Sedum qingyuanense (Crassulaceae), a new species from Qingyuan, Guangdong, China

This study describes a new species of <i>Sedum</i> (Crassulaceae), <i>Sedum qingyuanense</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> discovered in Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, China. Morphologically, <i>S. qingyuanense</i> resembles <i>S. alfredii</i> and <i>S. emarginatum</i>. The new species may have previously been misidentified as <i>S. alfredii</i>. However, the new species can be readily distinguished from <i>S. alfredii</i> by its creeping sterile stems, opposite leaves, emarginate leaf apices, and smaller sepals. Compared to <i>S. emarginatum</i>, it is differentiated by its creeping sterile stems, smaller sepals, and conspicuous pseudopetioles. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that the new species forms a sister clade to <i>S. emarginatum</i> within Sedum sect. Sedum, supported by moderate to strong bootstrap support (> 80%). Integrating both morphological evidence and the phylogenetic tree, we establish it as an independent lineage.