Viola xinchengensis (Violaceae), a new species from central Guangxi, China

<i>Violaxinchengensis</i> (Violaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, is established on the basis of morphological and molecular evidence. This new species resembles <i>V.lucens</i>, but differs from the latter by its stipules margin long fimbriate-dentate (vs. fimbriate-dentate), stolon absent (vs. stolon slender, often producing a new plant at the top) and sepals 4-6 mm, glabrous (vs. 2.5-3 mm, villous). <i>Violaxinchengensis</i> is similar to <i>V.fargesii</i>, but it can be easily distinguished by its pedicels sparsely white villous (vs. densely spreading white puberulous), stolon absent (vs. stolon longer, elongated, puberulous, sometimes stem-like) and sepals 4-6 mm, glabrous (vs. 7-9 mm, puberulous). Our morphology analysis confirms that the new species belongs to V.sect.Plagiostigmasubsect.Diffusae. Photographs, an illustration, a distribution map and comparisons with the most similar species are also provided.