taxonID	type	description	language	source
4C401A2BFFB9FF9EFF7587EDFA80ACC5.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — CHINA. Yunnan province, 1930, Y. Tsiang 21306 (holotype NAS 00349967!; isotype NAS 00349968!).	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB9FF9EFF7587EDFA80ACC5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: — The new species resembles E. malipoensis and E. serrata, but differs greatly from the former by leaf blades 18 – 35 × 5 – 12 cm long, petiole glabrous, leaf apex rounded or obtuse, leaf margins entire basally, remotely inconspicuously serrate apically, lateral veins 14 – 16 pairs, leaf abaxially glabrous; panicle 4 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm long, flowers sessile, bracts ovate, and ovary 5 - loculed. It differs from E. serrata by leaf blades 18 – 35 × 5 – 12 cm long, leaf margins entire basally, remotely inconspicuously serrate apically, leaf abaxially glabrous, panicle 4 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm long, flowers sessile, pedicels and peduncle densely rusty tomentose, styles connate at base (Table 2).	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB9FF9EFF7587EDFA80ACC5.taxon	description	Description: — Small to medium-size tree. Branchlets yellowish brown, roughened, and glabrous. Stipules caducous, not seen. Petioles 1 – 2 cm in length, glabrous. Leaf oblanceolate or obovate, blades 18 – 35 × 5 – 12 cm, both surfaces glabrous and leathery, with a prominent midrib on both sides, 14 – 16 pairs of secondary veins, conspicuous reticulate tertiary veins, looped near the margin; base attenuate, margin entire basally and remotely inconspicuously serrate apically, glabrous; apex rounded or obtuse. Inflorescence in terminal panicle, 4 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm in diam., contracted and multi-flowered; peduncle 2 – 5 mm in length, densely covered in rusty tomentum; bracts ovate, 5 – 6 mm long, free, abaxially rusty tomentose, adaxially glabrous, bracteoles laceolate, ca. 5 mm long, abaxially rusty tomentose, adaxially glabrous, pedicel absent. Flowers sessile, yellowish, about 0.5 – 1 cm in diameter. Hypanthium cupular, densely covered in rusty tomentum, ca. 5 mm long, calyx 5 - lobed; lobes ovate, 3 × 2 mm, abaxially rusty tomentose, adaxially glabrous, apex subacute, margin entire. Petals 5, yellowish, obovate or rounded, 5 × 3 – 4 mm in length, with a white villous at base. Stamens 20; filaments around 2 mm in length, glabrous; anthers approximately 1 mm in length. Ovary pubescent, 5 - loculed, with 2 ovules per locule; styles 5, fused or connate at one fourth, 4 – 4.5 mm in length, densely covered in yellowish villous at base. Fruits not seen.	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB9FF9EFF7587EDFA80ACC5.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet honours Professor Ying Tsiang (1898 — 1982; Department of Forestry, South China Agriculture University, Guangdong, China) for his substantial contributions to Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae, and Flora Yunnanica (1983). Distribution: — Eriobotrya tsiangii is only known from the collection specimen, Yunnan Province, China.	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB5FF90FF7580A7FDF4AD71.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — CHINA. Guangxi: Xiangzhou County, Shangguchen, Wuzhishan, 18 June 1936, C. Wang 39423 (holotype IBK 00061038; isotypes PE 00799311!, SZ 00194327) (Note A). Heterotypic Synonyms: — Eriobotrya fulvicoma Chun ex W. B. Liao, F. F. Li & D. F. Cui, Ann. Bot. Fenn. 49: 264 (2012) syn. nov. Rhaphiolepis fulvicoma (Chun ex W. B. Liao, F. F. Li & D. F. Cui) B. B. Liu & J. Wen, Front. Plant Sci. 10 - 1731: 10 (2020 b). Type: — CHINA. Guangdong: Xinyi County, Dawuling Natural Reserve, 45 m, 28 April 1932, C. Wang 32257 (holotype WUK 0109531!; isotypes IBK 00060958!, IBK 00060976!, IBSC 0298975!, KUN 0116268!, PE 00799336!, SZ 00194329!). Notes: — Eriobotrya kwangsiensis was first collected by Chun from Dayao Mountain (Guanxi province) in 2003. Yang & Lin (2007) later published the name and treated it as a distinct species based on molecular analysis (AFLP markers). His study demonstrated that E. kwangsiensis and E. fragrans belong to the same cluster and genetic relationship between these two species is quite distant. According to his observations, E. kwangsiensis shares morphological similarities with E. fragrans but differs from it by having leathery leaves with short stalks, less than 2.5 cm (vs. thick leathery leaves with long stalks, mostly 2 – 3 cm in E. fragrans), and styles 3 (vs. styles 4 to 5 in E. fragrans). Liao, W. B., F. F. Li & D. F. Cui (Li et al. 2012) described and illustrated E. fulvicoma, and considered it as a distinct species. In the original protologue, E. fulvicoma was characterized by its papery leaves, large white-petaled flowers, a densely brown tomentose calyx, pedicel and peduncle, as well as 3 styles that connate at the base. E. fulvicoma was morphologically compared to E. deflexa and E. cavaleriei. We investigated the original protologue, type specimens and conducted morphological comparisons between the two species. E. kwangsiensis is morphologically similar to E. fulvicoma. The characteristics identified by Li et al. (2012) in the original publication are similar to those of E. kwangsiensis, while additional characteristics, including tree height, oblong-lanceolate leaves, acuminate to shortly accuminate leaf apex, cuneate leaf base, petioles and inflorescence sizes, and pair of lateral veins, are all closely related to E. kwangsiensis. The leaf margins of E. fulvicoma were originally described as remotely irregularly incurved-serrate; however, our analysis of numerous specimens indicated that they are predominantly serrate-crenate. Furthermore, the original protologue did not include fruit observations; nevertheless, we discovered a fruiting specimen of E. fulvicoma “ Gao Xipeng 53015 ” deposited in PE 00799337, NAS 00374038, IBSC 0298971, SZ 00194328, KUN 0116271, JXU 0005296, and SN 007752. Following careful analysis of these specimens and original E. kwangsiensis specimens, we are convinced that they are the same species. Following Art. 11 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), E. kwangsiensis (2007) takes precedence over the later name E. fulvicoma (2012), hence, we proposed that E. fulvicoma be treated as synonym of E. kwangsigensis. The table and images depict the physical characteristics of both species (Table 3; Figs. 5 & 6). Note A: — In the original protologue of E. kwangsiensis, Yang and Lin (2007) cited “ C. Wang 35925 (Holotypus, TBK) ”. Yang and Lin (2007) cited the collector name “ C. Wang ” as the English name, and the number “ 35925 ” as the herbarium accession number, that was placed to the IBK instead of the TBK. In the publication of E. fulvicoma Chun ex Liao, W. B., F. F. Li & D. F. Cui (Li et al. 2012) the Chinese name “ Z. Huang (Ħ) was used instead of English name (C. Wang). However, both E. kwangsiensis and E. fulvicoma species were collected by “ Z. Huang (Ħ Ṧ in Chinese), and C. Wang (in English) written in the holotype as well as in isotypes ” (Fig. S 1). Hereafter, we changed the collector name to “ C. Wang ” for both names.	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB6FF93FF7580A7FB83AA83.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — MYANMAR. “ In thicket on the western flank of the N’Maikha-Salween divide, east of Hpimaw. Lat. 26 ° N, alt. 10000 feet. East Upper Burmah ”, April 1919, G. Forrest 17845 (holotype E 00072976!; isotypes E 00072977!, K).	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB6FF93FF758187FE85A980.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — THAILAND. “ Province Payap: Sisawat, Khanburi ”, 16 July 1922, A. F. G. Kerr 6293 (holotype P 03650228!, isotype BM 000602195!).	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB6FF94FF758283FE18AD54.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — VIETNAM. Region de Hue, 6 Sept. 1938, E. Poilane 27620 (holotype P 03650248!; isotype P 03650249!).	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
4C401A2BFFB6FF94FF758283FE18AD54.taxon	discussion	Discussion: — Eriobotrya tsaingii is similar to E. malipoensis in having oblanceolate or obovate leaf, leaf base attenuate, leaf adaxially glabrous, midvein prominent on both surfaces, contracted inflorescence, bracteoles lanceolate, pedicels and peduncles densely rusty tomentose, and styles connate and villous at base, but differs from the latter by a combination of several morphological traits, including the size of the panicle, the length of the pedicels and peduncle, bracts shape, and ovules in ovary, the leaf blade, the petiole surface, the leaf apex, the leaf margins, the pairs of lateral veins, and the leaf abaxial surface. E. tsaingii has leaf blades 18 – 35 × 5 – 12 cm long, petioles glabrous, leaf apex rounded or obtuse, leaf margins entire basally, remotely inconspicuously serrate apically, lateral veins 14 – 16 pairs, leaf abaxially glabrous, panicle 4 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm long, pedicels absent, bracts ovate, 5 – 6 mm long, and ovary 5 - loculed. In contrast, E. malipoensis has leaf blades 30 – 40 × 10 – 15 long, petioles tomentose, leaf apex acute, leaf margins remotely obtusely serrate, lateral veins 20 – 25 pairs, leaf abaxially densely rusty tomentose, panicle 8 – 10 cm long, pedicels 2 – 4 mm long, bracts lanceolate, 3 – 5 mm long, and ovary 2 - loculed. E. tsaingii is also similar to E. serrata in having leaf blades size, leaf apex obtuse, leaf base attenuate, leaf adaxially glabrous, petioles glabrous, midvein prominent on both surfaces, contracted inflorescence, petals villous at base, and styles 3 or 4 (or 5), but can be distinguished from the latter by leaf blade larger, 18 – 35 × 5 – 12 cm long, leaf abaxially glabrous, leaf margin entire basally, and remotely inconspicuously serrate apically, small panicles 4 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm long, pedicels absent, bracts ovate, bracteoles laceolate, densely rusty tomentose pedicels and peduncle, and styles connate at the base. In contrast, E. serrata has smaller leaf blades 9 – 23 × 3.5 – 13 cm long, leaf abaxially brownish yellow tomentose, leaf margin incurved-serrate, bigger panicles ca. 8 cm long, caducous bracts and bracteoles, densely yellow tomentose pedicels and peduncle, and styles free at the base. BLAST analysis showed that ITS regions consistently achieve the highest success rates for species identification (98 – 100 %). These findings corroborate the current study hypothesis that ITS can accurately identify closely related and phylogenetically distant species (Li et al. 2009, Kang et al. 2021, Dong et al. 2022). The new species sequence was 96 % identical to Eriobotrya obovata, according to a BLAST search (http: // www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov /). The phylogenetic relationships based on internal transcribed spacers (ITS) regions confirmed the position of novel species. E. tsaingii was shown to form a clade with E. obovata in the ML tree (Fig. 1). The new species differs from E. obovata by having larger leaf blades 18 – 35 × 5 – 12 cm long (vs. 5 – 15 × 2 – 6 cm long in E. obovata), attenuated leaf base (vs. cuneate or broadly cuneate in E. obovata), 14 – 16 pairs of lateral veins (vs. 10 – 14 pairs in E. obovata), panicles 4 – 5 × 2.5 – 3 cm long, and contracted (vs. 6 – 7 cm, and spreading in E. obovata), pedicels absent (vs. 2 – 4 mm long in E. obovata), densely rusty tomentose pedicels and peduncle (vs. densely brown tomentose in E. obovata), styles 5, and connate at base (vs. 2 or 3, and free at base in E. obovata), ovary 5 - loculed (vs. ovary 2 - or 3 - loculed in E. obovata). Table 2 presents a comparison of the four species. For the first time, we reported the molecular identification of E. kwangsiensis and E. fulvicoma with the rest of the Eriobotrya species, and BLAST-searched findings showed that the sequences of both species were 100 % similar, while the ML tree (Fig. 1) suggested that both species formed a clade. Prior morphometric research by Zhang et al. (2017) indicated that E. kwangsiensis, E. deflexa, and E. cavaleriei are closely related and distinct from other species within the genus. Yang et al. (2012) and Li et al. (2009) claimed that E. kwangsiensis formed a sister clade to E. deflexa and E. deflexa var. buisanensis. The current findings are consistent with previous morphometric, and taxonomic studies conducted by Idrees et al. (2021 a, 2022), as well as morphological characteristics and SEM analysis further confirmed the similarities between the two taxa (Figs. 1, 5 & 6). The nrDNA sequences clearly clarified the Eriobotrya and Rhaphiolepis phylogenetic relationships, affirming that both genera are robustly supported as monophyletic, consistent with previous published phylogenetic studies (Yang et al. 2012, 2017, Idrees et al. 2020 b, Kang et al. 2021, Dong et al. 2022). Moreover, numerous issues among major clades of Eriobotrya and Rhaphiolepis were resolved here. According to Dong et al. (2022), E. condaoensis is the earliest diverging extant lineage of Eriobotrya, and is distantly related to E. henryi and E. seguinii. Our findings demonstrated that the three species (E. henryi, E. condaoensis, and E. seguinii) constituted a clade, supporting earlier research (Liu et al. 2020 b, Idrees et al. 2020 b, Kang et al. 2021). The position of E. crassifolia was confirmed and close relationships with E. tengyuehensis. Yang (2005), Yang et al. (2012) and Li et al. (2009) proposed that E. malipoensis was evolutionary different from other species and that more research is necessary to verify their relationship with other Eriobotrya species. Our findings indicated that E. malipoensis, E. prinoides, E. japonica, E. × daduheensis, and E. shanensis formed a group in Clade II, confirming prior research on evolutionary relationships (Idrees et al. 2018, Kang et al. 2021). E. deflexa, E. cavaleriei, and E. fragrans formed a group in clade III, which aligns with prior research (Idrees et al. 2018, 2020 b, Kang et al. 2021, Dong et al. 2022). Chen et al. (2021) based on nuclear data demonstrated that E. dubia formed a sister group with E. seguinii and E. henryi. Our result confirmed the position of E. dubia and formed a group with E. kwangsiensis and E. fulvicoma. In the genus Rhaphiolepis, we confirmed that R. philippinensis and R. umbellata are closely related and constituted a clade. Flora of China (Gu & Spongberg 2003 a) did not include the name R. jiulongjiangensis in Rhaphiolepis since they did not see the specimens and suggested further research to confirm, however, we confirmed it relationship with the rest of the genus. R. jiulongjiangensis formed a separate clade and should be considered the most primitive taxa in Rhaphiolepis. The transfer of Photinia bodinieri H. Lév. to Weniomeles bodinieri (H. Lév.) B. B. Liu is controversial, considering prior results of Liu et al. (2019), Liu et al. (2020 b), and Jin et al. (2023), which showed Photinia bodinieri formed relationships with Stranvaesia species, while current findings, however, indicate that Photinia bodinieri (now Weniomeles bodinieri) formed a clade with Stranvaesia nussia (Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don) Decne. and Stranvaesia oblanceolata (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Stapf. The evolutionary positions of this species within this group will be resolved by additional analyses based on morphological and molecular evidence. Conclusions: — This study utilises the nrDNA ITS region to investigate the genetic relationships of that newly proposed species E. tsiangii, the identity of E. kwangsiensis and the nearest species E. fulvicoma, as well as with the evolutionary relationships among Eriobotrya species. The findings indicated that E. tsiangii is closely related to E. obovata. Phylogenetic reconstruction confirmed the taxonomy of E. kwangsiensis and E. fulvicoma. Furthermore, three new combinations Eriobotrya bengalensis f. intermedia (B. B. Liu & J. Wen) Idrees & J. M. H. Shaw, E. bengalensis f. multinervata (B. B. Liu & J. Wen) Idrees & J. M. H. Shaw, and E. bengalensis f. contracta (B. B. Liu & J. Wen) Idrees & J. M. H. Shaw are proposed here to ensure the nomenclature stability. The findings of this study contribute to the nuclear sequence database and establish a basis for subsequent research on taxonomy, nomenclature, and the systematic study of the Eriobotrya genus globally.	en	Idrees, Muhammad, Li, Meng, Shaw, Julian M. H., Zhang, Zhiyong, Ahmad, Mushtaq (2025): New species, combinations and synonyms in Eriobotrya (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (1): 31-46, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.1.3
