The Complete Chloroplast Genome and Morphological Data Support Reinstatement of <i>Sedum jinianum</i> (Crassulaceae) as an Independent Species

<i>Sedum jinianum</i> (Crassulaceae) has been treated as a synonym of <i>S. bulbiferum</i>, a widely distributed species in southern China, in <i>Flora of China</i>. However, critical observations on living plants in the wild revealed remarkable morphological distinctions between the two taxa. <i>Sedum jinianum</i> can be readily distinguished from <i>S. bulbiferum</i> by its alternate leaves, shape and size of leaves, and dark green bulbils. The plastomes of <i>S</i>. <i>jinianum</i> are 150,041-150,086 bp in length and exhibit a typical quadripartite structure. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete chloroplast genome data indicates that <i>S</i>. <i>jinianum</i> forms a monophyletic clade, sister to a well-supported clade comprising four <i>S. bulbiferum</i> samples from geographically different populations. These findings support the reinstatement of <i>S</i>. <i>jinianum</i> as an independent species. Since the original holotype of <i>S. jinianum</i> could not be found in the ANUB, a neotype (<i>L. Shen 240510</i> at ANUB) is designated here, along with an emended species description.