<i>Dasymaschalon wardii</i> (Annonaceae), a New Species from Kachin State, Northern Myanmar, Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence

Abstract— Dasymaschalon wardii , a new species from Kachin State, northern Myanmar, is described and illustrated here based on its morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. This species is similar to D. tibetense but can be distinguished easily by its attenuated leaf apex, longer floral chamber, larger number of carpels per flower and monocarps per fruit, and shorter seeds. The new species status is also supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses with five plastid regions ( psbA-trnH , matK , trnL-trnF , rbcL , and ndhF ) and two nuclear ribosomal DNA regions (ETS and ITS), which showed a distinct systematic position from the most morphologically similar species of D. tibetense . Detailed descriptions, colored photographs, and habitat and distribution data for the new species are provided.