Aspidistra lingchuanensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China

Abstract

The genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawler (1822: 628) (Asparagaceae) has its main centre of diversity in China and Vietnam. In recent years, many new species were discovered and described from that region, increasing the total number of species to over 120. In China, Aspidistra includes over 80 species and is mainly distributed in the southwest part of the country, especially in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (60 species) (Liang & Tamura 2000, Li 2004, Tillich 2005, 2008, Liu et al. 2011, Tillich et al. 2013, He et al. 2013, Lin et al. 2013a–b, 2014, Meng et al. 2014). When investigating medicinal plants in Qingshitan Natural Reserve, Lantian town, Lingchuan County, northeastern Guangxi in 2013, we collected an unusual Aspidistra specimen with linear leaves and urceolar perigone. In March 2014, we returned to the place for further observations of the species, the plant flowered regularly. After consulting herbarium specimens and relevant literature on Aspidistra, it became apparent that we had a new species at hand.