Two new species of the genus Sinocrassula (Crassulaceae) from Yunnan Province, China

Based on comprehensive morphological and molecular data analyses, this study confirms that three populations of Sinocrassula from central Yunnan Province represent two distinct new species, which are described herein as Sinocrassula kunmingensis J. Guan Wang & Jing Zhao and S. chenggongensis J. Guan Wang & Jing Zhao. Morphologically, the two new species are most similar to S. adpressa, S. crassifolia, S. obliquifolia, and S. yongshengensis.

However, S. kunmingensis is characterized by its greenish-yellow or red stem leaves without spots, subligulate nectar scales, reddish-purple flowers, ovate-lanceolate bracts, and petals with a slight central protrusion; S. chenggongensis is distinguished by its green stem leaves with purplish-red spots, subligulate nectar scales, pinkish-purple flowers, oblong-elliptic bracts with an oblique apex, and petals without a protrusion.

This combination of morphological characters can be clearly distinguished from those of similar species. Phylogenetic analyses further reveal that the two new species form two independent clades with strong support and are sister to each other.