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Carya luodianensis Y.B. Yang & M.T. An (Juglandaceae), a new species from Luodian County, Guizhou Province, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular data. Morphologically, this species resembles C. kweichowensis but can be easily distinguished by its rusty brown buds, 5–7 leaflets, a greater number of lateral veins (12–21 pairs), pubescent anthers, and nut shell bearing four faint longitudinal ridges. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on complete chloroplast genome sequences indicates that C. luodianensis is sister to C. kweichowensis. The plastome of C. luodianensis, with a total length of 175,255 bp, exhibits a typical quadripartite structure and consists of 78 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and four ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Notably, a marked expansion of the inverted repeat (IR) region (40,956 bp) and contraction of the small single‐copy (SSC) region (3553 bp) are detected, accompanied by the translocation of several genes from the SSC region to the IR regions, resulting in increased gene copy numbers and reduced GC content. Comparative plastome analyses further reveal the conservation and differentiation between C. luodianensis and its closely related species, particularly in genome size, gene order, and repeat sequence distribution. Collectively, the unique morphological traits, plastid genome features, and phylogenetic placement strongly support the recognition of C. luodianensis as a distinct new species and highlight its evolutionary divergence within Carya. Carya luodianensis (Juglandaceae), a new species, is described and illustrated. We combined morphological characteristics, comparative plastome analyses, and phylogenetic analysis, all of which support the recognition of C. luodianensis as a new species and highlight its evolutionary divergence within Carya.

Through detailed morphological comparison and robust molecular evidence, we confirm Neillia daloushanensis M.T.An & Xu Wu as a new species of Rosaceae from Guizhou province, southwest China. Morphologically, N. daloushanensis closely resembles N. gracilis but differs in several key traits: it is a creeping liana rather than a low subshrub; its stems are 0.6–1.5 cm long compared to the slender stems less than 0.5 cm tall in N. gracilis ; its leaves are larger, measuring 5–9 × 3–6 cm vs. 2.5–3.5 × 2–3 cm; stipules are sessile, clasping, and larger (0.8–1.3 × 0.6–1.1 cm) rather than peitiolate and smaller (0.4–0.6 × 0.3–0.5 cm) without clasping; calyx tubes are densely pilose on both surfaces and bear stipitate glands abaxially, in contrast to the slightly pubescent, glandless calyx tubes of N. gracilis ; and the seed number ranges from 2 to 4 instead of consistently 2. These morphological distinctions are further corroborated by molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 703 single-copy nuclear genes, supporting the recognition of N. daloushanensis as a distinct species within the genus.

Impatiens beipanjiangensis Jian Xu & H. F. Hu (Balsaminaceae), a new species of Impatiens subg. Clavicarpa discovered in Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated in this study along with its molecular phylogenetic analysis. I. beipanjiangensis is similar to I. liboensis , I. chishuiensis and I. clavigera in morphology, but I. tubulosa has the closest relationship to it. However, there are various ways in which the new species can be easily distinguished from these four species: Inferior nodes swollen rhizoid, pale green and with hooked outer sepals, longer lateral united petals, subovate auricle, deeper lower sepal and shorter spur that is reflexed towards the lower sepal. Furthermore, I. beipanjiangensis is distinguished from other Impatiens species, based on morphological, micromorphological and palynological evidence and molecular data (PP 0.967).

Rhododendron jiucaipingensis Jian Xu & M. T. An, sp. nov . (Ericaceae), a new species of R. subgen. Hymenanthes , subsect. Argyrophylla , from northwestern Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. It is an evergreen shrub 1.5–3.0 m tall, characterized by green, densely white-tomentose current-year branchlets, leaves crowded at branch apices (5.5–9.5 × 2.5–4.0 cm) with 8–11 pairs of lateral veins, 10 stamens, and cylindric capsules 1.2–2.0 cm long. The new species is morphologically most similar to R. hypoglaucum and R. argyrophyllum , but it is readily distinguished by having densely white-tomentose current-year branchlets, fewer lateral veins (8–11 pairs), a double-layered white indumentum on the abaxial surfaces of young leaves, and 10 stamens. Phylogenetic analysis based on a whole-genome SNP dataset robustly resolves R. jiucaipingensis as a distinct lineage within subsect. Argyrophylla , positioned as sister to the monophyletic clade of five congeneric species with high support (SH-aLRT = 100%, UFBoot = 100%). This molecular evidence, congruent with diagnostic morphological characters, supports the recognition of R. jiucaipingensis as a species new to science.

Hypericum liboense M.T.An & T.R.Wu, sp. nov. (Hypericaceae) is a newly described species found in the Maolan National Nature Reserve of Guizhou Province, where it grows in rocky habitats without soil on karst mountain tops. In this study, key morphological characters were compared between the new species and the other known Hypericum species of Hypericaceae. DNA sequences were extracted from the leaves of the new species, with nuclear gene sequences (ITS) generated to reconstruct phylogenetic trees and describe its phylogenetic position in relation to other species of Hypericum . Our results show that the proposed new species has the typical characteristics of the genus Hypericum in morphology being similar to Hypericum monogynum , but differing in its sessile and semi-clasped leaves, long elliptical to long circular leaf blades, thickly papery to thinly leathery, with entire and wavy leaf margins. The abaxial side of the leaves is covered with white powder, giving them a grey-white appearance. The main lateral veins of the leaves are 8–15-paired, and the midvein on both sides is convex. The main lateral veins and midvein branch are conspicuous, with tertiary venation forming a network on the leaf surface and appearing prominently sunken. The inflorescences are 1–3-flowered, with a large calyx and conspicuous veins. The molecular phylogenetic analysis (PP = 1.00) provided substantial evidence for the proposition of H. liboense as a new species within Hypericum . Morphological and molecular evidence is presented, corroborating the proposition of the new species, including a comprehensive account of the distinctive morphological attributes of H. liboense , along with its key distinguishing features from similar species.

This paper describes a new species of the genus Euonymus from Guizhou Province in southwestern China, Euonymus maotaiensis . The new species is morphologically similar to E. chloranthoides but can be distinguished by several key characteristics: broadly lanceolate leaves (as opposed to elliptic to oblong-elliptic), longer petioles (5–12 mm vs. 1–2 mm), longer peduncles (4–9 cm vs. 1–2 cm), 4- or 5-merous flowers (vs. strictly 5-merous), suborbicular petals with the upper half completely recurved abaxially (vs. planar petals), and indehiscent, 4–5 shallowly sulcate capsules (vs. 5-lobed capsules dehiscent to near the midpoint). These morphological differences are further supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses.

Dysosma xishuiensis Y. B. Yang, M. T. An & C. H. Yang is described and illustrated as a new species from Xishui County in northern Guizhou Province, China. This species is morphologically similar to D. versipellis , but differs by its glabrous abaxial leaf surface, pedicels, and sepals; inflorescences bearing more flowers (8–20 vs. 5–8); larger obovate–oblong petals (2.8–3.4 × 1.5–2.0 cm vs. 2.5 × 0.8 cm); and an obpyriform ovary (vs. ellipsoid). The phylogenetic relationships reconstructed using ITS, matK , and rbcL sequences further confirm that it is a new species within Dysosma . This species is currently known only from the Xishui National Nature Reserve in Guizhou. According to IUCN criteria (B2, D), due to its limited distribution and low population numbers, D. xishuiensis is assessed as Endangered (EN).

Oreocharis esquirolii, a member of Gesneriaceae, is known as Thamnocharis esquirolii, which has been regarded a synonym of the former. The species is endemic to Guizhou, southwestern China, and is evaluated as vulnerable (VU) under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Until now, the sequence and genome information of O. esquirolii remains unknown. In this study, we assembled and characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of O. esquirolii using Illumina sequencing data for the first time. The total length of the cp genome was 154,069 bp with a typical quadripartite structure consisting of a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,392 bp separated by a large single copy region (LSC) of 85,156 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of18,129 bp. The genome comprised 114 unique genes with 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Thirty-one repeat sequences and 74 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified. Genome alignment across five plastid genomes of Gesneriaceae indicated a high sequence similarity. Four highly variable sites (rps16-trnQ, trnS-trnG, ndhF-rpl32, and ycf 1) were identified. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that O. esquirolii grouped together with O. mileensis, supporting resurrection of the name Oreocharis esquirolii from Thamnocharisesquirolii. The complete cp genome sequence will contribute to further studies in molecular identification, genetic diversity, and phylogeny.

Salvia penghuana , a new species from Guizhou Province of southwestern China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, Salvia penghuana is similar to S. filicifolia , but can be easily distinguished from the latter by ovate-lanceolate bracts, purple corolla, and foot-shaped fused lower arms of connective. In addition, S. penhuana is morphologically similar to S. cavaleriei , but differs by having 3–4-pinnate leave, ovate-lanceolate bracts, puberulent calyx, and longer upper arms of connective. Based on the fibril root, small calyx and corolla, and completely reduced posterior thecae, S. penghuana should be placed in section Sobiso of subg. Glutinaria.

Oxalis xishuiensis , a new species of Oxalidaceae from Danxia landforms of Xishui County, Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to O. wulingensis by the two lateral leaflets arranged at about 180° angle and oblong pink petals with lilac veins, but clearly differs from the latter by leaflets almost as long as wide, obliquely obcordate lateral leaflets, shorter peduncles, longer capsule (1.2–1.5 cm vs. 0.5–0.7 cm) and alveolate seeds.