Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., Ser. B, 36(4), pp. 133–140, November 22, 2010

Four New Species of Himalayan Prunus Subgenus Cerasus(Rosaceae-Prunoideae)
Hideaki Ohba1,* and Shinobu Akiyama2
1

Department of Botany, University Museum, University of Tokyo,
Hongo 7–3–1, Tokyo, 113–0033 Japan2
Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science,
Amakubo 4–1–1, Tsukuba, 305–0005 Japan* E-mail: ohba@um.u-tokyo.ac.jp(Received 15 Aug. 2010; accepted 22 Sept. 2010)

Abstract Four new species of Prunus, P. topkegolensis H. Ohba & S. Akiyama, P. harae H. Ohba
& S. Akiyama, P. taplejungnica H. Ohba & S. Akiyama, and P. singalilaensis H. Ohba & S. Akiyama, are described from eastern Himalaya. The four new Prunus are similar to P. rufa and considered to belong to the same section. A key to distinguish the four new species and P. rufa is provided.
Key words : Bhutan, Cerasus, flora, Himalaya, Nepal, new species, Prunus.

During the preparation of the treatment for
Prunus (Rosaceae), sensu lato, for the Flora of
Nepal (Watson et al., 2007), we became aware offour novelties of flowering cherries in the Himalayan region. These novelties are considered
to be allies of Prunus rufa Hook. f., but different
from each other and from P. rufa and allied taxa
previously described from the Sino-Himalayan
region.
The Himalayan species of Prunus were studied
by Koehne (1913), Yü and Li (1986), Hara
(1962, 1968 and 1979) and others, however thetaxonomy of the genus is still insufficient, withnumerous uncertainties including range of variations within species. Koehne (1913) classified
Prunus rufa, along with P. campanulata Maxim.,
P. hosseusii Diels, P. cerasoides D. Don, and P.
trichantha Koehne, into section Pseudocerasus
subsection Puddum. Yü and Li (1986) moved allof them into section Serrula in the genus
Cerasus. The new species, P. topkegolensis closely approaches the Japanese P. incisa Franch. &Sav., which is characterized by doubly serrate
leaves and an urceolate calyx tube. Recently,
Kawasaki (1991) established a new section, In-cisae, of which the type is P. incisa. Except for P.
topkegolensis the affinities of the four new
species are uncertain. We like describe them as
independent species under such situations. Theyand Prunus rufa are distinguished by a combination of several leaf, flower and pubescence characters, as shown in the following key.
1a. Petals glabrous; hairs on lower surface ofleaf blade white or pale brown and straight
2a. Calyx tube urceolate; leaf blade ovate, margins sharply doubly serrateP. topkegolensis
2b. Calyx tube tubular; leaf blade lanceolate or
narrowly oblong, margins mostly with simple shallow serrations P. harae
1b. Petals sparsely pubescent; hairs on lower surface of leaf blade brown, crisped
3a. Calyx tube 11–15 mm long; leaf blade 2.8–5
cm wide P. rufa
3b. Calyx tube 7–10 mm long; leaf blade 0.8–2.7
cm wide4a. Calyx tube tubular-campanulate; leaf blade
2.6–5.10.8–2 cm; lower surface of leaf
blade with dense crisped brown hairs

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Hideaki Ohba and Shinobu AkiyamaP. taplejungnica
4b. Calyx tube tubular with slight constriction
near mouth; leaf blade 6.4–72.1–2.7 cm;
lower surface glabrous or with sparse brown
crisped and straight hairs P. singalilaesis
1) Prunus (subgen. Cerasus) topkegolensis H.
Ohba & S. Akiyama, sp. nov.
[Figs. 1, 5a, 6a]
Type: E Nepal. Topke Gola, 3700 m (H. Kanai,Fig. 1.

H. Ohashi, K. Iwatsuki, H. Ohba, Z. Iwatsuki, &P. R. Shakya 720610, 19 June 1972, holo-TI, isoTNS).
Differt ex Pruno rufa Hook. f. foliis profunde
duplo-incisissimis, utrinque glabriusculis exclusio veneris subtus modearato supra sparsim pilosis, flores solitari cum calycem tubo angusti-campanulato plusminusve constricto sub apicem.
Shrubs. Branches slender, spreading, those of

Prunus topkegolensis H. Ohba & S. Akiyama (H. Kanai et al., 720610, TI-holo).

Four New Species of Subgenus Cerasus in Himalaya

present year glabrous, greenish; those of former
years glabrous, pale reddish purple. Leaves petiolate; petiole 6–11 mm long; blade ovate to narrowly ovate, 4.2–6.62.1–3 cm at flowering, baserounded to cuneate, margins doubly serrate,
somewhat glandular at apex of serration, apex
acuminate, lower surface with sparse to moderate
white or pale brown straight hairs near base.
Flowers usually solitary. Pedicel ca. 13 mm long.
Calyx tube urceolate, ca. 7 mm long; lobes triangular-ovate, ca. 2.5 mm long, with sparse pale
brown crisped hairs, margins entire or serrate.
Petals white or faintly pink, erect at flowering,
suborbicular, ca. 5.53 mm, glabrous. Styleexerted, apically glabrous. Fruits and seeds
unknown.
Other specimen examined. E Nepal. Topke
Gola, [alt. 3700 m] (H. Kanai, H. Ohashi, K.
Iwatsuki, H. Ohba, Z. Iwatsuki, & P. R. Shakya
723384, TI).
Since preparing the flora of the Jaljale Himal(Ohba and Akiyama, 1992), we noticed this flowering cherry at Topke Gola in the most interior
village in the Mewakhola valley. It appears to bea shrub with numerous slender branches. The
leaves with their double sharp serrate margins,are similar to those of the Japanese Prunus incisa
Franch. & Sav.
Prunus topkegolensis differs from P. rufa inhaving deeply doubly serrate, glabrous leaves except for the pilose nerves on both surfaces, andsolitary relatively small flowers with an urceolate
calyx tube.
2) Prunus (subgen. Cerasus) harae H. Ohba &S. Akiyama, sp. nov.
[Figs. 2, 5b, 6b]
Type: Bhutan. Nala–Dou Lam Kengchow–
Tzatogang, 3100 m (H. Kanai, G. Murata, H.
Ohashi, O. Tanaka, & T. Yamazaki, 26 May
1967, holo & iso-TI).
Petalis glabris, pilis foliorum subtus ablibis vel
ferrugineusculis, et erectis ex Pruno rufa Hook.
f. statim dignoscenda. Ex affinitate Pruni topkegolensis H. Ohba & S. Akiyama tubo calycis
tubere, foliis lanceolatis vel anguste oblongis
margine non profunde serratis simplicibus bene

135

differt.
Small trees. Branches and branchlets many,
those of present year glabrous, greenish; those offormer years glabrous, pale reddish purple.
Leaves petiolate; petiole 6–12 mm long; blade
elliptic, 3.3–5.61.5–2.7 cm at flowering, baserounded to cuneate, margins serrate or sometimes doubly serrate, basal serrations, somewhat
glandular at apex apex acute to acuminate, lower
surface with sparse to moderate white or pale
brown straight hairs near base. Flowers usually 1
or 2. Peduncle obsolete, pedicels ca. 2–2.7 cm
long. Calyx tube 6–10 mm long; lobes triangularovate, 1.9–2.6 mm long, with sparse pale brownstraight hairs apically and densely so basally or
glabrous, margins serrate. Petals suborbicular,
5.1–7.82.7–5.9 mm, glabrous. Style exerted,basally pubescent, apically glabrous.
Other specimens examined. Bhutan. Tzatogang–Dotanang, 2500–3200 m (H. Hara, H.
Kanai, G. Murata, H. Ohashi, O. Tanaka, & T.
Yamazaki 21720, 27 May 1967, TI). W side ofThrumse La, W of Sengor 27 24 91 00, alt. ca.
3600 m (A. J. C. Grierson & D. G. Long 2573, 7
July 1979, TI).
Prunus harae is known only from Bhutan. The
specific epithet honors the late Professor Hiroshi
Hara of the University of Tokyo who organized aresearch team to study of the flora of Bhutan in1967 (Hara, 1971) and who collected this cherry.
3) Prunus (subgen. Cerasus) taplejungnica H.
Ohba & S. Akiyama, sp. nov.
[Figs. 3, 5c, 6c]
Type: E Nepal. Mechi Zone, Taplejung Distr.,
Chairam–Andha Phedi–Dorongden, 3520 m (S.
Noshiro, S. Akiyama, & N. Acharya 9261245,
holo-TI).
Pruno rufa Hook. f. tubo calycis 7–10 mmlongo, foliis ellipticis (non lanceolato ellipticoque obovatis) 0.8–2.7 cm latis differt. Ex affinitate Pruni singalilensis H. Ohba & S. Akiyama
foliis magnitudine 2.6–5.10.8–2 (non 6.4–7
2.1–2.7) cm, subtus dense pilis crispulis ferrugineis obtectis divergente.
Shrubs. Branches slender, spreading; those ofpresent year glabrous, greenish; those of former

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Hideaki Ohba and Shinobu Akiyama

Fig. 2.

Prunus harae H. Ohba & S. Akiyama (H. Kanai et al., 26 May 1967, TI-holo).

years glabrous, pale reddish purple. Leaves petiolate; petiole 4–14 mm long; blade elliptic, 2.6–
5.10.8–2 cm at flowering, base rounded tocuneate, margins serrate, with a gland at apex ofeach serration and one gland on margin on eitherside at base, apex acute to acuminate, lower surface with brown crisped dense hairs near base.
Flowers usually 1 or 2. Peduncle 1–2 mm long,

pedicels 0.5–2.8 cm long. Calyx tube tubularcampanulate, 7–10 mm long; lobes triangularovate, 2–4 mm long, with brown crisped dense
hairs, margins serrate. Petals white, suborbicular,
5–63–4 mm, with very sparse brown hairs.
Style exerted.
Other specimens examined. E Nepal. Mechi
Zone, Taplejung Distr., Topke Gola–Sewaden

Four New Species of Subgenus Cerasus in Himalaya

Fig. 3.

137

Prunus taplejungnica H. Ohba & S. Akiyama (S. Noshiro et al., 9261245, TI-holo).

(M. Suzuki, N. Acharya, S. Akiyama, H. Koba,
S. Noshiro, & K. R. Rajbhandari 9240136, 17
May 1992, TI); alt. 3290 m (M. Suzuki, N.
Acharya, S. Akiyama, H. Koba, S. Noshiro, & K.
R. Rajbhandari 9263087, 17 May 1992, TI);
Wolangchug Gola–Tamur-Yangma Khola junction–Cheni Kharka–Thasa Kharka, alt. 3240 m(M. Suzuki, N. Acharya, S. Akiyama, H. Koba,

S. Noshiro, & K. R. Rajbhandari 9263165, 29
May 1992, TI); Ghunsa–Charmalung–Kharka–
Rampuk Kharka–Ghunsa, alt. 3740 m (S. Noshiro, S. Akiyama, & N. Acarya 9263201, 7 June
1992, TI).
Prunus taplejungnica was collected in hilly
places around Taplejung, Taplejung District,Mechi Zone. The locality is geographically close

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Hideaki Ohba and Shinobu Akiyama

to the type locality of P. topkegolensis. The
leaves, elliptic and gradually narrowing towardboth ends and with conspicuously double serrated margins, distinguish it from P. topkegolensis
in shape and serration.
4) Prunus (subgen. Cerasus) singalilaensis H.
Ohba & S. Akiyama, sp. nov.
[Figs. 4, 5d, 6d]
Type: Darjeeling. Mts. Singalila, Ramam–Pha-

Fig. 4.

lut, 2400–3500 m (H. Kanai, G. Murata, M. Togashi, & T. Tuyama 6238, 9 May 1960, holo &iso-TI).
Differt ex Pruno rufa Hook. f. tubo calycis
7–10 mm longo, foliis ellipticis (non lanceolato
ellipticoque obovatis) 0.8–2.7 cm latis. Pruno taplejungnica H. Ohba & S. Akiyama foliis magnitudine 6.4–72.1–2.7 (non 0.6–5.10.8–2) cm,
subtus glabriis vel pilis et crispulis et erectis fer-

Prunus singalilaensis H. Ohba & S. Akiyama (H. Kanai et al., 6238, TI-holo).

Four New Species of Subgenus Cerasus in Himalaya

139

Fig. 5. Leaves at flowering. a: Prunus topkegolensis (H. Kanai et al., 720610, TI). b: P. harae (H. Kanai et al.,
26 May 1967, TI). c: P. taplejungnica (S. Noshiro et al., 9261245, TI). d: P. singalilaensis (H. Kanai et al.,6238, TI).

Fig. 6. Flowers. a: Prunus topkegolensis (H. Kanai et al., 720610, TI). b: P. harae (H. Kanai et al., 26 May
1967, TI). c: P. taplejungnica (S. Noshiro et al., 9261245, TI). d: P. singalilaensis (H. Kanai et al., 6238, TI).

rugineis sparse obtectis divergente.
Shrubs. Branches slender, spreading; those ofpresent year glabrous, greenish; those of former
years glabrous, pale reddish purple. Leaves petiolate; petiole 5–14 mm long; blade elliptic toovate-elliptic, 6.4–72.1–2.7 cm at flowering,base rounded to cuneate, margins serrate orsometimes doubly serrate, with a few glands on

margin at base, apex acuminate, lower surface
glabrous or with pale brown or brown straight orcrisped hairs near base. Flowers usually 1 or 2.
Peduncle obsolete, pedicels 5–19 mm long.
Calyx tube tubular with slight constriction nearmouth, 7–10 mm long; lobes triangular-ovate,
2–4 mm long, with pale brown straight or crisped
dense or sparse hairs basally or glabrous, margins

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Hideaki Ohba and Shinobu Akiyama

entire or slightly serrate. Petals suborbicular,
5–93–7 mm, glabrous or with very sparsebrown crisped or straight hairs. Style exerted,
glabrous apically, pubescent at middle.
Other specimens examined. Darjeeling. Sandakphu–Phalut, alt. 3300–3600 m (H. Hara 6269,
8 May 1960, TI). Ramam–Phalut, alt. 2400–3500
m (H. Kanai, G. Murata, M. Togashi, & T. Tuyama 6238, 9 May 1960, TI). West Bengal. Singalila Range, near Phalut, 11000 ft. (F. de Voss &E. G. Corbett 112, 12 May 1965, TI). Sikkim.
Gamoteng, alt. 3800 m (H. Hara, H. Kanai, G.
Murata, M. Togashi, & T. Tuyama 6276, 29 May
1960, TI). E Nepal. Arun Valley, Maghang
Khola, E of Num, 11000 ft. (J. D. A. Stainton
237, 5 May 1956, TI). Milke Banjgang, 8300 ft.
(C. R. Lancaster 3, 21 Apr. 1973, TI).
Prunus singalilaensis, collected in the Singalila Mountains around Phalut by several collectors, differs from the other species described
here, especially in the size of the leaves, whichreaches 7 cm in length and are shallowly singly
serrate. The flowers are similar to those of P.
taplejungnica in shape and size, but the calyx
tube is tubular or urceolate, never tubular-campanulate as in that species.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Dr. David E. Boufford, theHarvard University Herbaria, for reading themanuscript.
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