Taxonomic studies on the genus Sanicula (Apiaceae) from China (II): The clarification of some morphological distinction between S. orthacantha var. orthacantha and S. orthacantha var. brevispina, with the reduction of S. petagnioides to the synonymy of the former, and S. orthacantha var. stolonifera to the synonymy of the latter variety

Based on observations on living plants in field, together with examination of herbarium specimens (including type material), we demonstrate that Sanicula orthacantha var. orthacantha (Apiaceae) differs from S. orthacantha var. brevispina only by the rhizome short, oblique rootstock bearing elongated, fibrous roots, sometimes fleshy stoloniferous (vs. slender, elongate and lignified nodes stoloniferous). In addition, S. petagnioides is found to be identical with S. orthacantha var. orthacantha, and S. orthacantha var. stolonifera is found to be identical with S. orthacantha var. brevispina, we therefore synonymized herein respectively. Lectotypification is proposed for S. petagnioides, S. orthacantha var. stolonifera.