Jian-Quan Tang

Dryopteris ningqiangensis , a new fern species of Dryopteridaceae from Shaanxi, China, is described and illustrated herein. Morphologically, D. ningqiangensis belongs to the D. varia complex but is characterized by papyraceous laminae and sparsely spreading, blackish-brown scales on the stipe. Phylogenetic analyses show that D. ningqiangensis is of hybrid origin; its maternal parent is probably an undiscovered tetraploid D. bissetiana , and its paternal parent is D. gymnophylla .

The corolla of Rehmannia glutinosa typically exhibits a stable reddish-purple color, but a naturally occurring yellow-flowered variant has recently been identified. To clarify the molecular basis of flower color variant, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and variant analyses were integrated. Metabolomic profiling revealed that the yellow phenotype was associated with lower anthocyanin levels and higher carotenoid levels. Specifically, the decreased cyanidin-3-O-glucoside led to a loss of red, while increased lutein provided the basis for the yellow color. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a downregulation of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, including CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR, and ANS, in the yellow-flowered variant, and three S6-subgroup R2R3-MYB genes, including the known anthocyanin activator RgMYB41 (gene-DH2020_015992), were downregulated. Variant analysis showed that A12S and G255E in the gene-DH2020_015992 transcription factor were predicted to markedly alter protein conformation and potentially impair regulatory function. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activation assays further supported the functional characterization of gene-DH2020_015992 as a transcription factor. Collectively, these findings suggest that flower color variation in R. glutinosa is driven by MYB-mediated repression of anthocyanin biosynthesis and by carotenoid accumulation. This study provides a comprehensive genetic explanation for flower color variation in R. glutinosa and offers a theoretical foundation for floral pigmentation in plants.

Meehania porphyrea, a new species of Meehania, was discovered during extensive field surveys in the Xiaolongshan National Nature Reserve in Gansu, China. This region is located in the Qinba Mountains of southern Gansu, one of the province's biodiversity hotspots, where the complex environment creates diverse habitats for a wide variety of plant species. Morphologically, M. porphyrea resembles Meehania fargesii (H. Lév.) C. Y. Wu, but the former is distinguished by its overall smaller plant size, often purple abaxial leaf surfaces, pale bluish purple flowers, smaller corolla, and narrow tubular calyx. Based on these distinct characteristics, we describe it here as a new species.