broad-ovate, abruptly narrowed into a short beak, no veins, coriaceous, somewhat nitid 3.5-4.5 mm long, broadly ovate, cinnamon, nitid, with veins, gradually narrowd into short, slightly scabrous beak 4-4.5 mm long, gradually narrowed into short, slightly scabrous beak, with veins
glumes ovate to subacute, cinnamon, with very narrow whitish margin, as long or shorter than perigynia ovate to subacute, cinnamon, with very narrow whitish margin, as long or shorter than perigynia ovate to subacute, cinnamon, with broad whitish margin, as long or shorter than perigynia
nut wholly filling perigynium wholly filling perigynium wholly filling perigynium

data compiled by: M. Schnittler

Differentiating features of studied Tamarix in Mongolia

Taxonomically, Tamarix is one of the most difficult genera among the Angiosperms (Baum 1978). Some reasons are that Tamarix species show few distinctive external features, dissections of the tiny flowers are often indispensable, and the androecium provides the most important distinguishing features but the interpretation needs some experience.

The character of the inflorescence (whether they are terminal/aestival or lateral/vernal) is of no diagnostic value. Unfortunately, it is used as a principal key feature until recently. In addition, the specification concerning length and proportions of racemes and flowers of most Tamarix species are varying in relevant literature. Therefore serious identification is hard if not impossible. In this account only flowering material was determined using the monograph of Baum (1978).

For Central-Asia, a monographic treatment of the genus is necessary to clear the number of species within the Mongolian territory. In this account only three species are differentiated. Moreover, the important features after Baum 1978 are tabulated.

Features of studied Tamarix
species according to Baum (1978); FC: according Flora of China

Tamarix leaves mm racemes cm x mm bracts flowers petals mm disk’s/ filaments
T. arceuthoides 1-2.5 1.5-5 x 3-4 as long as pedicels, pedicels < calyx 5 merous, FC: completely open, caducouse 1-1.5 thin, between disk lobes
T. leptostachya 2-3 clasping 7-15 x 3 dense longer than pedicels, pedicels = calyx, in lower part denticulate 5 merous, FC: deciduous 1.5 broadened, at apex of disk lobes
T. ramosissima 1.5-3.5 1.5-7 x 3-4 longer than pedicels, pedicels < calyx, in lower part denticulate 5 merous, persistent 1-1.75 thin, between emarginated disk lobes
T. elongata 1.5-3 6-9(13) x 7-8 longer than pedicels, pedicels =/> calyx, in lower part denticulate, narrowly triangular 4 merous, caducouse 2.5-3 broadened, rising at apex of disk lobes

data compiled by: S. Rilke

Differentiating features of Sympegma regelii and Salsola arbuscula (vegetative plants) in Mongolia

 

Sympegma regelii Salsola arbuscula
leaf type C 3 C 4
leaf anatomie complex peripheral chlorenchyma,
without Kranz issues;
secondary bundles hidden deep in the axis 		concentric peripheral chlorenchyma
leaf apex less pungent pungent
leaves delicate robust
leave base trend to build a pulvinus pulvinus obvious
branching erect nearly rectangular, squarrose
annual shoots longitudinal striped slightly longitudinal striped

data compiled by: S. Rilke

Differentiating features of Pulsatilla in Mongolia

species blades of radical leaves leaf lobes flowers perianth segments achene awns
P. flavescens palmatisect oblong cuneate yellow, erect wide open 2.5-3.5 cm long 25-35 mm long
P. multifida* palmatisect linear, segments 1-3 mm wide blue-violet, erect wide open 25-35 mm long
P. bungeana 2 x pinnatisected, in outline oblong linear-lanceolate or oblong bluish-violet, half open, narrow campanulate, erect narrow, 12-15 mm long 15-20 mm long
P. bungeana var. astragalifolia once pinnate rhombic trifid narrow, 10-15 mm long
P. tenuiloba 3 x pinnatisected, in outline oblong narrow-linear, acute, short violet, broadly campanulate 20-33 mm long 15-20(30) mm long
P. turczaninovii 3 x pinnatisected, in outline ovate lanceolate bluish-violet, half open 8-12 x 30-40 mm large, 2-3 times longer than stamens (25)40-50 mm long
P. ambigua 2 x pinnatisected, in outline ovate oblong or lanceolate dark violet, half open 25-35 mm long 25-30 mm long
P. campanella* 2 x pinnatisected, in outline ovate lanceolate somewhat obtuse violet-blue, drooping 25-35 mm long, slightly longer than stamens, at apex deflexed outward about 25 mm long

* no material seen

data compiled by: S. Rilke

Differentiating features of Suaeda in Mongolia

 

Character S. corniculata subsp. corniculata S. corniculata subsp. mongolica S. tuvinica S. sibirica
Growth form in normal conditions ascending or prostrate prostrate or ascending strictly prostrate strictly erect
Colour living plants fresh green or purplish fresh green or purplish bright green, shining glaucous or purplish
Colour dried plants blackish or purplish brown or blackish olive-green or brown dark brown or black
Branching loose, spreading loose, spreading loose, spreading loose to moderately dense, erect
Flowers per glomerulus 3-7(-17) 5-7(-9) 5-9 5-10(-15)
Leaves orientation (ascending to) spreading (ascending to) spreading spreading ascending
Leaves size in mm 10-40 x 1-2 10-30 x 1-1.5 10-25 x1.5-3 10-30 x 1-2
Leaves succulence ++ + – ++ +++ + – ++
Leaves apex obtuse to acutish obtuse to acutish obtuse acuminate to acutish
Seeds1 size2 in mm (0.8-)1.08(-1.35) x (0.7-) 0.92(-1.17) (0.85-)1.05(-1.25) x (0.7-)0.87(-1.0) (1.45-)1.64(-2.05) x (1.25-)1.4(-1.6) (1.15-)1.39(-1.65) x (1.0-)1.2(-1.45)
Seeds surface3 distinctly sculptured distinctly sculptured distinctly sculptured obscurely sculptured
2n = 54 (36) 36 54 72

1 The data refer to regular seeds which are lens-shaped and furnished with a hard, blackish testa; be careful to avoid the larger, disc-shaped seeds with a thin, brownish testa.

2 Minimum, mean and maximum values are given, based on n=100 seeds except for S. tuvinica (n=56) and S. arctica (n=20). For the measurements, 10 seeds per plant were randomly selected, and the plants were chosen to represent the total geographical distribution. The data for S. pannonica are overtaken from Freitag et al. (1996).
3 See also SEM micrographs in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1: Fruiting branches and fruits (with tepals) in species of the Suaeda corniculata group
A: S. corniculata subsp. corniculata (from M. Lomonosova 241, NS);
B: S. corniculata subsp. mongolica (from the holotype);
C: S. tuvinica (from the holotype);
D: S. kulundensis (from V. Golub 762, NS (cultivated in Novosibirsk in 2006);
E: S. sibirica (from the holotype). 1 = fruiting branch (scale: 1cm), 2 = fruits (scale: 1mm).
Drawings by N. Prijdak.

data compiled by: H. Freitag & S. Rilke

Differentiating features of Caragana in Mongolia


C. pygmaea C. leucophloea C. stenophylla
shrub/ height to 0.50 cm up to 1.5 m to 0.80 m
bark bright golden pale yellow brownish-greyish-green
leaflets mostly grayish pubescent
linear-lanceolate 		glabrous beneath
narrowly obovate 		glabrous beneath
linear-lanceolate to linear
ovary densely pubescent glabrous or appressed pubescent glabrous
legume/length pubescent when young, 2-3 cm glabrous, 3-3.5 cm glabrous, 2-2.5 cm
unguis of wing ~ 1/3 as long as limb ~ 1/3 as long as limb ~ 1/2 as long as limb
auricle of unguis short ~ 2/3 as long as unguis ~ 1/4-1/2 as long as unguis

data compiled by: S. Rilke & S. Starke

Differentiating features of Hemerocallis in Mongolia

H. lilio-asphodelus H. minor
Leaves 5-15 mm wide 3-8 mm wide
Inflorescence branched,
3-8 flowered 		simple,
2-5 flowered
Bracts herbaceous,
lanceolate-subulate 		scarious,
ovate
Perianth lemon yellow yellow or orange
Corollatube 2-3 cm long 1.5-2 cm long

data compiled by: S. Rilke