| Abstract: | The classification of Kobresia fragilis C. B. Clarke and related taxa were studied based
on gross morphology and nutlet epidermal micromorphology. About 13 names have been involved in
the species group. They could not be clearly defined using the morphological characters employed by
previous authors. Thus, more than 200 sheets of 89 specimens of related taxa were studied thoroughly, and the taxonomic significance of morpbological characters was re-evaluated. In order to further
understand the classification of K. fragilis and its allies, micromorphology of nutlet epidermis of
these taxa was observed under scanning electron microscope. Based on the results, K. curvata C.
B. Clarke and K. fragilis were recognized. Other names were treated as synonymies of K. fragilis. K. clarkeana (Kükenthal) Kükenthal, K. clarkeana var. megalantha Kükenthal and K.
curticeps (C. B. Clarke) Kükenthal var. gyirongensis Y. C. Yang were reduced to new synonymies of K. fragilis. K. curvata was distinct from K. fragilis on both morphological and micromorphological basis. One specimen of K. fragilis collected from Luqu, Gansu, China, represents anew distribution record of this species in Gansu. |
