taxonID	type	description	language	source
03E687CC9764FFDDFF5DFC54FA64FF20.taxon	diagnosis	The new species most closely resembles Aspidistra longgangensis Lin et al. (2015: 377) in the shape of flower and the perigone lobes with basal appendages, but it can be clearly distinguished by perigone tube (25 – 28 mm vs. 10 – 15 mm), perigone lobes (adaxial white vs. pale yellow), basal appendages (1.5 – 2 mm long vs. 3 – 5 mm long, with incurved apex) and stigma (mushroom-shaped, central convex, margin slightly 6 – 8 - lobed vs. bowl-like, central slightly concave, margin 12 – 16 - lobed). In addition, A. longgangensis shows thicker and larger leaf blade. Aspidistra cleistantha is also similar to A. tubiflora Tillich (2006: 141), described from northern Vietnam, which shows a long tubular perigone tube. However, the latter species strongly differs in leaf shape, pistil shape and length, stigma shape and should not be considered as a closely related species.	en	Nong, Dong-Xin, Huang, Xue-Yan, Huang, Bao-You, Lü, Hui-Zhen (2018): Aspidistra cleistantha, a new species of Asparagaceae from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 374 (2): 178-180, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12
03E687CC9764FFDDFF5DFC54FA64FF20.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — CHINA. Guangxi: [originally collected from Guangxi, Ningming County, Longgang National Natural Reserve, Longshan area, limestone mountains, rare, 220 m a. s. l., 9 December 2012, H. Z. Lü et al. 140449 - 1] Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, cultivated, 4 May 2018, D. X. Nong 180504001 (holotype, GXMG!; isotype, GXMG!).	en	Nong, Dong-Xin, Huang, Xue-Yan, Huang, Bao-You, Lü, Hui-Zhen (2018): Aspidistra cleistantha, a new species of Asparagaceae from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 374 (2): 178-180, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12
03E687CC9764FFDDFF5DFC54FA64FF20.taxon	description	Perennial, evergreen, rhizomatous herb. Rhizome creeping, with very short internodes, epigeous, ca. 10 mm thick, with many swollen roots; roots white, up to 30 cm long, diameter 1.5 – 2 mm, with dense hairs. Vaginal leaves 3 – 4, purple-red, 1 – 12 cm long, enveloping the base of the petiole, becoming brown when dry. Leaves solitary, spaced; petiole stiffly upright, light green with purple dots at the base, adaxially sulcate, 21 – 30 cm long, 2 – 3.5 mm thick; leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 15 – 33 cm long, 6 – 9 cm wide, its base decurrent into petiole, inequilateral, apex acuminate, with 5 – 7 secondary veins at both sides of the midvein; the midvein and the secondary veins somewhat prominent at lower surface. Peduncle decumbent, 2 – 4.5 cm long, purple spotted, with 4 – 5 bracts; bracts gradually wider from base to apex of peduncle, the two upper bracts adjoining to perigone broadly ovate, white with densely purple spots at dorsal surface, 2 – 2.2 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm wide, apex acuminate. Flowers solitary, smelly; perigone widely tubular, fleshy; lobes 8 (occasionally 6), spreading, subequal, lanceolate, acuminate, 25 – 28 mm long, 3.5 – 5 mm broad at base, abaxially purple-red mottled, adaxially white but frequently with purplish mottled, each lobe basally with an adaxial appendage; appendages toothlike, 1.5 – 2 mm long, their bases explanate protruding horizontally over the tube opening and reducing the opening to 3 – 4 mm; tube 25 – 28 mm long, diameter 10 – 13 mm, slightly widened at the base, externally white at lower third part, distally part with densely purplish spots, internally white at basal third, distally part purplish mottled. Stamens 8 (– 6), opposite to lobes, subsessile, inserted at ca. 3 mm from the base of the perigone tube; anther oblong, 1 – 1.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide. Pistil mushroom-shaped, 5 – 7 mm long; ovary indistinct; style cylindrical, ca. 1 mm long; stigma dilated, white, diameter ca. 10 mm, 5 – 6 mm thick, the central part convex and with 4 (– 3) radial, bifurcate lines, slightly 6 – 8 - lobed at margin, abaxially longitudinally 12 – 16 - ridged. Flowering in cultivation from April to May. Fruits unknown.	en	Nong, Dong-Xin, Huang, Xue-Yan, Huang, Bao-You, Lü, Hui-Zhen (2018): Aspidistra cleistantha, a new species of Asparagaceae from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 374 (2): 178-180, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12
03E687CC9764FFDDFF5DFC54FA64FF20.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The species epithet refers to the nearly closed flowers.	en	Nong, Dong-Xin, Huang, Xue-Yan, Huang, Bao-You, Lü, Hui-Zhen (2018): Aspidistra cleistantha, a new species of Asparagaceae from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 374 (2): 178-180, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12
03E687CC9764FFDDFF5DFC54FA64FF20.taxon	distribution	Distribution: — The species is rare in the type locality, grows on shaded rocky limestone slopes at 220 m elevation.	en	Nong, Dong-Xin, Huang, Xue-Yan, Huang, Bao-You, Lü, Hui-Zhen (2018): Aspidistra cleistantha, a new species of Asparagaceae from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 374 (2): 178-180, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.374.2.12
