Aspidistra albopurpurea,A. khangii,A. lubae and A. stellata spp. nov. (Asparagaceae,Convallariaceae s.s.) from Indochina

Aspidistra albopurpurea, A. khangii, A. lubae and A. stellata discovered recently are described and illustrated as species new to science. All novelties are local endemics of northern Vietnam and southeastern Laos. Aspidistra albopurpurea is unique in the genus with a white/red stigma in striking contrast to the large milk‐white tube base. Aspidistra stellata belongs to a group of species with extraordinary long and narrow lineate perigone lobes. Aspidistra khangii and A. lubae belong to a small group of species having erect, vertical shoots. The first species is easily distinguished by its stout stem, down‐curved peduncle and obpyramidal, container‐shaped perianth. Aspidistra lubae has characteristic horizontal, peduncles and urceolate flowers. Besides the type variety, A. lubae includes var. lancifolia, which differs in its erect, lanceolate, immaculate, shortly petiolate leaves. Both varieties of A. lubae were found growing, often intermixed, in the same locality in very similar ecological conditions.     

Patterns of intraspecific variation inAntennaria alborosea,A. corymbosa,A. marginata,A. microphylla,A. parvifolia,andA. umbrinella (Asteraceae:Inuleae)

Patterns of intraspecific variation were examined inAntennaria alborosea A. E. Porsild,A. corymbosa E. Nels,A. marginata Greene,A. microphylla Rydb.,A. parvifolia Nutt., andA. umbrinella Rydb. AlthoughA. alborosea was initially considered arctic in distribution, it became apparent that a southern montane element also exists. Our results suggest that morphological differences between arctic and southern montane specimens represent clinal variation. The additional morphological data for specimens that occur more than 1,500 km south of the species' range as it was initially described result in a better understanding of this once presumed arctic taxon. Morphological variation in the dioecious speciesA. corymbosa, A. marginata, A. microphylla, A. parvifolia, andA. umbrinella was greater between the genders than was geographic variation within each gender. These results demonstrate that both pistillate and staminate specimens must be examined in dioecious species ofAntennaria if morphological variation in the respective species is to be fully understood. Character size or number of broadly distributed species (A. microphylla andA. parvifolia) generally decreased with increasing longitude, whereas characters of species with more restricted distributions (A. alborosea, A. corymbosa, andA. marginata) generally increased in size or number with increasing latitude or longitude.Antennaria umbrinella was an exception in this respect.     

Aspidistra laotica,A. multiflora,A. oviflora and A. semiaperta spp. nov. (Asparagaceae,Convallariaceae s.s.) from eastern Indochina

Aspidistra laotica, A. multiflora, A. oviflora and A. semiaperta discovered recently are described and illustrated as species new to science. All novelties are local endemics of northern Vietnam and central Laos.     

Aspidistra anomala,A. elegans and A. sinensis spp. nov. (Asparagaceae,Convallariaceae s.s.) from China,Laos and Vietnam

The recently discovered Aspidistra anomala, A. elegans, and A. sinensis are described and illustrated as species new to science. All novelties are local endemics of limestone areas of mainland southeast Asia.