Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 2006 Vol. 4(1): 63-66 63 [Short communication] Taxonomy of the Genus Cnidium Cusson ex Juss. (Umbelliferae Juss.) in Mongolia Magsar Urgamal Institute of Botany, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar-21051, Mongolia, E-mail: urgaa_m@yahoo.com Abstract The taxonomic position of Mongolian species belonging to the genus Cnidium Cusson ex Juss. is revised. Five species are included in this genus. A key for the identification of the five species and data on their distribution in Mongolia are given. Key words: Cnidium, taxonomy, genus, species, herbarium Introduction The genus Cnidium Cusson ex Juss. belongs to the family Umbelliferae Juss. (Apiaceae Lind- ley), which is one of the biggest families in the Mongolian flora (Gubanov, 1996). The study on taxonomy of the sedge family of Mongolia is part of an ongoing project for creating a series of “Flora of Mongolia”. The genus Cnidium Cusson ex Juss. is one of the biggest genera of the family Umbelliferae Juss. Only three species have been recorded in the genus Cnidium Cusson by Grubov (1982), but lat- er, Vinogradova (1994) and Gubanov (1996) are listed five species in the Mongolian flora, namely: C. davuricum, C. kamelinii, C. monnieri, C. mul- ticaule and C. salinum. Materials and Methods Herbaria materials from the Herbarium of the Institute of Botany, Mongolian Academy of Sci- ences (UBA), Herbarium of the National Uni- versity of Mongolia (UBU), Herbarium of the Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences (PE) and Herbarium of the Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (LE) are used for the present study with comparative literature data. Totally, 118 sheets of plant specimens are exam- ined, which were collected by various scientists between 1920 and 2003. Distribution of Cnidium species in Mongolia is given according to the plant-geographical re- gions as stated by Grubov (1982): Khubsugul (1), Khentii (2), Khangai (3), Mongol-Daurian (4), Great Khingan (5), Khovd (6), Mongolian Altai (7), Middle Khalkh (8), Eastern Mongolia (9), Depression of Great Lakes (10), Valley of Lakes (11), East Gobi (12), Gobi Altai (13), Dzungarian Gobi (14), Trans-Altai Gobi (15) and Alasha Gobi (16). In the distribution section, after the name of each species, the numbers are given for the re- spective regions, where the species occur. Results We revealed that there are five species of Cnid- ium Cusson ex Juss. in the Mongolian flora, and the identification key to those species, their dis- tribution and conspectus of each species are in- cluded given hereafter. A key to identification of species of the genus Cnidium 1. Annuals. Lower part of stem is shortly roughly pubescent. Umbels with 15-20 unequal rays; bracts and bracteoles linear-subulate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. monnieri (L.) Cusson - Perennials. Stem glabrous. Umbels with 6-40 unequal rays; bracts and bracteoles linear, mem- branous on margins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Bracts absent or 1-2, deciduous; bracteoles linear; rays of umbel 6-15, almost unequal in length. Umbels in fruit up to 5 cm in diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. salinum Turcz. - Bracts and bracteoles numerous, linear lan- ceolate or narrow ovate with broad membranous http://dx.doi.org/10.22353/mjbs.2006.04.08