Polygonatum dabieshanensis B. X. Han, S. Y. Yi & X. W. Song 2026, sp. nov.

Polygonatum dabieshanensis B. X. Han, S. Y. Yi & X. W. Song sp. nov. Figs 4, 5 Diagnosis. The new species similar to P. praecox, P. cyrtonema, and P. odoratum. It differs from P. praecox in having a terete rhizome, white corolla, 2–4 seeds; differs from P. cyrtonema in having a terete rhizome, white corolla, filament cylindrical and extending inwardly, smooth, and glabrous, 2–4 seeds; differs from P. odoratum in having a yellow rhizome, upper part angled stem, 2–4 seeds. Type. China • Anhui Province: Luan City, Huoshan County, Mt. Nanyueshan, 12 Mar 2022, Song SXW 220312 (holotype: ACM; isotype: PE). Description. Rhizome terete, 1.0–2.0 cm thick. Stem arching, 30–70 cm, glabrous, and terete. Leaves 10–18, alternate; petiole short or nearly sessile; leaf blade elliptic, 5.0–7.0 × 3.5–5.0 cm, apex usually short mucro. Inflorescences raceme, 1–2 (3) flowered; peduncle 1.0– 1.5 cm; bracteoles borne on the middle part of pedicel, subulate, 0.5–1.5 mm, or absent. Flowers pendulous, pedicel 0.5–1.0 cm long. Perianth white, campanulate-cylindrical, 1.5–2.0 cm long; lobes 2–3 mm long, excurved. Filaments inserted near the distal 1 / 2 of the perianth tube, cylindrical and extending inwardly, 2.5–5.0 mm long, smooth, apex without saccate-convex. Anthers 3.0– 3.5 mm long. Ovary 3–5 mm in diam. Berries blue-black, 0.8–1.0 cm in diam, 2–4 seeded. Phenology. Growth initiated in February, flowering in March – April, and fruiting in April – October. Distribution and habitat. Primarily in moist, deciduous, bamboo forests and broad-leaved forests, 150–1000 meters; documented on the slopes of Dabieshan Mountains, in Anhui and Henan Provinces. Etymology. Derived from the name of the Dabieshan Mountains, where Polygonatum dabieshanensis was discovered. Chinese name. 大别山黄精 (da bie shan huang jing) Morphological comparison. Morphological comparisons between the new taxon and other Polygonatum species revealed that it is most similar to P. praecox, P. cyrtonema, and P. odoratum. However, it can be distinguished from P. praecox, P. cyrtonema, and P. odoratum by distinct features of the rhizome, leaves, stem, inflorescence, filament, corolla, and flowering phenology (Table 3).