Taxonomical Study Of The Genus Silene (Caryophyllaceae) In Hengduan Mountains And Yunnan Plateau

The genus Silene L.is the largest genus of Caryophyllaceae,which are mainly distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.It has high horticultural,medicinal and ecological value.The taxonomical study of Silene in Hengduan Mountains and Yunnan Plateau is not sufficient,and there are many problems in the taxonomy of the genus.Therefore,conducting a comprehensive revision of this genus is very necessary.In this study,Silene in Hengduan Mountains-Yunnan plateau area had been taxonomically revised,and the seed morphology of some species of the genus was analyzed and compared.This study was based on classic morphological and phytogeographical patterns,and the morphological comparisons were based on specimens in herbaria and observations of wild populations.The main conclusions of this study are as follows:1.Based on herbarium study and field observation,it is basically determined that the characteristics of flowers and inflorescence are most stable in the taxonomy of Silene in Hengduan Mountains-Yunnan plateau area,and seed is another useful characteristic;moreover the taxonomic value of habit,leaf and hairs is varied in different species.2.The seed micro-morphology of 32 species,1 varieties and 1 subspecies in Hengduan Mountains-Yunnan plateau area was the first time analyzed and described systematically.3.Some of the Silene species distributed in Hengduan Mountains-Yunnan plateau area have been revised as follows:(1)The classification of Silene longiuscula C.Y.Wu &C.L.Tang has been clarified in this study.(2)The classification of Silene flavovirens C.Y.Wu has been clarified in this study.(3)This study suggests that Silene viscidula Franchet should be as a synonym of Silene phoenicodonta Franchet,and the classification of Silene lankongensis Franchet has been clarified.(4)The classification of Silene salweenensis W.W.Sm.has been clarified in this study.(5)Initially clarifying the classification and defining the species of the complex group of Silene asclepiadea France.,and recognizing exist 3 species in this complex group,are Silene asclepiadeaFrance.,Silene szechuanensis F.N.Williams and Silene lutea Franchet4.In this study,there are 59 species,2 varieties and 1 subspecies in Hengduan Mountains-Yunnan plateau area.Among them 1 species belong to Sect.Conoimorpha,4 species to Sect.Longitubulosae,1 species to Sect.Suffruticosae,1 species to Sect.Spergulifoliae,2 species to Sect.Graminifoliae,16 species,2 varieties and 1 subspecies to Sect.Physolychnis,2 species to Sect.Apricae,11 species to Sect.Odontopetalae,21 species to Sect.Cucubaloideae.And the key to all taxa of Silene in Hengduan Mountains-Yunnan plateau area was presented in this paper.