Acanthophyllum herniarioides Madhani & Zarre

Acanthophyllum herniarioides (Boissier) Madhani & Zarre (Fig. 2) Taxon 67 (1): 101 (Madhani et al. 2018). TYPE MATERIAL. — Afghanistan • Kurrum valley, Sikaram; 7.VIII.1879; J.E.T. Aitchison 961; isolecto-, K [K000725698] photo! PHENOLOGY. — Flowering from June to August. ETYMOLOGY. — The specific epithet means similar in form and ecological habit to the Herniaria species. DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kirgizstan, Pakistan, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan and China; new record for China, occurring in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Zizhizhou, Xinjiang. This species grows on riverbanks, sandy or stony hills. ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — China • Xinjiang, Kizilsu Kirgiz Zizhizhou, Aqtau, strand; 10.VII.2022; L.Q. Zhao P98-001; HIMC[HIMC0038465]! Turkestania • Haussarif; 28.VI.1893; V.L. Komarov s.n.; K[K000725766] (photo!). TAXONOMIC NOTES Acanthophyllum herniarioides is morphologically similar to A. sedifolium (Kurz) Madhani et Zarre, which occurs in Xizang, China. However, it can be distinguished by the broader leaflets of A. herniarioides (Madhani et al. 2018).