Homostylium argyropholium var. niveum Z. X. Fu 2025, comb. nov.

2.2.Homostylium argyropholium var. niveum(Y. Ling) Z. X. Fu comb. nov. ≡ Aster argyropholis var. niveus Y. Ling, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 74: 358. 1985. ≡ Sinosidus argyropholis (Hand. - Mazz.) G. L. Nesom, Phytoneuron 2020-64: 13. 2020. Type: China, Sichuan, Lixian, alt. 2700 m, 8 July 1930, F. T. Wang 21626 (holotype, PE 00275069!) (Suppl. material 1: fig. S 26). Type. China • Sichuan, Lixian, alt. 2700 m, 8 July 1930, F. T. Wang 21626 (holotype, PE 00275069!) (Suppl. material 1: fig. S 26). Diagnosis. Leaves abaxially densely white tomentum, secondary veins abaxially not prominent, apex obtuse or rounded. Peduncles densely white tomentum. Involucres 4–5 mm. Phyllaries 4 - seriate. The leaves’ coloration could distinctly differentiate it from the other varieties. Distribution. China, W Sichuan (Jinchuan, Luding, Lixian, Barkam, Maoxian, Yanyuan), and NW Yunnan (Lijiang). Habitat. Subalpine. Etymology. The varietal name “ niveum ” is derived from the Latin “ nix ”, meaning “ snow ”, combined with the neuter suffix “ - eum ”. The name likely refers to its abaxial leaf and inflorescence peduncles densely covered in white tomentum. Specimens examined. China • Sichuan: Jinchuan, X. Li 77625 (PE); Luding, Anonymous 6828 (PE 01824233, CDBI 0141863, CDBI 0141864, CDBI 0141865); Barkam, P. X. Li 10061 (PE); Maoxian & Lixian, C. Ho & Z. L. Zhou 13058 (PE); Lixian, F. T. Wang 21626 (PE 00275069); • Yunnan: Lijiang, W. L. He & C. Y. Zhao 20344 (PE, KUN), R. C. Ching 20344 (KUN).