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Issue: Vol. 783 No. 3: 5 Nov. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-11-05
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.783.3.1
Page range: 201-219
Abstract views: 32
PDF downloaded: 4

Ilex damingshanensis (Aquifoliaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, with evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny

Southwest Survey and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration; Kunming 650031; China
Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China; Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation; College of Life Science; Nanjing Forestry University; Nanjing 210037; China
Southwest Survey and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration; Kunming 650031; China
Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Breeding and Efficient Utilization of Native Tree Species; Forestry College; Jiangxi Agricultural University; Nanchang; China
Botanical‑Perception Studio; Nangiing 210046; China
Administrative Bureau of Damingshan Nature Reserve of Guangxi; Wuming 530114; Guangxi Province; China
Administrative Bureau of Damingshan Nature Reserve of Guangxi; Wuming 530114; Guangxi Province; China
Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China; Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation; College of Life Science; Nanjing Forestry University; Nanjing 210037; China
Eudicots Aquifoliales Damingshan National Nature Reserve flora of China flora of Guangxi

Abstract

Ilex damingshanensis (Aquifoliaceae), a new species from Damingshan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, is described and compared with morphologically similar species. The new species is morphologically most like I. occulta but can be distinguished by its lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate leaves with acuminate or obtuse apices (vs. elliptic or obovate-elliptic with obtuse or subrounded apices), distinctly crenulate-serrulate leaf margins (vs. subentire) and smaller pyrenes. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on three nuclear markers supports its distinct evolutionary position, revealing that it is sister to a large clade. In this sister clade, the morphologically most similar I. occulta is deeply nested alongside I. xiaojinensis, I. robustinervosa and I. peiradena.

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How to Cite

Yang, J., Zhao, Y., Yin, Z., Yang, Y., Jiang, L., Mao, W., Xu, Q. & Xu, K. (2026) Ilex damingshanensis (Aquifoliaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, with evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny. Phytotaxa 783 (3): 201–219. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.783.3.1