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Paraboea (Gesneriaceae) distributed in the karst areas of South and Southwest China and Southeast Asia, is an ideal genus to study the phylogeny and adaptive evolution of karst plants. In this study, the complete chloroplast genomes of twelve Paraboea species were sequenced and analyzed. Twelve chloroplast genomes ranged in size from 153166 to 154245 bp. Each chloroplast genome had a typical quartile structure, and relatively conserved type and number of gene components, including 131 genes which are composed of 87 protein coding genes, 36 transfer RNAs and 8 ribosomal RNAs. A total of 600 simple sequence repeats and 389 non-overlapped sequence repeats were obtained from the twelve Paraboea chloroplast genomes. We found ten divergent regions (trnH-GUG-psbA, trnM-CAU, trnC-GCA, atpF-atpH, ycf1, trnK-UUUrps16, rps15, petL, trnS-GCU-trnR-UCU and psaJ-rpl33) among the 12 Paraboea species to be potential molecular markers. In the phylogenetic tree of 31 Gesneriaceae plants including twelve Paraboea species, all Paraboea species clustered in a clade and confirmed the monophyly of Paraboea. Nine genes with positive selection sites were detected, most of which were related to photosynthesis and protein synthesis, and might played crucial roles in the adaptability of Paraboea to diverse karst environments. These findings are valuable for further study of the phylogeny and karst adaptability of Gesneriaceae plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraboea nanxiensis Lei Cai & Gui L. Zhang, a new species of Gesneriaceae from karst area around the Sino,Vietnamese border, is described here. The new species is morphologically similar to P. nutans D. Fang & D. H. Qin in the shape and indumentum characters of leaf blade, color of flower, length of the inflorescence and glabrous pistil, but it can be easily distinguished by the shape of the corolla, the color of flower interior, the shape and indumentum of calyx lobes, and capsule morphology. The detailed descriptions, color photographs, distribution and ecology, as well as its morphological relationship with similar species are also provided. In recent years, many new taxa or newly record species have been found in limestone areas along the Sino Vietnam border, it is necessary to strengthen the investigation of plant diversity for better understanding the high biodiversity in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe Paraboea dolomitica Z.Y. Li, X.G. Xiang & Z.Y. Guo, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Guizhou, China. Based on recent extensive observations, this new species is morphologically similar to Paraboea filipes (Hance) Burtt, in having obovate leaf blades, 1-4-flowered cymes and purplish corolla, but differs from that species by the combination of denticulate leathery leaves, sparsely brown haired peduncles, two woolly bracts, reniform anthers and two glabrous staminodes. Additionally, molecular data support this new species as a member of a clade that includes P. crassifolia, P. tetrabracteata, P. peltifolia, P. vetutina, P. dushanensis, P. dictyoneura, P xiangguiensis and P. guilinensis, but it is distinct from them in leaf position, inflorescence, penduncle, bract and capsule. The conservation status of this species is considered to be "Vulnerable" (VU) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Loxocarpinae, also known as the "Boea group", are the subtribe of Gesneriaceae which includes Boea and a number of segregated genera and close relatives. This group currently comprises over 200 species in 15 genera. Here we present the most up‐to‐date phylogeny, covering all the genera known to belong to the group, based on Bayesian inference and parsimony of the nuclear ITS and the plastid regions trnL‐trnF (intron and spacer) and ndhF‐trnLUAG (spacers). The results show discrepancies between the current generic delimitation in the subtribe and the clades delineated by the phylogeny. As a result Boea, Damrongia, Paraboea and Streptocarpus are recircumscribed in an attempt to establish a more natural classification and new combinations are made. The new genus Middletonia is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phylogenetic relationships between Paraboea, Trisepalum and Phylloboea, in the twisted-fruited clade of the advanced Asiatic and Malesian Gesneriaceae, were investigated using nuclear and chloroplast data. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses demonstrated unambiguously that the three genera originated from a single common ancestor, that Phylloboea is nested deeply in Trisepalum and that in turn Trisepalum is nested in Paraboea. As Paraboea has been conserved against Phylloboea and Trisepalum the necessary new combinations in Paraboea are made here. The enlarged genus Paraboea comprises around 120 species. The phylogeny presented here will provide a valuable framework for future biogeographic and comparative studies in Gesneriaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraboea gracillima Kiew (Gesneriaceae) is described from Perlis, Malaysia, and from Ban Khamphaengphen in Peninsular Thailand. Paraboea lambokensis Kiew is described from two hills in Kelantan, Malaysia. Both are restricted to limestone. Paraboea lambok ensis is endemic in Peninsular Malaysia and is Critically Endangered, while P. gracillima, which is protected in the Perlis State Park, is categorised as Least Concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]