Polygonatum kiangnanense (Asparagaceae), a new species from southeastern China

Polygonatum kiangnanense (Asparagaceae), a new species from southeastern China, a newly identified species native to southeastern China, is herein described and illustrated in detail. It bears the closest morphological affinity to P. odoratum, yet can be clearly differentiated by a suite of distinct traits: a terete rhizome measuring 9–14 mm in thickness, stem angled, oblong leaf blades (8.0–13.0 × 3.5–5.0 cm), racemose inflorescences typically bearing 1–2 (occasionally 3) flowers, yellowish-green campanulate-cylindrical perianths with a constricted mid-section, perianth lobes 6–8 mm in length (accounting for half of the total flower length), filaments adnate to the lower two-thirds of the perianth (12–14 mm long, smooth, with no apical saccate protrusions), and black berries (6–8 mm in diameter) containing 2–4 seeds.

The complete chloroplast genome of the sampled individuals of this new species ranges from 154,571 to 154,593 bp in length. Phylogenetic analyses based on chloroplast genome sequences confirm that P. kiangnanense is genetically distinct from morphologically similar congeners.