Reinstatement of the Chinese endemic species Styrax zhejiangensis

Abstract

Styrax zhejiangensis has been treated as a synonym of S. macrocarpus. Examination of herbarium specimens and observation of wild living plants demonstrates that S. zhejiangensis is a distinct species and is clearly distinguishable from S. macrocarpus through its flowering phenology in which leaves and flowers open simultaneously, its smaller corolla lobes and filaments, and its white-stellate-pubescent seeds. On this basis, we reinstate S. zhejiangensis as an accepted species. Photographic images and a distribution map of the two species are provided. A lectotype of S. zhejiangensis is also designated.