A new plant species of Peliosanthes (Asparagaceae), P. ehuangzhangensis, from Yangchun, Yangjiang, Guangdong, has been officially described in the international journal Phytotaxa, marking the fourth species named after E'huangzhang Provincial Nature Reserve.
The plant was discovered in autumn 2025 during a survey of the asparagus family at E'huangzhang Provincial Nature Reserve. Researchers found it on a sunny slope at an elevation of about 400 meters. Its small leaves and distinctive fleshy stolons set it apart from known species in the genus Peliosanthes.
After morphological comparisons with related species and a review of scientific literature, the research team confirmed it to be a new species. Its short, fleshy underground stolons may help store nutrients and adapt to seasonal drought, offering new insights into the diversity and evolution of the genus.
So far, the species has been found only in the area between Xianjiadong and the Jiujie River within the reserve, and on Goujiding Mountain in Yongning Town, Yangchun. With its small known population and restricted distribution, researchers recommend continued monitoring of its population, reproduction and distribution in the wild.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photos | E'huangzhang Provincial Nature Reserve
