Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes on Salix (Salicaceae) from northern China

This study designates lectotypes for 20 names of Salix from northern China: Salix bikouensis var. villosa, S. flavida, S. gordejevii, S. hsinganica, S. juparica, S. matsudana var. anshanensis, S. neomyrtillacea, S. pingliensis, S. pseudomatsudana, S. psammophila, S. qinlingica, S. qinghaiensis var. microphylla, S. raddeana var. subglabra, S. skvortsovii, S. subpyroliformis, S. sungkianica, S. tibetica, S. tschanbaischanica, S. wilhelmsiana f. ciliuensis and S. yanbianica.

We hypothesise that S. babylonica is actually an ancient cultivar derived from S. matsudana and we acknowledge the taxonomic status of both names. We propose a new synonymy of Salix matsudana var. anshanensis and S. matsudana var. pseudomatsudana under S. matsudana, as well as the synonymisation of S. wilhelmsiana f. ciliuensis under S. cyanolimenaea. For each name, the taxonomic background, current status and justification for lectotype designation and taxonomic treatment are provided in detail, supported by high-resolution images of the designated lectotypes.