Lappula deserticola var. longicalyx-a new synonym of Lappula balchaschensis (Boraginaceae) Author Liu, Dan-Hui 0000-0002-0195-1436 Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China & liudanhui @ mail. bnu. edu. cn; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 0195 - 1436 liudanhui@mail.bnu.edu.cn Author He, Yi 0000-0002-6925-7299 Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China & heyi @ bnu. edu. cn; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 6925 - 7299 heyi@bnu.edu.cn Author Liu, Quan-Ru 0000-0003-4270-4746 Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China & liuquanru @ bnu. edu. cn; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0003 - 4270 - 4746 liuquanru@bnu.edu.cn text Phytotaxa 2022 2022-10-13 568 2 237 240 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.568.2.9 journal article 165029 10.11646/phytotaxa.568.2.9 f6ae0825-80f3-45e6-9fc4-fd4813691396 1179-3163 7192957 Lappula balchaschensis Popov ex Golosk. (1975: 73) . Type :— KAZAKHSTAN . Balkhash , 13 June 1934 , M. Popov 7073 ( holotype AA, not seen, isotype MW0594314!) = Lappula deserticola var. longicalyx X.M. Pi & Z.J. Wang ( Wang & Pi 1997: 67 ). syn. nov. Type :— CHINA , Xinjiang , Urumqi to Dabancheng , 1100 m , 27 May 1989 , J.C. Zhao G-001 ( holotype XJU00016493B!) Distribution and habitat: — Lappula balchaschensis is distributed in Kazakhstan , China , Mongolia and Russia ( Goloskokov 1964 , Ovczinnikova 2009 , 2019). This species grows on the Gobi Desert at altitudes of 300–1200 m above sea level. Phenology: —Flowering and fruiting from May to September. Taxonomic notes: — Wang (1981) pointed out that the length of calyx and marginal glochids of nutlet were essential to identify L. balchaschensis and L. deserticola . Based on thorough examination of specimens and field investigations, we found that the length of marginal glochids was not useful to clarify these two species, because this character was quite variable within population for L. balchaschensis . We also carefully observed the nutlet morphology of L. deserticola , and the nutlets of this species were heteromorphic ( Fig. 2 ). Based on morphological comparisons, we considered that the features of nutlet margins may be more critical than the length of marginal glochids for identification of L. balchaschensis and L. deserticola . Additional specimens examined: — CHINA . Xinjiang : Alashankou , 15 May 2020 , D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ048 (BNU); Karamay, 15 May 2020 , D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ115 (BNU); Turpan, 14 June 1958 , A.R. Li & J.N. Zhu , 05609 (PE); Fuyun county , 19 August 1992 , Z.W. Li CQ-460 (XJBI); Urumqi, 3 July 2020 , D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ206 (BNU) , Gansu : Jiayuguan , 26 May 2020 , D.H. Liu BNU2020XJ211 (BNU), Zhangye , 6 July 2020 , D.H. Liu BNU2020GS036 (BNU) . MONGOLIA . Khovd aimag : Mankhan , 19 June 2004 , A.Y. Korolyuk s.n. (NSK) ; Uvs aimag : Khyargas , 7 September 1984 , I.A. Gubanov 9388 (MW) ; Govi-Altai : Zaaltai Gobi , 1 August 1978 , I.A. Gubanov 2639 (MW) ; Khovd province : Dzungarian Gobi , 2 September 1983 , I.A. Gubanov 8168 (MW). Russia. Tuva Republic , 12 September 1946 , A. Schroeter 2193 (MW0119033, the middle one) .