The new species Eriobotryacrassifolia, collected from Yunnan Province, China, is characterised and illustrated. A phylogeny based on chloroplast genomes supported its closest affinity with E.tengyuehensis, while a phylogeny based on 197 single-copy nuclear genes supported its closest affinity with E.fragrans and E.deflexa. Morphologically, however, it resembles E.angustissima. Nevertheless, it can be easily distinguished from E.angustissima by its abaxially retroflexed and sharply serrate leaf margins, densely rusty tomentose inflorescences, and oblong or elliptic leaves.
Keywords: Eriobotrya; molecular evidence; morphological traits; new species.
Kai-Kai Meng, Su-Fang Chen, Min Lin, Wen-Bo Liao, Jian-Hua Jin, Qiang Fan.