Jiang-Hong Yu’s research while affiliated with Guizhou University and other places

Mallotus bullatus M.T.An & J.H.Yu, sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae), a species new to science discovered in Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated here, and its phylogenetic position among other Mallotus species is presented. Morphological, micro-morphological, and molecular evidence is presented as attestation of its novelty. The new species morphologically resembles M. philippensis var. reticulatus and M. philippensis var. philippensis, but it clearly differs by having bullate leaf surfaces (vs. not bullate), leaf margins entire or nearly so (vs. entire or nearly so in M. philippensis var. philippensis and coarsely serrate in M. philippensis var. reticulatus), leaf margins sometimes bearing red glands (vs. red glands absent), 5 sepals in staminate flowers (vs. 3–4 in M. philippensis var. philippensis and 4 in M. philippensis var. reticulatus), fruits with spines (vs. spines absent in M. philippensis var. philippensis and present in M. philippensis var. reticulatus), and abaxial leaf epidermal scattered and clustered vein hairs 0.1–0.8 mm long (vs. 0.04–0.28 mm long in M. philippensis var. philippensis and 0.05–0.1 mm long in M. philippensis var. reticulatus). Molecular phylogenetic analysis (BS = 100% / BS = 96%, PP = 1 / PP = 1) provides strong evidence supporting M. bullatus as a new species within the genus Mallotus and supports its placement in M. sect. Philippinenses as sister to M. philippensis.

Mallotus bullata M.T.An & J.H. Yu sp. Nov. (Euphorbiaceae), a species new to science discovered in Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated here, along with its phylogenetic position among other Mallotus species. Morphological, micro-morphological, and molecular evidence is presented as attestation of its novelty. The new species morphologically resembles M. philippensis var. reticulatus and M. philippensis , but it clearly differs by having leaf surface bullate, absence of coarse serrations on leaf margins, lateral veins reticulate near margins, sepals in male flowers 5, polygamous flowers, pollen grains 3 apertures with have obvious protrusions in the apertures, abaxial leaf epidermal microhairs 1-8 mm long. Molecular phylogenetic analysis (BS = 100% / BS = 96%, PP = 1 / PP = 1) provides strong evidence supporting M. bullata as a new species within the genus Mallotus .

Hypericum liboense M.T.An & T.R.Wu, sp. nov. (Hypericaceae) is a newly described species found in the Maolan National Nature Reserve of Guizhou Province, where it grows in rocky habitats without soil on karst mountain tops. In this study, key morphological characters were compared between the new species and the other known Hypericum species of Hypericaceae. DNA sequences were extracted from the leaves of the new species, with nuclear gene sequences (ITS) generated to reconstruct phylogenetic trees and describe its phylogenetic position in relation to other species of Hypericum . Our results show that the proposed new species has the typical characteristics of the genus Hypericum in morphology being similar to Hypericum monogynum , but differing in its sessile and semi-clasped leaves, long elliptical to long circular leaf blades, thickly papery to thinly leathery, with entire and wavy leaf margins. The abaxial side of the leaves is covered with white powder, giving them a grey-white appearance. The main lateral veins of the leaves are 8–15-paired, and the midvein on both sides is convex. The main lateral veins and midvein branch are conspicuous, with tertiary venation forming a network on the leaf surface and appearing prominently sunken. The inflorescences are 1–3-flowered, with a large calyx and conspicuous veins. The molecular phylogenetic analysis (PP = 1.00) provided substantial evidence for the proposition of H. liboense as a new species within Hypericum . Morphological and molecular evidence is presented, corroborating the proposition of the new species, including a comprehensive account of the distinctive morphological attributes of H. liboense , along with its key distinguishing features from similar species.

National key protected wild plants (NKPWPs) are species with important conservation value based on genetics, ecology, culture, and/or scientific research, which are also confronted with serious threats. However, their geographical distribution patterns and conservation status remain unclear. In this study, we compiled 1,032 species of NKPWPs. We measured the diversity to identify NKPWPs hotspots based on species richness, weighted range size rarity and a complementarity‐based analysis. Comparing the distribution and hotspots of NKPWPs with the coverage of Chinese nature reserves (NRs), we assessed conservation effectiveness and identified conservation gaps. The results identified 13 diversity hotspots; only 9.5% of them were covered by NRs with >30% of the grid cell area, and even 19.5% were not covered at all by NRs. Overall, 44.7% of NKPWPs are effectively protected by national NRs. Despite this success, 571 species in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, Guangdong, southern Hainan, Taiwan, and northern Xinjiang remain unprotected by NRs. The protected proportion of plants with first‐level protection was lower than that of plants with second‐level protection. The low overall proportion of protected hotspots indicates that the conservation outlook for NKPWPs is not optimistic. This study identifies priority conservation areas and conservation gaps and provides a scientific reference for the conservation of wild plants in China. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Impatiens yunlingensis S.X. Yu, Chang Y. Xia & J.H. Yu (Balsaminaceae), a species new to science discovered in Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here, along with its phylogenetic position among other Impatiens species. Morphological, micro-morphological and molecular evidence is presented as an attestation of its novelty. Impatiens yunlingensis is similar to I. delavayi in having coarsely crenate leave margins, bracts in the upper part, ca. 4 / 5 length of the pedicels, saccate lower sepal with shallowly bifid spur, linear capsules, and elliptic-oblong, tuberculate seeds, but differs from I. delavayi with lateral sepals 4 (vs. 2), lateral united petal basal lobes subtriangular (vs. dolabriform), and seeds' surface equipped with tubercular ornamentation mostly covered with grain shaped appendages (vs. glabrous and without grain shaped appendages on the top).