Prunus zhuxiensis (Rosaceae), a new species from Hubei, China

In the present paper, we describe a new species, Prunus zhuxiensis (P. subg. Cerasus), from Hubei, China, based on long-term field observations. This species closely resembles P. serrulata in having corymbose-racemose or subumbellate inflorescences, hairy petiole, pedicel, involucral bracts and black drupes.

However, P. zhuxiensis differs distinctly from P. serrulata by its sweet edible drupes (versus bitter, inedible drupes in P. serrulata), stipules 4 - lobed at the base (versus linear stipules in P. serrulata), smaller bracts, shorter pedicels and styles pilose at the base (versus glabrous styles in P. serrulata). Furthermore, molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that P. zhuxiensis and P. serrulata are placed in separate clades, supporting their distinction.