Gentiana tingnongiana and G. shangwui, two new species of Gentiana (Gentianaceae) from the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Sichuan province, China

Gentiana tingnongiana H. F. Cao & L. Zhang, sp. nov., and Gentiana shangwui H. F. Cao & L. Zhang, sp. nov., two new species of Gentianaceae from Sichuan, China, are described and illustrated here. G. tingnongiana has an erect main stem, obovate to oblong stem leaves, a yellowish-green corolla with external stripes and a pink to pale purple or sub-white interior, numerous blackish-purple spots in the throat and plicae, and small seeds 0.7–1.0 mm in diameter.

Gentiana shangwui is characterized by densely puberulent leaves and calyces, a corolla throat without short striations, a bright yellow or pale yellow middle part of the corolla tube, a relatively small corolla, stamens inserted at the apical part of the tube, and a 4–6 mm long style. Phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequences recovers both species as distinct, well-supported monophyletic lineages. Combined morphological and phylogenetic evidence supports the establishment of these two new species.