Shun-Zhi He

Aspidistra wangmoensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from Wangmo County, Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. The species is similar to A. cruciformis, but is readily distinguished by its densely micropapillate stigma with a weakly concave central disc bearing four bifurcating ridges. The stigma margin is 8-lobed with involute lobe apices. The leaves are thinly coriaceous and have entire margins. A detailed morphological comparison with related species is provided.

A new species of Dichocarpum from Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it resembles D. auriculatum, D. trifoliolatum, D. basilare, D. franchetii, D. arisanense, D. adiantifolium, and D. uniflorum. However, it differs from these seven species by its creeping stolons, 3–5-foliolate leaflets with scalloped or suborbicular shape, and an inflorescence consisting of a single flower. The phylogenetic relationship with other species of the genus is examined based on three chloroplast gene segments (matK, trnL-F, trnH-psbA) and one nuclear ribosomal DNA region (ITS). In addition, an identification key to all Chinese species of Dichocarpum is provided.

Epimedium dewuense S. Z. He is a rare and endangered endemic to China. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of E. dewuense was reported in this study. The total cp genomes size was 157,056 bp in length, with 38.8% of GC content, and a typical quadripartite structure, the large single-copy region (LSC, 88,346 bp), small single-copy region (SSC, 26,768 bp) that separate by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs, each for 20,820 bp). The whole cp genome of E. dewuense contained 130 unique genes, including 37 tRNA, 7 rRNA, and 86 protein-coding genes. This plastid genome is the first report for the E. dewuense and will be useful data for developing markers for further studies on resolving the relationship within the Berberidaceae.

To investigate the origin of medicinal plants in Guizhou province, revise the incorrectly recorded species, and correct the erroneous and incomplete Latin names. Examination was implemented on species, Latin name and geographical distribution of medicinal plants recorded in 'Medicinal Material Resources of Guizhou'. It was found that 98 species and 4 varieties were absent in Guizhou province or their Latin names were incorrect in 17 families. The origin of medicinal plants in Guizhou province was studied and the incorrect Latin names were revised. It provides a basis for standardization of medicinal plants in Guizhou province.