A. saxatile vs. A. odoratum

[Hetterscheid, W.]

Dear Tony,

Arisaema wumengense is a name in the manuscript for the English version of
Flora of China: the full citation is Arisaema wumengense H. Li, Q. T. Zhang
et L. S. Xie. I don't know if it has been published yet, in any case the FoC
is not published yet. The species is indeed described as being quite
simil;ar to A. odoratum but indeed having a 5-7-foliolate leaf. Strangely
enough, Li heng does NOT mention any fragrance for Ar. wumengense, but she
DOES for Ar. odoratum. She even separates both species at the section level,
Ar. wumengense in sect. Flagellarisamea and Ar. odoratum in sect. Tortuosa.
This suggests that Ar. odoratum should have a sigmoidally upcurved appendix
and Ar. wumengense a pendulous one. I guess the plant you're discussing
would then indeed sooner be wumengense than odoratum. I wonder though if all
this is valid taxonomy......

Cheers,
Wilbert