[Botany • 2025] Dysosma xishuiensis (Berberidaceae) • A New Species from Guizhou, China, based on morphological and molecular evidence

Dysosma xishuiensis Y. B. Yang, M. T. An & C. H. Yang, 

[G-H] D. versipellis;  [I] D. majoensis

in Huang, Yao, Yang, An, Yu, Zhou et Li, 2025.  

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.268.152287

Abstract

Dysosma xishuiensis Y. B. Yang, M. T. An & C. H. Yang is described and illustrated as a new species from Xishui County in northern Guizhou Province, China. This species is morphologically similar to D. versipellis, but differs by its glabrous abaxial leaf surface, pedicels, and sepals; inflorescences bearing more flowers (8–20 vs. 5–8); larger obovate–oblong petals (2.8–3.4 × 1.5–2.0 cm vs. 2.5 × 0.8 cm); and an obpyriform ovary (vs. ellipsoid). The phylogenetic relationships reconstructed using ITS, matK, and rbcL sequences further confirm that it is a new species within Dysosma. This species is currently known only from the Xishui National Nature Reserve in Guizhou. According to IUCN criteria (B2, D), due to its limited distribution and low population numbers, D. xishuiensis is assessed as Endangered (EN).

Key words: Dysosma, molecular phylogeny, morphology, new taxon, taxonomy

Images of living plants of Dysosma xishuiensis Y. B. Yang, M. T. An & C. H. Yang.
A. Individual; B. Root; C. An adaxially leaf blade; D. Abaxial leaf blade; E. Inflorescence anatomy of a flower; F. Stamens and pistils;
G. Plant habit and leaf morphology (D. versipellis); H. Inflorescence (D. versipellis); I. Leaf morphology (D. majoensis).

Photos credit: A, F, G, I by C. H. Yang; C, D by L. Huang; B, E by J. G. Wang; G, H by Z. Wei.

Dysosma xishuiensis Y. B. Yang, M. T. An & C. H. Yang sp. nov. 

 Lang Huang, Wei-Hao Yao, Yan-Bing Yang, Ming-Tai An, Yuan-Lin Yu, Mei Zhou and He Li. 2025. Dysosma xishuiensis (Berberidaceae), A New Species from Guizhou, China, based on morphological and molecular evidence. PhytoKeys. 268: 59-67. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.268.152287

[Botany • 2025] Berberis jiuzhaigouensis (Berberidaceae) • A New riparian shrub from northern Sichuan, China

 

Berberis jiuzhaigouensis  H.L.Pan, D.C.Meng & C.C.Yu,

in Pan, Zhang, Wang, Meng et Yu. 2025.

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.261.158475

Abstract

Berberis jiuzhaigouensis is herein described as a new deciduous species endemic to riparian habitats in Jiuzhaigou, northern Sichuan, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on complete plastome sequences and 322 nuclear loci consistently recover B. jiuzhaigouensis as a distinct and divergent lineage, genetically separated from all morphologically similar species and most closely related to B. gilgiana. Species delimitation analyses employing both topology-based (SODA) and substitution-based (bPTP, mPTP) frameworks further corroborate its taxonomic distinctiveness. This discovery highlights previously overlooked species diversity within Berberis in the Hengduan Mountains region.

Key words: Berberis, Jiuzhaigou, new species, phylogenomics, riparian flora

Berberis jiuzhaigouensis sp. nov.
A. Flowering branches; B. Streamlined, narrowly elliptic leaf blades with purplish-brown branches; C. Inflorescence types (clustered on the left, sub-umbellate on the right); D. Reproductive structures, with sepal numbering indicating their positional order; E. Spines on short shoots; F. Leaf morphology.

 Berberis jiuzhaigouensis H.L.Pan, D.C.Meng & C.C.Yu, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis. Berberis jiuzhaigouensis is morphologically similar to B. gilgiana and B. salicaria, particularly in leaf shape. However, it can be readily distinguished by its glabrous abaxial leaf surface – contrasting with the distinctly pubescent midrib of B. gilgiana (Suppl. material 1: fig. S1A) – and by its fascicled to sub-umbellate inflorescences, in contrast to the spike-like racemes characteristic of both B. gilgiana and B. salicaria.

 

 Hong-Li Pan, Yue Zhang, Jia-Hao Wang, De-Chang Meng and Chih-Chieh Yu. 2025. Berberis jiuzhaigouensis (Berberidaceae), A New riparian shrub from northern Sichuan, China. PhytoKeys. 261: 165-174. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.261.158475

[Botany • 2023] Epimedium longnanense (Berberidaceae) • A New Species from Gansu, China

Epimedium longnanense   Y.J.Zhang, 

in Jiang, Ji, Li & Zhang, 2023.

陇南淫羊藿  ||  DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.219.94275

Abstract

Epimedium longnanense, a new species of Epimedium (Berberidaceae) from Longnan Prefecture, Gansu Province, China, is here proposed and illustrated. E. longnanense has large flowers with petals possessing long spur and obvious basal lamina, and thus should be grouped into series Davidianae. The species closely resembles E. flavum of ser. Davidianae in morphology. However, it can be easily distinguished by its elongated rhizome (vs. compact), trifoliolate leaves (vs. five leaflets, sometimes trifoliolate), pale pink or purplish-red inner sepals with 6–8 × 2–3 mm (vs. pale sulphur-yellow, ca. 11 × 4 mm).

Keywords: Epimedium, IUCN Red List, morphology, taxonomy

Epimedium longnanense
A habitat B plant C leaves (abaxial sides) D simple inflorescence with a flowering stem bearing one leaf E compound inflorescence with a flowering stem bearing two alternative leaves F flowers (adaxial view) G flower (abaxial view) H flower (Side view) I flower (Side view) and immature capsules J mature capsules K rhizome.

 Photographed by Yanjun Zhang and Ying Ji.

Epimedium longnanense
 A plant B flower C petal D inner sepal E stamen and gynoecium.

Drawn by Nan Jia.

 Epimedium longnanense Y.J.Zhang, sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Epimedium longnanense is closely similar to E. flavum Stearn in morphology, but can be easily distinguished by its elongated rhizome, trifoliolate leaves, and relatively smaller and pale pink or purplish-red inner sepals.

 

Distribution and habit: At present, Epimedium longnanense is only known from its type locality, i.e. Kangnan Forest District, Kangxian County, Longnan Prefecture, Gansu Province, China. The new species mainly occurs in thickets at elevations of 1800–2300 m and is usually together with Fargesia nitida (Mitford) Keng f. ex Yi, Rubia cordifolia L., Smilax stans Maxim., Cardamine tangutorum O. E. Schulz and Veratrum nigrum L. It often grows in stone crevices with barren soil, and its elongated and slender rhizome might be an adaptive characteristic of its living environment. Except for E. longnanense, there are two other species of Epimedium, E. brevicornu Maxim. and E. pubescens Maxim., in Gansu Province, China. In the type locality of E. longnanense, we also found E. pubescens at elevations of 300–1500 m, but no sympatric distribution of these two species was found.

Etymology: Longnan is located in the southeast of Gansu Province, the intersection of Qinba Mountain, Loess Plateau and Qinghai Tibet Plateau in China. Longnan is a biodiversity hotspot where many new species or new species records have been found (Liu et al. 2018; Qin et al. 2020; Zhang et al. 2022a). The new species, E. longnanense, is found in this region and is named after the geographic name.

Chinese name: Long nan yin yang huo (陇南淫羊藿).

 Jianhang Jiang, Ying Ji, Jianqiang Li and Yanjun Zhang. 2023. Epimedium longnanense (Berberidaceae), A New Species from Gansu, China. PhytoKeys. 219: 97-106. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.219.94275

[Botany • 2019] Dysosma villosa (Berberidaceae) • A New Species from Guizhou, Southwestern China

Dysosma villosa Z.W.Wang & H.C.Xi

in Wang, Sun, Xi & Chang, 2019. 

 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.124.34435

Abstract

A new species, Dysosma villosa Z.W.Wang & H.C.Xi, is described and illustrated based on collections from the Yueliang Mountains in Congjiang County of Guizhou, Southwestern China. It is morphologically similar to D. difformis (Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson) T.H.Wang ex T.S.Ying, but can be easily distinguished from D. difformis by its inflorescences bearing a greater number of flowers (5–13 vs. 2–5), white-villous stems, petioles, and abaxial leaf blade, and stigma dark purple-red. In addition, we also compare this new species to the three species of Podophyllum (i.e., P. glaucescens J.M.H.Shaw, P. hemsleyi J.M.H.Shaw & Stearn, and P. trilobulum J.M.H.Shaw) which are insufficiently known and listed as putative members of Dysosma in Flora of China. Dysosma villosa can also be easily distinguished from P. glaucescens (7-flowered; to 40 cm tall) and P. hemsleyi (4-flowered; to 40 cm tall) by its inflorescences bearing a greater number of flowers, relatively smaller stature (9–23 cm tall), stems, petioles and abaxial leaf blade densely white-villose. Although the stems and petioles of P. trilobulum also possess fine short hairs, it can be easily distinguished from D. villosa by its trilobulate leaves, inflorescence with fewer flowers (2–5), and the position of inflorescence (inserted at or above midpoint on petiole of upper leaf).

Keywords: Asia, Berberidaceae, Dysosma, Podophylloideae, Podophyllum, Ranunculales

Figure 1. Holotype of Dysosma villosa Z.W.Wang & H.C.Xi. 

Figure 2. Images of living plants of Dysosma villosa Z.W.Wang & H.C.Xi. A Plant B petiole and stem C abaxial leaf blade D inflorescence E flower F anatomy of flower. 

Figure 3. Dysosma villosa Z.W.Wang & H.C.Xi. A Plant (aerial part) B root C flower D sepal E stamen F pistil.

Dysosma villosa Z.W.Wang & H.C.Xi, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Dysosma villosa is most similar to D. difformis (Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson) T.H.Wang ex T.S.Ying, but differs from the latter by its inflorescences generally with more flowers (5–13 vs. 2–5), white-villous petioles, stems and abaxial leaf blade and dark purple-red stigma.

.... 

Distribution and habitat: This new species is currently known from Yueliang mountains of Congjiang County, Guizhou Province, Southwestern China. It grows under forests, at an elevation between 800 and 1500 m.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the character (white-villous petioles, stems and abaxial leaf blade) of this species.

Zhiwei Wang, Wenguang Sun, Houcheng Xi and Shuai Chang. 2019. Dysosma villosa (Berberidaceae), A New Species from Guizhou, Southwestern China. PhytoKeys. 124: 77-85. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.124.34435