Wikstroemiafragrans (Thymelaeaceae, Daphneae), a new species from Mount Danxia, China based on morphological and molecular evidence.

A new species, Wikstroemiafragrans (Thymelaeaceae, Daphneae), from Danxiashan National Park, Shaoguan, Guangdong of China is described and illustrated. It is similar to the sympatric W.trichotoma , but can be differentiated easily from the latter by its shorter racemose inflorescences, yellowish green calyx tube, and smaller leaves. It also resembles the allopatric W.fargesii , but differs from it by its strigose-pubescent ovary and disk scale that is 2- or 3-dentate apically. Phylogenetic analysis using the nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that W.fragrans falls within the Wikstroemia clade; based on current sampling, W.fragrans is closely-related to W.capitata . It is also the first species of Wikstroemia known to be endemic to the Danxia landform and is classified provisionally as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.