J Syst Evol ›› 2015, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (6): 489-498.DOI: 10.1111/jse.12153

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Cycas chenii (Cycadaceae), a new species from China, and its phylogenetic position

Wei Zhou1,2, Meng-Meng Guan1,2, and Xun Gong1*   

  1. 1Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
    2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
  • Received:2014-06-11 Published:2015-04-15

Abstract: Cycas chenii X. Gong & W. Zhou sp. nov., a new species of Cycas L., is described and illustrated here. The morphological and karyomorphological comparisons are made between C. chenii and the closely related taxa for defining its taxonomical status as a new species. Moreover, the phylogenetic position of C. chenii within 16Cycas species is determined using DNA sequences of two plastid regions, nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers, and two nuclear regions. Cycas chenii is readily distinguished from the related C. guizhouensis K. M. Lan & R. F. Zou by an acaulescent stem. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that C. chenii is a distinct group related to C. guizhouensis in the Section Stangerioides. The distribution and conservation status of C. chenii are also discussed.

Key words: China, Cycas chenii, new species, phylogenetic position