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Vincetoxicum gongshanense Wen B. Xu & J. Y. Shen (Apocynaceae), a new species from Gongshan County, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to V. silvestre (Tsiang) Meve & Liede, V. kerrii (Craib) A. Kidyoo and V. biondioides (W. T. Wang) C. Y. Wu & D. Z. Li, but can be distinguished by the leathery leaves, five basal veins, ovate-triangular sepals, yellow corolla, lanceolate corolla lobes, wide triangular corona and reniform pollinia. Photographs, line drawing, distribution, comparison with related species, and a parallel conservation assessment are provided for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotrema cangyuanense, a new species from Cangyuan, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. This species is morphologically similar to I. kunmingense in the shape of leaf blade and calyx, but clearly differs in its epidermal hair of leaf blade, the colour of calyx tube and throat, the surface texture of calyx limb. Photographs and a comparison table of related species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceropegia eshanensis, a new species from Yimen, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The species is presently placed in sect. Chionopegia, morphologically, it is similar to C. driophila and C. exigua, but clearly differs in its densely verrucose lenticellate old stems, leaf blades ovate to elliptic, 4-7 x 3-4.5 cm, glabrous, base broadly cuneate, slightly decurrent, longer peduncles. A comparison table of related species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stixis yingjiangensis (Resedaceae), a new species from Yingjiang, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is compared with two morphologically similar species S. philippinensis, and S. villiflora. It differs from the two species by both surfaces with sparsely strigillose on lateral nerves, midrib and pustules (each pustule is formed by a multicellular cushion from which one short hair can also be produced), inflorescences axillary, racemes, 3-9 cm, filaments lower third pubescent, upper two thirds glabrous, androgynophores 2-3 mm, glabrous except apex sparsely puberulent, gynophores with densely white hairs, ovary glabrous. A complete morphological description of Stixis yingjiangensis is provided, together with photographs, a conservation assessment, and a diagnostic key to 4 species and 1 subspecies of Stixis from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globba ruiliensis, a new species of Zingiberaceae from Ruili City, Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to G. multiflora, but clearly differs in its oblong or ovate-lanceolate leaves, 18–25 × 6–12 cm, adaxially strigose along veins, lateral staminodes are nearly equal to corolla lobes, 7–8 mm long, ovate-oblong, apex rounded, yellow to orange labellum, and verrucose ovary and fruit. A comparison table of related species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stixis villiflora (Resedaceae), a new species from Mengla, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is compared with four morphologically similar species S. philippinensis, S. suaveolens, S. ovata subsp. fasciculata and S. scandens. It differs from the preceding species by both leaf surfaces being pubescent and full of pustules, stamens 14-18, filaments lower half pubescent, upper half sparsely pubescent or glabrous, androgynophores ca. 1 mm long, lower half glabrous, upper half tomentose, gynophores and ovary with densely white hairs. A complete morphological description of Stixis villiflora is provided, together with photographs, a conservation assessment, and a diagnostic key to 10 species and 1 subspecies of Stixis from Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begonia austroyunnanensis, a new species from Yunnan (China) is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to B. subhowii in having short erect stems, obliquely ovate leaves and white flowers, but can be distinguished by its stem, petioles and peduncle having conspicuous, red, linear dots and the much longer abaxial wing of the capsule. A detailed description, data on distribution, ecology and an illustration are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cynanchum brevipedunculatum (Apocynaceae), a new species from Menghai, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is compared with two morphologically similar species, Cynanchum decipiens and C. longipedunculatum. Cynanchum brevipedunculatum differs from the preceeding species in having much bigger leaves, adaxially sparsely strigillose, abaxially glabrous or sparsely strigillose on veins, shorter peduncle and the very distinctive bowl-shaped corona. A comprehensive morphological description of C. brevipedunculatum is provided, together with photographs, and a conservation assessment for this rare vine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of the flora of China has greatly improved during the last 100 years but effective management of the rich biodiversity and unique natural resources requires resolving the taxonomic limitations of existing treatments. Here, we focus on the epiphytic genus Scleroglossum with special emphasis on the occurrences in Hainan and Yunnan of mainland China. By combining fieldwork, herbarium studies, and DNA barcoding we test the hypothesis that this genus is represented by more than one species in China. Our integrative results show the Yunnan accessions are distinct from those in Hainan in both phenotypic and genotypic variation. The Yunnan accessions belong to S. pusillum, whereas the Hainan accessions represent a distinct species displaying the morphological characteristics of S. sulcatum. Genotypic evidence suggests the occurrence of cryptic diversity among accessions with the morphology of S. sulcatum. In summary, the study contributes to the crucial assessment of the plant diversity in Yunnan and illustrates the importance of integrating collection efforts and DNA barcoding approaches to enable effective assessment of the epiphytic diversity of Yunnan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passiflora menghaiensis (Passifloraceae), a new species from Menghai, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The species is placed in Passiflora subgenus Decaloba, supersection Disemma, section Octandranthus. It is compared with two morphologically similar species in section Octandranthus, P. kwangtungensis and P. geminiflora. Passiflora menghaiensis differs from the preceding species by the combination of two flowers per inflorescence, the outer series of coronal filaments white, the inner series of coronal filaments light green, and puberulous fruit. A complete morphological description of P. menghaiensis is provided, together with line drawings, photographs, a conservation assessment, and a diagnostic key to fourteen species of Passiflora subgenus Decaloba supersection Disemma section Octandranthus from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ichtyoselmis macrantha subsp. porphyrantha J. Y. Shen & Q. B. Gong a new subspecies from West Yunnan and North Myanmar is described. The new subspecies differs from Ichtyoselmis macrantha subsp. macrantha by its outer petals purplish red and with minute red-purple spots as well as transversal lines on the apical swollen margin, and inner petals white with redpurple spots. It is distributed well to the Southwest of the distribution area of I. macrantha subsp. macrantha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]