Systematic Studies of Asian Saussurea (Asteraceae) II. Two New Species from Aomori Prefecture, Northern Japan

Abstract

Two new species of Saussurea (Asteraceae) are described from Aomori Pref., northern Japan. S. hosoiana Kadota (sect. Rosulascentes) is described from Rokkasho-mura, Shimokita zone. S. hosoiana is akin to S. diamantiaca Nakai, however, the former differs in having a leafy, winged stem, several corymbs or spike-like racemes with short peduncles, thick, coriaceous, glossy, broadly ovate, leaf blades glabrous beneath. S. hosoiana grows under a sparse Pinus densiflora grove located near the Pacific Ocean. S. neichiana Kadota is described from Hachinohe, Sanpachi zone. S. neichiana is similar to S. sugimurae Honda, however, the former is distinguished from the latter by having 8-seriate, ascending at an acute angle to adpressed involucral phyllaries, narrowly ovate, acute outer involucral phyllaries, well developed, sometimes coarsely toothed stem wing and thick and coriaceous leaf blades. S. neichiana occurs in maritime, windy grassland facing also the Pacific Ocean.