Restoration of suaeda sect. Helicilla (Chenopodiaceae) and typification of its related taxa

Abstract

Suaeda glauca is separated off from sect. Schanginia and classified in the revived monotypic sect. Helicilla. Morphologically it is characterized by dimorphic fruits and seeds, with the fruits bearing flat seeds being strongly carinate and obconical, and the sub-spherical seeds of the globular fruits having a prominent honeycomb-like pattern caused by sunken lines above the anticlinal cell walls of the testa which are bordered by distinct narrow ridges that are unique in Suaeda. The separate position of S. glauca is also clearly confirmed in the ITS and the combined atpB-rbcL/psbB-psbH trees. For nomenclatural purposes, the synonymous names S. stauntonii and Helicilla altissima are lectotypified, while the typification of Salsola asparagoides is corrected. Finally the inclusion of sect. Macrosuaeda into sect. Salsina is advocated.