Sedum simingshanense (Crassulaceae), a new species from Zhejiang, East China

In this paper, <i>Sedumsimingshanense</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is described as a new species based on morphological and molecular analyses, and its taxonomic relationships are discussed. Morphological analysis indicates <i>S.simingshanense</i> should be classified in the genus Sedumsect.Sedum and is distinct from the related species <i>S.xunvense</i> and <i>S.formosanum</i> in the morphology of its solitary, light green and smooth stems, flattened leaves, larger, obovate and spurless sepals, yellow anthers, 22-30 ovules per carpel, oblique follicles, and its habitat on shaded slopes or rocks. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) also demonstrates that <i>S.simingshanense</i> has a highest similarity of only 97.22% with any known species and <i>S.formosanum</i> is the closest extant relative of the new species.