Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aspidistra crassifila Yan Liu & C.-I Peng, a new species of the Asparagaceae from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, is described and illustrated. RESULTS: The new species is similar to A. subrotata Y. Wan & C. C. Huang in the perianth lobes triangular-lanceolate and horizontally spreading, but differs by the perianth campanulate, lobes with appendages at base, stamens 6-8 mm long, filaments enlarged, anthers adnate to perianth tube, connectives extended and upcurved. The chromosome number of the new species was determined to be 2n = 38, and the karyotype was formulated as 2n = 22m(2SC)+4sm+12st. CONCLUSION: A careful study of the literature, herbarium specimens and living plants, both in the wild and in cultivation in the experimental greenhouse, support the recognition of the new species Aspidistra crassifila, which is described herein. Aspidistra crassifila is currently known only from Shiwandashan Mountains, which lie in southern Guangxi. A line drawing, color plates and a distribution map are given for the new species to aid in identification.