Integrating Morphological and Molecular Evidence Reveals a New Species and Two Synonyms in Oreocharis (Gesneriaceae)

ABSTRACT The genus Oreocharis is a species‐rich group within the family Gesneriaceae and represents an excellent model system for evolutionary studies. However, taxonomic understanding of this genus remains insufficient, resulting in several unresolved issues. In this study, we focus on two species groups within Oreocharis —the O. argyreia group and the O. auricula group—each of which presents distinct taxonomic challenges. To address these, we conducted detailed morphological comparisons and statistical analyses, along with phylogenetic analyses based on dense population‐level sampling. Our results support abolishing the variety O. argyreia var. angustifolia within O. argyreia but establishing a new species of O. nanlingensis to accommodate specimens of this variety collected from the broader Nanling mountains region. In addition, our findings suggest that O. auricula var. denticulata should be treated as a synonym of O. magnidens . We provide final taxonomic treatments, amended descriptions, photographs, and a distribution map for the relevant taxa.