title: Mazus sunhangii (Mazaceae), a New Species Discovered in Central China Appears to Be Highly Endangered.
abstract: Mazus sunhangii, a new species of Mazaceae from central China is described and illustrated based on evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny. This new species is morphologically similar to M. puchellus and M. omeiensis but differs in erect habit, inflorescence position, leaf pattern and corolla color. Phylogenetic analysis based on four chloroplast DNA regions (rbcL, rps16, trnL-F, and psbA-trnH) identified the new species as the independent lineage sister to the other East Asian Mazus species. The new species is known only from a single location in Mt. Shennongjia area in northwest Hubei province, at the elevation of 760 m. The species grows on the limestone cliff, and, because a tourist arterial highway is located along this cliff, its habitat can be easily disturbed or destroyed. We propose that the only known species location is recognized as critical habitat (i.e., as the habitat required to ensure the persistence of a species) and the species listed as Critically Endangered based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Categories and Criteria B2a.
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.|Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Utilization, Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan, P.R. China.
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Deng
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.|Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Utilization, Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan, P.R. China.
authors: Xiao-Shuang
authors: XS
authors: Zhang
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors: Changkyun
authors: C
authors: Kim
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors: Jian-Wen
authors: JW
authors: Zhang
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.|Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Utilization, Jishou University, Jishou, Hunan, P.R. China.
authors: Dai-Gui
authors: DG
authors: Zhang
authors: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors: Sergei
authors: S
authors: Volis
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000235:genetics; D018742:DNA, Chloroplast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D056727:Endangered Species; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018742:DNA, Chloroplast