(2008)  Page(s) 919, 928.  
 
The Rosa sericea complex contains R. omeiensis, R. sericea and R. mairei. They are morphologically similar to one another and the systematic status of R. omeiensis has been controversial. In this study we examined ca. 2000 herbarium specimens of the three taxa in major herbaria in China and conducted field observations in Sichuan and Yunnan. We also performed SEM study of pollen morphology and seed coat structure. We further carried out intensive morphometric study on the leaflet, pollen, and seed morphology. Our results showed that R. mairei can safely be distinguished from other two...

Key to taxa of Rosa sericea complex
1a. Leaflets 5–9(–11), smooth adaxially, pubescent adaxially and abaxially; hip red, pedicel not fleshy; pollen grains 29.02 (23.92–33.24) μm×22.42(19.61–27.94) μm, exine with long striae, striae with smooth margins; relative volume (length×width×height) of seeds 51.37(29.35–92.88) mm3, seed coat with secondary reticulate structure…………………………1. R. mairei
1b. Leaflets (5–)9–13(–17), crumpled or smooth adaxially, glabrous on both sides or pubescent abaxially; hip yellow, bright to deep red or purple-brown; pedicel fleshy throughout or only at tip; pollen exine with long or short striae, striae regulate on margins; relative volume of seeds much lower, seed coat with no secondary reticulate structure………………..………………2 [R. sericea]

(2008)  Page(s) 919, 928.  
 
The Rosa sericea complex contains R. omeiensis, R. sericea and R. mairei. They are morphologically similar to one another and the systematic status of R. omeiensis has been controversial. In this study we examined ca. 2000 herbarium specimens of the three taxa in major herbaria in China and conducted field observations in Sichuan and Yunnan. We also performed SEM study of pollen morphology and seed coat structure. We further carried out intensive morphometric study on the leaflet, pollen, and seed morphology. Our results showed that R. mairei can safely be distinguished from other two, while there are no obvious discontinuities in pollen morphology, seed coat structure and plant morphology in general for R. omeiensis and R. sericea. Nevertheless, in most cases R. omeiensis and R. sericea can be distinguished from each other to some extent. They also have different geographical distributions. Therefore we here sink R. omeiensis to be a variety of R. sericea. Six forms related with these two taxa are synonymized. The four synonyms of R. sericea var. sericea include R. omeiensis f. glandulosaT. T. Yu & T. C. Ku, R. omeiensis f. pteracantha Rehder & E. H. Wilson, R. sericea f. glabrescens Franchet, and R. sericea f. pteracantha Franchet, while two synonyms of R. sericea var. omeiensis include R. omeiensis f. paucijuga T. T. Yu & T. C. Ku and R. sericea f. glandulosa T. T. Yu & T. C. Ku.

Key to taxa of Rosa sericea complex
1a. Leaflets 5–9(–11), smooth adaxially, pubescent adaxially and abaxially; hip red, pedicel not fleshy; pollen grains 29.02 (23.92–33.24) μm×22.42(19.61–27.94) μm, exine with long striae, striae with smooth margins; relative volume (length×width×height) of seeds 51.37(29.35–92.88) mm3, seed coat with secondary reticulate structure…………………………1. R. mairei
1b. Leaflets (5–)9–13(–17), crumpled or smooth adaxially, glabrous on both sides or pubescent abaxially; hip yellow, bright to deep red or purple-brown; pedicel fleshy throughout or only at tip; pollen exine with long or short striae, striae regulate on margins; relative volume of seeds much lower, seed coat with no secondary reticulate structure………………..………………2
2a. Leaflets (5–)7–11, crumpled adaxially, sericeous villous abaxially; hip yellow or red, pedicel slightly fleshy only at tip; pollen grains 29.83(25.39–34.61) μm×26.67(23.73–29.22) μm, exine with short striae; relative volume of seeds 24.19(14.32–34.2) mm3, lumina on seed coat irregular polygonal………………2a. R. sericea var. sericea
2b. Leaflets 9–13(–17), smooth adaxially, glabrous on both sides or sparsely hairy along midrib; pollen grains 23.81(21.37–28.04) μm×21.94(16.27–24.80) μm, pollen exine with long or short striae; relative volume of seeds 31.84(19.62–47.28) mm3, lumina on seed coat rectangular or irregular polygonal…………2b. R. sericea var. omeiensis

(2008)  Page(s) 919, 928.  Includes photo(s).
 
The Rosa sericea complex contains R. omeiensis, R. sericea and R. mairei. They are morphologically similar to one another and the systematic status of R. omeiensis has been controversial. In this study we examined ca. 2000 herbarium specimens of the three taxa in major herbaria in China and conducted field observations in Sichuan and Yunnan. We also performed SEM study of pollen morphology and seed coat structure. We further carried out intensive morphometric study on the leaflet, pollen, and seed morphology. Our results showed that R. mairei can safely be distinguished from other two, while there are no obvious discontinuities in pollen morphology, seed coat structure and plant morphology in general for R. omeiensis and R. sericea. Nevertheless, in most cases R. omeiensis and R. sericea can be distinguished from each other to some extent. They also have different geographical distributions. Therefore we here sink R. omeiensis to be a variety of R. sericea. Six forms related with these two taxa are synonymized. The four synonyms of R. sericea var. sericea include R. omeiensis f. glandulosa T. T. Yu & T. C. Ku, R. omeiensis f. pteracantha Rehder & E. H. Wilson, R. sericea f. glabrescens Franchet, and R. sericea f. pteracantha Franchet, while two synonyms of R. sericea var. omeiensis include R. omeiensis f. paucijuga T. T. Yu & T. C. Ku and R. sericea f. glandulosa T. T. Yu & T. C. Ku.

Key to taxa of Rosa sericea complex
1a. Leaflets 5–9(–11), smooth adaxially, pubescent adaxially and abaxially; hip red, pedicel not fleshy; pollen grains 29.02 (23.92–33.24) μm×22.42(19.61–27.94) μm, exine with long striae, striae with smooth margins; relative volume (length×width×height) of seeds 51.37(29.35–92.88) mm3, seed coat with secondary reticulate structure…………………………1. R. mairei
1b. Leaflets (5–)9–13(–17), crumpled or smooth adaxially, glabrous on both sides or pubescent abaxially; hip yellow, bright to deep red or purple-brown; pedicel fleshy throughout or only at tip; pollen exine with long or short striae, striae regulate on margins; relative volume of seeds much lower, seed coat with no secondary reticulate structure………………..………………2
2a. Leaflets (5–)7–11, crumpled adaxially, sericeous villous abaxially; hip yellow or red, pedicel slightly fleshy only at tip; pollen grains 29.83(25.39–34.61) μm×26.67(23.73–29.22) μm, exine with short striae; relative volume of seeds 24.19(14.32–34.2) mm3, lumina on seed coat irregular polygonal………………2a. R. sericea var. sericea
2b. Leaflets 9–13(–17), smooth adaxially, glabrous on both sides or sparsely hairy along midrib; pollen grains 23.81(21.37–28.04) μm×21.94(16.27–24.80) μm, pollen exine with long or short striae; relative volume of seeds 31.84(19.62–47.28) mm3, lumina on seed coat rectangular or irregular polygonal…………2b. R. sericea var. omeiensis