Aster dianchuanensis (Asteraceae, Astereae), a new species from Yunnan and Sichuan, China

Abstract

Aster dianchuanensis J.W.Xiao & W.P.Li (Asteraceae, Astereae), a new species from Yunnan and Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated with photographs. Morphological data and a phylogenetic analysis based on a combined ITS, ETS and trnL-F dataset, suggest that A. dianchuanensis is a distinct species closely related to A. tongolensis. The new species differs from the latter by its few-branched stems (vs simple in A. tongolensis), basal rosette and lower cauline leaves marcescent at anthesis (vs present at anthesis), larger middle cauline leaves (3 – 5.8 × 0.7 cm – 1.2 vs 1 – 4 × 0.2 – 0.9 cm), capitula 2 – 5 in lax corymbiform inflorescence (vs solitary capitula), 3 – 4 (5 –)-seriate phyllaries (vs 2- or 3-seriate), unequal (rarely equal) disc floret lobes (vs equal, or rarely unequal).