The identity of Anemone gonggaensis (Ranunculaceae) recently described from Kangding in western Sichuan, China

Based on consultation of literature, examination of herbarium specimens (including type material) and observations of living plants in the wild, we demonstrate that Anemone gonggaensis (Ranunculaceae), recently described from Kangding in western Sichuan, China, is not essentially different from A. rupicola (sometimes treated as Eriocapiitella rupicola), a morphologically very distinctive species widely distributed in the Sino-Himalayan region, including Bhutan, China (western Sichuan, southern and eastern Xizang, northwestern Yunnan), northern India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sikkim. We therefore place both A. gonggaensis and E. rupicola in synonymy with A. rupicola herein.