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Jasminum honghoense (Oleaceae), a new species from the dry‐hot Yuanjiang valley in southern central Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. Differences between J. honghoense and two morphologically similar species are presented. Moreover, the pollen morphology of J. honghoense is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millettia weizhii sp. nov. (Fabaceae), a tree species bearing pods with 4 wings is described and illustrated from a limestone area in Yunnan, China. Fruiting specimens of the new species were previously identified as Millettia tetraptera Kurz, a species recorded from Myanmar and India (West Bengal), but examination of specimens and data from our field survey show that the new species is easily distinguished by having longer and stipitate pods, much shorter pseudoracemes with 2 flowers at each node, white and longer corolla, triangular calyx lobes and more and narrower leaflets. The new species should be placed in the Merrillii/Xylocarpa‐group of Millettia sect. Fragiliflorae Dunn based on morphological characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal uptake and distribution in crops have been demonstrated to be highly variable and depending on the metal of interest and the crop type. However, no consensus is reached regarding the primary factor controlling metal uptake in crops. This study thus comparably investigated Hg, As, Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu uptake and distribution in three crops grown in a watershed near a copper mining field located in Yunnan, Southwestern China. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) were statistically compared for the same metal across different crops. Leafy crops had a stronger propensity to accumulate Hg, As and Zn than fruit crops. The ability of grain crops to accumulate Cd and Cu was much lower than leafy and fruit crops. The three crops all tended not to accumulate Pb in their edible tissues. The DTPA extracted metal concentrations were not statistically correlated with the metal concentrations in crop edible tissues. It is thus not practical to predict metal uptake of Hg, As, Pb and Zn through their available concentrations in soils. The contents of nitrogen and phosphorus, and competing metal ions present in paddy soil decreased the accumulation of Cu and Cd in rice grains. By means of hierarchical cluster analysis, the high accumulation of Zn in the edible tissues of fruit and grain crops was mainly due to dust inputs via phloem transport from leaves. This is why BCF (Zn) was the highest among the six metals for these two crops. For leafy crops, the accumulation of Hg, Cd and Zn in leaves was mainly through soil inputs by roots. Our findings serve as a scientific basis for the selection of crops in areas with high background of heavy metals. [Display omitted] • Leafy crops have a stronger propensity to uptake and accumulate Hg, As, and Zn. • Coexisting metals, N and P may inhibit the transfer of Cd and Cu to rice grains. • Pb accumulation is independent of soil property, dust input and crop type. • Hierarchical cluster analysis identifies the uptake pathway of different metals. • Zn uptake in fruit and grain crops is mainly dust input via phloem of leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a recent molecular phylogeographical study shows that, Cladrastis , a small woody genus in the bean family (Leguminosae), may have been established in Asia after the middle to late Eocene, fossils of the genus have not been previously documented in the Paleogene of Asia. Here we report an infructescence and four fossil fruits of Cladrastis from the Paleogene of southeastern Yunnan, China, which we described as a new species, C. haominiae , and this represents the first Paleogene record of Cladrastis in Asia. These fossils are characterized by a long stipe, an acuminate or acute proximal/distal end, wide sutures, and elliptical seed(s) nearly parallel or forming a small angle to the long axis of the fruit. Our finding supports the Paleogene establishment of Cladrastis in Asia and provides new significant evidence for the Paleogene origin of Yunnan biodiversity. • The earliest fossil record of Cladrastis in Asia was described. • Cladrastis has been established in Asia at least by the Paleogene. • Cladrastis might have once traversed the Bering land bridge. • Our finding supports the Paleogene origin of the Yunnan biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]