Primulina minor sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from a limestone cave in Hunan,China

Primulina minor from the Daoxian county, Hunan province in China is described. This new species is similar to Primulina jingxiensis (Yan Liu, W. B. Xu & H. S. Gao) W. B. Xu & K. F. Chung and P. longzhouensis (B. Pan & W. H. Wu) W. B. Xu & K. F. Chung, but differs by its number of leaves (4–6), broadly ovate, orbicular‐ovate or orbicular leaf blade, 2–4 cymes, short peduncle (1.8–2.0 cm long), white (or white with light purple tinge) corolla, small corolla (8–10 mm long), 3 staminoides of which the lateral ones are short (0.75–0.90 mm long) and adnate to 1.6–1.7 mm above the corolla base.     

Spiradiclis quanzhouensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from a limestone area in Guangxi,China

Spiradiclis quanzhouensis, a new species of Rubiaceae from northeastern Guangxi, China is described and illustrated. It is similar to S. umbelliformis, but can be distinguished by its rosulate habit, subglabrous stems, leaf blades that are pubescent on both surfaces, lanceolate purple‐pubescent stipules that are undivided or sometimes bifid in apical 1/3, an inflorescence with 2–4 flowers, lanceolate 4–5 mm long calyx lobes that are purple‐pubescent outside, a salveriform corolla that is light purple‐pubescent outside, a semi‐inferior ovary, and capsules that are light purple‐pubescent with persistent calyx lobes 5–6 mm, in fruit 2 × as long as capsule.     

Impatiens pingxiangensis sp. nov. (Balsaminaceae) from the limestone areas in Guangxi,China

Impatiens pingxiangensis H. Y. Bi & S. X. Yu (Balsaminaceae), a new species from the limestone areas in Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to I. obesa in having succulent stems, subsessile peduncle, tufted pedicel and the lower petal in each pair of lateral united petals being connate, but differs from the latter by having perennial stems, leaf blades with 7–9 pairs of lateral veins, 1–2‐flowered racemes, ovate inner lateral sepals, and elliptic capsule. Moreover, the pollen and seed coat characters also support the recognition of the new species.     

Stromanthe bahiensis sp. nov. (Marantaceae), endemic to southern Bahia State,Brazil

Stromanthe bahiensis Yoshida‐Arns, Mayo & J. M. A. Braga sp. nov. (Marantaceae) is described as an endemic to the Atlantic Forest coast of southern Bahia State in Brazil. It is similar to S. hjalmarssonii (Körn.) Petersen, which is restricted to Central America, but differs from it by the following characteristics: petiole 14–70 cm long, leaf blade oblong‐ovate to ovate‐lanceolate, fertile bracts 18–30×2–4 mm, narrowly lanceolate to ovate‐lanceolate, sepals 4–6 mm long, corolla lobes 3.0–3.5 mm long, outer staminodes 2.0–3.5×1–2 mm, pale bluish or purplish, callose staminode 2–3×1–2 mm, cucullate staminode 2–3 mm long and ovary hirsute. The new species is described and illustrated with diagnostic characters, taxonomic comments and remarks on its conservation status.     

Wentsaiboea tiandengensis sp. nov. and W. luochengensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from Karst caves in Guangxi,southern China

Two new species of Gesneriaceae, Wentsaiboea tiandengensis Yan Liu & B. Pan and Wentsaiboea luochengensis Yan Liu & W. B. Xu from Karst caves in Guangxi, China are described and illustrated. Wentsaiboea tiandengensis resembles W. renifolia, but differs in the leaf blade being cordate or broadly ovate, the margin crenate or repand, with conspicuous pinnate veins 3–5 on each side, corolla throat constricted, corolla lobes ovate with apex acute, staminodes 3, and ovary broadly ovoid. Wentsaiboea luochengensis is similar to W. renifolia, but can be distinguished from the latter by the coriaceous leaf blade with 2–3 inconspicuous pinnate veins on each side, elliptic or broadly ovate to sub‐rotund in shape, with sub‐entire margin and attenuate to cuneate or sub‐rotund base, broadly ovate or sub‐rotund corolla lobes, rotund or obtuse apex, and 3 staminodes.     

Rubia austrozhejiangensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from Zhejiang,China

Rubia austrozhejiangensis Z. P. Lei, Y. Y. Zhou & R. W. Wang, a new species of Rubiaceae from China, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to R. ovatifolia Z. Ying Zhang and R. argyi (H. Lév. & Vaniot) H. Hara ex Lauener, but differs from the former in having stems and branches cylindrical, not quadrate‐angled, long‐ovate to ovate‐lanceolate leaf blades, many‐flowered inflorescence, and smaller mericarps, 3–4 mm in diameter. In R. ovatifolia, stems and branches are quadrate‐angled, leaf blades ovate, ovate‐cordate to rounded cordate, and the inflorescences are sparsely flowered. Compared to R. argyi, the new species has cylindrical, not quadrate‐angled stems and branches, leaf blades that are long‐ovate to ovate‐lanceolate, 3–5‐veined, and slightly reflexed corolla lobes. In R. argyi, stems and branches are quadrate‐angled or winged, the corolla lobes are spreading, and the mericarps are 5–7 mm in diameter.     

Ilex sanqingshanensis sp. nov. (Aquifoliaceae) from Jiangxi Province,China

Ilex sanqingshanensis, a new species of Aquifoliaceae from Jiangxi, China, is described and illustrated with morphological characteristics and ultrastructure of pollen grains. The new species is easily distinguished from the most similar species I. wugongshanensis C. J. Tseng ex S. K. Chen et Y. X. Feng by having smaller leaves that are elliptic, ovate or elliptic‐ovate, with shorter (0.5–1.0 vs 2–3 mm) teeth on the leaf margin, longer pedicels of staminate flowers (2.0–3.5 vs 1.5 mm), smaller pyrenes (3.5–4.0 × 2.0–2.5 vs 4.5–5.0 × 3.0 mm), and woody pyrenes (vs stony pyrenes).     

Plagiomnium guizhouense Y.-J.Yi & S.He sp. nov. (Mniaceae) found in southwestern China

A new species of Plagiomnium (Mniaceae), P. guizhouense Y.-J.Yi & S.He from Guizhou, China is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to P. affine in having spinosely serrate leaf margins with teeth consisting of up to 4 or more cells, a broadly elliptic leaf shape, and a decurrent leaf base, but is distinguished from the latter species by having a cuspidate leaf apex, broader marginal differentiation with borders consisting of 4–5 rows of linear, thick-walled cells, strongly ciliate marginal teeth that are sometimes branched and up to 7 cells long in upper fertile stem leaves and perichaetial leaves, and a much shorter leaf costa that ends just above mid-leaf in the lower leaves.     

Nanocnide zhejiangensis sp. nov. (Urticaceae: Urticeae) from Zhejiang Province,East China

Nanocnide zhejiangensis X.F. Jin & Y.F. Lu, a new species of Urticaceae from Zhejiang, east China, is described with illustrations. The new species is morphologically similar to Nanocnide japonica in having staminate inflorescence longer than leaves, but differs by having glabrous stems, petioles, peduncles and abaxial leaf surfaces, glabrous perianth lobes of staminate flowers, dorsally glabrous perianth lobes of pistillate flowers, and acuminate or solitary spinose–setaceous at the apex. Analysis based on ITS, atpF–H, atpB–rbcL and trnL–F sequences also demonstrate that Nanocnide japonica is the closest extant relative to the new species.     

Spiradiclis glandulosa sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from limestone areas in southern China

Spiradiclis glandulosa L. Wu & Q. R. Liu, a new species from limestone areas in southern China, is described and illustrated here. This new species is similar to S. umbelliformis, but can be distinguished from the latter mainly by its abaxial leaf blade with densely set yellow glandule‐like spots (vs abaxially pilosulous), calyx lobes oblong‐laceolate, ca 4–6 mm long (vs ovate‐triangular, ca 0.6 mm), corolla tube inside densely pubescent above the middle and onto lobes in both forms (vs inside with villous ring above base), and capsules villosulous (vs glabrescent).     

Machilus parapauhoi sp. nov. and a new synonym of Machilus (Lauraceae) from east Asia

A new species of the genus Machilus Nees (Lauraceae) from China, M. parapauhoi F. N. Wei, S. C. Tang & W. B. Xu is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to M. pauhoi Kanehira, but differs in its densely appressed pubescent branchlets and petioles, shorter petiole, 0.8–1.2 cm long and an infructescence conspicuously shorter than the leaf. It is also similar to M. kwangtungensis Yang, but differs by its oblique leaves, with falcately curved apex and 14–18 lateral veins on both sides of the midrib. Based on a study of the type and isotype specimens of M. balansae (Airy Shaw) F. N. Wei & S. C. Tang and M. grandifolia S. Lee & F. N. Wei, M. grandifolia is regarded as a new synonym of M. balansae.     

Saussurea pseudograminea sp. nov. (Asteraceae) from the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau,China

Morphological characteristics, as well as ultrastructure of pollen grains, chromosome numbers and karyotype analysis have been used to establish a new species of Saussurea from the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau. The new species, Saussurea pseudograminea Y. F. Wang, G. Z. Du et Y. S. Lian is easily distinguished from the similar S. graminea Dunn by having 2–3 capitula, involucre 0.7–1.2 cm in diameter, smaller pollen grains, pollen surface with larger and denser spines, achenes 4.0–5.5 mm long, 32 chromosomes, and a karyotype formula 2n = 2x = 32 = 18m + 10sm + 4st, whereas S. graminea has solitary capitula, involucre 1.2–2.0 cm in diameter, larger pollen grains, pollen surface with smaller and sparser spines, achenes 3–4 mm long, 28 chromosomes and a karyotype formula 2n = 2x = 28 = 6m + 20sm + 2st. The new species is distributed in Dianzhangou, Awanchang, and Gamaliang mountain regions of Maqu county in Gansu province.     

Stipa narynica sp. nov. (Poaceae) from the western Tian‐Shan Mountains

Stipa narynica M. Nobis sp. nov. from the western Tian‐Shan Mts (western Kyrgyzstan) is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to sect. Smirnovia Tzvel. Morphologically the species is similar to S. aktauensis, a species from which it is easily distinguished by its longer glumes (41–)44–55(–62) mm vs 35–45 mm, longer anthecium (11.5–) 12.0–14.2(–14.8) mm vs 9.5–11.2(–11.7) mm, longer hairs on the seta (5.5–)6.0–8.0(–8.5) mm vs (3.0–)3.8–5.5(–6.0) mm and by the top of the lemma which in S. narynica is either glabrous or with a poorly developed ring of short hairs, while in S. aktauensis, the top of lemma is always distinctly and densely pilose. The lemma and leaf blade structure of both species were examined by means of SEM. The main features differentiating S. narynica and S. aktauensis and distribution of the taxa are presented. An original key to the middle Asiatic species of the sect. Smirnovia, the most similar to Stipa narynica is provided.     

Primulina guangxiensis sp. nov. (Gesneriaceae) from a karst cave in Guangxi,China

Primulina guangxiensis Yan Liu & W. B. Xu, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is related to Primulina tabacum Hance, but differs in the leaf blade being obliquely ovate to obliquely oblong‐ovate, 2.5–6.0×1.3–4.3 cm, eith margin entire to repand and base inequilateral, petiole slimly terete, 1.5–6.0 cm long, ca 2–3 mm across, cymes 1–2‐branched, 1–5‐flowered and corolla tube hypocrateriform, 20–25 mm long, 2 mm across. The new species is rare, currently known only from one site in a karst cave in western Guangxi.     

Vinealobryum guangdongensis (Pottiaceae,Musci), a new species with multicellular axillary gemmae from Guangdong,China

A new species belonging to Didymodon sensu lato, Vinealobryum guangdongensis, is described and illustrated from Nanling National Forest Park of Guangdong, China. It is characterized by noteworthily thick‐walled cells of the cauline central cylinder, ovate‐lanceolate leaves that are appressed when dry, acuminate to acute leaf apices, leaf base abruptly broadened and quickly narrowed to the insertion, leaf margins recurved in proximal 2/3 to 3/4, short‐excurrent costa with 0–1 layer of ventral stereids, laminal cells with conical or elliptical papillae either over the lumina or over transverse walls, presence of gemmae in the leaf axils, and KOH laminal color reaction red to reddish orange. This new species is compared with the most similar species and its ecology is discussed.     

Trachycarpus ravenii sp. nov. (Arecaceae,Corypheae) from central Laos

A new species Trachycarpus ravenii discovered in Kasi district, Vientiane province of central Laos is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it is closest to T. oreophilus and T. princeps, but differs by having a shorter stem of mature plants; glabrous, dull green petiole; almost circular leaf blade, waxy bluish–white abaxially; narrow leaf segments with narrow free lobes densely adpressed to each other, as well as in oblique‐round apices of median leaf segments.     

Pternopetalum arunachalense sp. nov. (Apiaceae) from India

Pternopetalum arunachalense M. Bhaumik & P. Satyanar. is a new species from Arunachal Pradesh in India and is described and illustrated here. This new species is similar to P. trichomanifolium (Franch.) Hand.‐Mazz. by highly dissected, ternate 2–4‐pinnate leaves, ultimate segments linear and erect elongate styles but differs by generally smaller habit and scabrid mericarps with 1–2 vittae in each furrow and commissure.