Abstract:

A new record of Celastrus species in China, C.monospermoides is identified when performing a field investigation in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province in 2011 for the taxonomic revision of the genus. Though morphologically similar to C.monospermus, it can be distinguished by narrow elliptic leaves with acuminate apex (vs. elliptic, broadly elliptic or obovateelliptic leaves), fruits without conspicuous gynophores, and relatively smaller seeds (shorter than 12mm vs. longer than 15mm in length). However, it is not clustered in the same clade with C.monospermus, but closely neighbor to C.hindsii in the molecular phylogenetic analysis. For it was recorded endemic to tropical area in Asia such as Indonesia, Malaya, and Philippines, there must be more populations distributed between these area and Yunnan Province in China. This distribute pattern provide new clues in understanding the origin and divergence of the genus Celastrus.

Key words: Celastrus, Celastrus monospermoides, Celastraceae, New record, China