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Issue: Vol. 772 No. 2: 28 Aug. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-08-28
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.772.2.2
Page range: 121-139
Abstract views: 104
PDF downloaded: 4

Two new endangered species of Ormosia (Fabaceae) from Guangdong, China

Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China
Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China
Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China
Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China
Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China
Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain; Guangxi Institute of Botany; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guilin; Guangxi 541006; China
Yangjiang Municipal People’s Government Taiwan; Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau; Yangjiang; Guangdong 529500; China
Management Office; Guangdong Enping Qixingkeng Provincial Nature Reserve; Enping; Guangdong 529400; China
Plant Science Research Center; South China Botanical Garden; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangzhou; Guangdong 510650; China
Eudicots Ormosia new species Fabaceae taxonomy plant conservation Guangdong Province

Abstract

Integrated morphological analyses of flowering and fruiting materials suggest that several Guangdong populations of Ormosia—previously referred to as O. indurata, O. xylocarpa, or O. eugeniifolia based on vegetative specimens—correspond to two new species: O. yangjiangensis and O. taishanensis. Morphologically, O. yangjiangensis most closely resembles O. xylocarpa and O. pubescens. It differs from O. xylocarpa in leaflets thinly coriaceous, raceme axillary or pseudoterminal, legumes lacking a rib along the adaxial suture. Compared to O. pubescens, it is distinguished by its larger flowers (1.8–2.5 × 2.0–2.5 cm) and laterally compressed legumes. O. taishanensis is most similar to O. eugeniifolia but can be distinguished by its raceme axillary or pseudoterminal, legumes possess a prominent rib along the adaxial suture, valves of legume 6–11 mm thick. Both species are known from only a few localities and have very limited population sizes. Based on IUCN Red List criteria, the conservation status of the two new species is assessed as Endangered and Critically Endangered; both are recommended for inclusion as National Second-Class Protected Wild Plants under China’s List of National Key Protected Wild Plants (2021 edition). For the convenience of comparison, a key to all Ormosia species occurring in Guangdong Province is provided.

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How to Cite

Zhang, B.-Y., Li, L., Xu, L.-S., Chen, Y.-L., Song, Z.-Q., Yan, Q.-L., Zou, C.-Y., Chen, G.-D., Chen, X.-Y. & Chen, Y.-S. (2026) Two new endangered species of Ormosia (Fabaceae) from Guangdong, China. Phytotaxa 772 (2): 121–139. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.772.2.2