Saussurea talungensis (Asteraceae), a new synonym of S. roylei

Based on critical observations on herbarium specimens (including type materials) and living plants in the wild from its type locality, we demonstrate that Saussurea talungensis, recently described from Talung valley of Humla district, Nepal, is readily distinguishable from S. lanata by an array of morphological characters but is actually conspecific with S. roylei, a species with its type locality from northwestern India. We therefore reduce S. talungensis to the synonymy of S. roylei herein.

Automated summary

Based on observations of herbarium specimens and living plants, we found that Saussurea talungensis, which was thought to be a distinct species, is actually conspecific with S. roylei. The two species can be distinguished by their morphological characteristics.