taxonID	type	description	language	source
0381879AFFBBFF95FF2D6FE5FAAD6D69.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — CHINA. Yunnan Province: Ximeng County, Longtan, 22.63700542 ° N, 99.59343682 ° E, alt. 1223 m a. s. l., humid and shady areas in thicket along lakes, 12 June 2023, Q. W. Lin, K. Tan & J. H. Xiao 2023 - 0369 (holotype: PE!).	en	Hao, Jia-Chen, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Tan, Kun, Liu, Li-An, Lin, Qin-Wen (2025): Ophiopogon ximengensis, a new species from Yunnan, Southern China. Phytotaxa 684 (2): 243-253, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7
0381879AFFBBFF95FF2D6FE5FAAD6D69.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: — Sharing recurved perianth lobes, this new species closely resembles Ophiopogon griffithii (Baker) Hooker (1892: 270) (Fig. 2 & 3). It is, however, distinguishable by several key features: shorter and broader (10 – 25 × 2 – 3 cm vs. 30 – 60 × 0.8 – 1.2 cm), more distinctly inequilateral leaf blades, denser inflorescences usually with a tuft of 2 or 3 flowers (vs. solitary flower) in axils of bracts and shorter internodes (ca. 0.5 vs. 1 – 1.5 cm long), and more strongly recurved, internally unspotted (vs. basally purple-spotted) white perianth lobes.	en	Hao, Jia-Chen, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Tan, Kun, Liu, Li-An, Lin, Qin-Wen (2025): Ophiopogon ximengensis, a new species from Yunnan, Southern China. Phytotaxa 684 (2): 243-253, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7
0381879AFFBBFF95FF2D6FE5FAAD6D69.taxon	description	Description: — Herb perennial, evergreen, terrestrial, tufted, glabrous, shortly rhizomatous. Rhizomes subterranean, horizontal or ascending, flexuose, knobby, simple or branched 2 – 3 mm thick, short or up to 10 cm long; knobs (tubers) (4 –) 5 – 6 (– 8), spindle or ovoid, erect or suberect, 2 – 4 cm high, producing numerous roots, apically covered with cataphylls and bases of leaves. Roots proximally cordlike, slender, 1.5 – 2 mm in diameter, up to 30 cm or more with shortly lateral fibrous roots puberulent when young. Cataphylls several, imbricate, lanceolate or ensiform, 4 – 7 cm long, 7 – 12 mm wide, apex obtuse, outer surface usually purple, margin with scarious wings. Leaves 14 – 35 cm long, distinctly petiolate; petioles 8 – 15 cm long, ca. 2 mm wide, margin usually with narrowly white scarious wings; leaf blades distinctly inequilateral, narrowly oblong to somewhat sword-shaped, 10 – 25 × 2 – 3 cm, thick chartaceous and soft, base attenuate, apex acute to subacute, adaxial surface glossy, light green when young, becoming darker green with age, abaxially silver-glaucous; longitudinal veins fine, 21 – 24 including midrib which is flat on both surfaces, green; leaf margins entire. Flowering stem (including peduncle and rachis) sub-erect to ascending, 8 – 15 cm long, often flushed with purple; peduncle subterete, slightly flattened, 2 – 3 mm in diameter, basally covered with several imbricate sterile bracts ca. 2.5 × 0.8 cm, transparent, sheath-like, in the middle part usually with 1 – 3 sterile bracts which is ascending, broadly ovate to deltoid-ovate, ca. 0.8 × 0.5 mm. Inflorescence racemose, densely with 15 – 30 flowers; rachis 4 – 10 cm long, usually with a tuft of 2 or 3 (sometimes one) flowers in axils of bracts; flowers secund, cernuous, broadly campanulate, ca. 10.5 mm across when fully opened; bracts cymbiform, broadly ovate, 8 – 10 × 4 – 5 mm, apex acute to obtuse, abaxially dirty bluish purple to almost black purple, with three longitudinal veins, adaxially dull white, margins membranous to scarious, bracteoles 1 or 2, similar to bracts but smaller; pedicels 5 - 6 mm long including lower stalky part of perianth (true pedicels, excluding perianth part, 1.9 – 2.7 mm long), articulate in lower part. Perianth lobes 6, oblong, 8 – 9.5 × 2 – 2.5 mm long, strongly recurved, externally white, pinkish white, or flushed with purple or maroon along margins, internally unspotted (vs. basally purple-spotted) white. Stamens 6, free, straight, connivent and surrounding the style; filaments, very short; anthers nearly linear, attenuate, 5.5 – 6.5 mm long, greenish-yellow, base somewhat hastate, apex acuminate. Pistil 1, white; style filiform, straight, ca. 6 – 7 mm long. Seeds not seen.	en	Hao, Jia-Chen, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Tan, Kun, Liu, Li-An, Lin, Qin-Wen (2025): Ophiopogon ximengensis, a new species from Yunnan, Southern China. Phytotaxa 684 (2): 243-253, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7
0381879AFFBBFF95FF2D6FE5FAAD6D69.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet of the new species refers to its type locality Ximeng Va Nationality Autonomous County, locating in the Awa Mountains in the southwest of Yunnan Province, China. Phenology: — Flowering in June.	en	Hao, Jia-Chen, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Tan, Kun, Liu, Li-An, Lin, Qin-Wen (2025): Ophiopogon ximengensis, a new species from Yunnan, Southern China. Phytotaxa 684 (2): 243-253, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7
0381879AFFBBFF95FF2D6FE5FAAD6D69.taxon	description	Habitat and conservation status: — Usually on humid and shady areas, under primary or secondary broad-leaved evergreen forests, or along valleys. Elevation 1100 – 1250 m a. s. l. locally common. Estimated IUCN Red List status — LC.	en	Hao, Jia-Chen, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Tan, Kun, Liu, Li-An, Lin, Qin-Wen (2025): Ophiopogon ximengensis, a new species from Yunnan, Southern China. Phytotaxa 684 (2): 243-253, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7
0381879AFFBBFF95FF2D6FE5FAAD6D69.taxon	distribution	Distribution: — Currently known only from the type locality, S Yunan. Taxonomic relationships: — As mentioned in the Diagnosis, Ophiopogon griffithii is regarded as closely related to the newly described O. ximengensis. However, there are still several issues worth discussing regarding O. griffithii and its synonym O. revolutus F. T. Wang & L. K. Dai in Wang & Tang (1978: 253).	en	Hao, Jia-Chen, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Tan, Kun, Liu, Li-An, Lin, Qin-Wen (2025): Ophiopogon ximengensis, a new species from Yunnan, Southern China. Phytotaxa 684 (2): 243-253, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7
0381879AFFBBFF95FF2D6FE5FAAD6D69.taxon	description	Tanaka's redefined O. griffithii has a large variation in leaf width and shape. Some specimens have narrow linear leaves while others have relatively wide, narrow elliptical or narrow rectangular leaves, similar to the type specimen. We examined the specimens Y. H. Li 11687 (HITBC: HITBC 049452 image!) and J. H. Zhang 19261 (HITBC: HITBC 049451 image! and IBSC: 0745420 image!) identified as O. griffithii and the other specimens identified as O. revolutus (see below) by Yang and Li, and found that these specimens, despite their ariety in leaf size and shape, are still within the variation range of O. griffithii redefined by Tanaka. Therefore, we agree with Tanaka's treatment of O. revolutus as a synonym of O. griffithii, as the concept followed by Averyanov et al. (2015 a), and Pham et al. (2023). It is worth mentioning that there are illustrations of O. griffithii from Laos by Averyanov et al. (2015 a: 87), which are identical to those from China (Figs. 4 & 5). Ophiopogon ximengensis, with its strongly reflexed tepals, closely resembles O. griffithii (Fig. 4 & 5). However, it can be clearly distinguishable by several features: shorter and broader (10 – 25 × 2 – 3 cm vs. 30 – 60 × 0.8 – 1.2 cm), more distinctly inequilateral leaf blades, denser inflorescences usually with a tuft of 2 or 3 clustered flowers (vs. solitary flower) in axils of bracts and shorter internodes (ca. 0.5 vs. 1 – 1.5 cm long), and more strongly recurved, internally unspotted (vs. basally purple-spotted) white perianth lobes. The new species is also similar in gross vegetative characters to Ophiopogon pingbienensis F. T. Wang & L. K. Dai in Wang & Tang (1978: 251) (Fig. 6 & 7). However, O. pingbienensis is currently known from Pingbian County, Yunnan Province and N. Vietnam (Averyanov et al. 2020), and exhibits distinct characteristics that differentiate it from the new species. These include thick and short tuber-like rhizomes, smaller and somewhat coriaceous leaf blades (5.5 – 9 × 1.5 – 2 cm vs. 10 – 25 × 2 – 3 cm) with fewer veins (13 vs. 21 – 24), shorter inflorescences (6 – 10 cm vs. 8 – 15 cm long) with fewer flowers (6 – 10 vs. 15 – 30), slightly expanded (vs. strongly recurved) perianth lobes, and distinctly separated (vs. connivent) anthers. Recently, Averyanov et al. (2020) recorded O. pingbienensis from N. Vietnam (Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lai Chau provinces). After we checked the some relevant specimens they listed and the photos they illustrated (Averyanov et al. 2020), we speculated that some specimens identified as O. pingbienensis in N. Vietnam (e. g. L. Averyanov et al. CPC 7419, L. Averyanov et al. VR 999, L. Averyanov et al. CPC 7469 / 14427) maybe belong to an unknown species of the genus Ophiopogon because the blades thick leathery (vs. papery), the joint was located at the lower part of the pedicel (vs. located in the middle), the corolla was contracted and urceolate (vs. fully open, campanulate), the tepals were thick and fleshy, the stamens were sessile, and the anthers triangular (vs. the anthers were narrow and long, 6 mm long and 1 mm wide). And we are preparing to publish it as a new species. But other specimens (e. g. V. D. Nguyen et al. LC-DKT- 054, L. Averyanov VR 900.1, L. Averyanov et al. VR 1815, N. L. Orlov & L. K. Ioganssen), are more consistent with those collected from Yunnan, China in morphology and should belong to O. pingbienensis. Selected representative examined: — Ophiopogon griffithii. CHINA. Yunnan: Menglian, Anonymous 6751 (HITBC: HITBC 049384!). Mengla, Z. H. Yang 12065 (HITBC: HITBC 049383!), Mengla Exped. 34720 (HITBC: HITBC 049381!), Yiwu Road 12 km, J. H. Zhang 19261 (HITBC: HITBC 049451!). Ophiopogon revolutus. CHINA. Yunnan: Anonymous s. n. (PE: 00291482!); Fehai, C. W. Wang 74516 (PE: 00291480!); Jinghong, Kunke, fr. C. W. Wang 79252 (PE: 00291481! & KUN: 224830!); Jinghong, Manya, C. W. Wang 79057 (PE: 00291478!); Jinghong, Youluoshan, C. W. Wang 78065 (paratype: PE: 00291479! & PE: 00036194!); Jinghong, Damenglong, C. W. Wang 78286 (paratype: PE: 00036195!). Menghai, J. J. Li 3254 (KUN: 125036!), Z. Hua 2302 (KUN: 224832!); Jinghong, Kunluo Road, P. Y. Mao 6861 (KUN: 224836!); Mengla, Yiwu, Menglun, Anonymous 13193 (KUN: 224838!), Kongmingshan, S. J Pei 59 - 10303 (KUN: 224839!); Mengla, Mengla Exped. 5328230434 (IMDY: IMDY 0031528 image!); Mneghai, Bada- Manmai, S. R. Guo s. n. (IMDY: IMDY 0023774 image!). Ophiopogon pingbienensis. CHINA. Yunnan: Sino-Soviet Exped. s. n. (PE: 00291603!). Pingbian, C. W. Wang 82757 (PE: 00291602!), Daweishan, Sino-Soviet Exped. 3965 (PE: 00036189!). VIETNAM. Cao Bang Province: Thong Nong District, L. Averyanov et al. CPC 5473 (LE: LE 01049862 image!). Ha Giang Province: Bac Me District, L. Averyanov et al. CPC 7419, L. Averyanov, CPC 7419 / TM 1082 / 13395 (LE: LE 01048627 image!); L. Averyanov et al. CPC 7469, L. Averyanov CPC 7469 / 14427 (LE: LE 01048622 image!). Quan Ba District, L. Averyanov et al. VR 500 (LE: LE 01061420 image!); L. Averyanov et al. VR 999 (LE: LE 01054182 image!); L. Averyanov et al. VR 1462 (LE: LE 01061011 & LE: LE 01066962 image!); L. Averyanov et al. VR 500 (LE: LE 01067178 image!); L. Averyanov VR 900.1 (LE: LE 01124816 & LE: LE 01254645 image!). Lao Cai Province: Sa Pa District, V. D. Nguyen et al. LC-DKT- 054 (LE: LE 01123965 image!); L. Averyanov et al. VR 1815 (LE: LE 01169640 image!). Lai Chau Province: Tam Duong District, N. L. Orlov & L. K. Ioganssen, s. n. (LE: LE 01049109 image!).	en	Hao, Jia-Chen, Feng, Hui-Zhe, Tan, Kun, Liu, Li-An, Lin, Qin-Wen (2025): Ophiopogon ximengensis, a new species from Yunnan, Southern China. Phytotaxa 684 (2): 243-253, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.684.2.7
