Violaxinchengensis (Violaceae), a new species from central Guangxi, China.

Abstract

Violaxinchengensis (Violaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, is established on the basis of morphological and molecular evidence. This new species resembles V.lucens, but differs from the latter by its stipules margin long fimbriate-dentate (vs. fimbriate-dentate), stolon absent (vs. stolon slender, often producing a new plant at the top) and sepals 4-6 mm, glabrous (vs. 2.5-3 mm, villous). Violaxinchengensis is similar to V.fargesii, but it can be easily distinguished by its pedicels sparsely white villous (vs. densely spreading white puberulous), stolon absent (vs. stolon longer, elongated, puberulous, sometimes stem-like) and sepals 4-6 mm, glabrous (vs. 7-9 mm, puberulous). Our morphology analysis confirms that the new species belongs to V.sect.Plagiostigmasubsect.Diffusae. Photographs, an illustration, a distribution map and comparisons with the most similar species are also provided.