# Two New Ainsliaea Species (Asteraceae: Pertyoideae) From Southeast China: Based on Morphological Characters and Phylogenetic Evidence

## TL;DR

This paper describes two new Ainsliaea species from China, supported by morphological and genetic evidence, and reports their critically endangered status.

## Contribution

The discovery and description of two new Ainsliaea species with phylogenetic and plastid genome data.

## Key findings

- Two new Ainsliaea species were identified and described from Fujian, China.
- Phylogenetic analysis shows the new species are closely related and belong to section Aggregatae.
- The new species are critically endangered and their complete plastid genomes were reported.

## Abstract

Two new species of Ainsliaea (Asteraceae: Pertyoideae), Ainsliaea erectifolia X.X.Su and S.P.Chen and Ainsliaea laxiflora X.X.Su and S.P.Chen, both from Fujian, Southeast China, are described and illustrated here. Morphologically, A. erectifolia is similar to A. simplicissima, but can be distinguished by both surfaces of leaves being glabrous and the capitulum bearing 3 flowers. A. laxiflora is similar to
A. polystachya
, but differs by its rosette leaves aggregating near the middle part of the stem, the capitulum bearing 3 flowers, the terminal inflorescence rachilla shorter than lateral rachillae, anthers lower than corolla lobes, and style equal to or slightly higher than corolla lobes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the two new species were closely related to each other and belong to section Aggregatae. These two species have currently been assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN guidelines. Furthermore, the complete plastid genomes of these two new species are reported. This study not only introduces two new Ainsliaea species but also provides their plastid genome data, offering valuable genetic resources for understanding the evolutionary history of the genus Ainsliaea.

We have identified two new Ainsliaea species from China, Ainsliaea erectifolia X.X.Su & S.P.Chen and Ainsliaea laxiflora X.X.Su & S.P.Chen. Both the morphological observation and phylogenetic investigation support the status of Ainsliaea erectifolia and Ainsliaea laxiflora as new species. Besides, we reported four Ainsliaea plastomes from two new species.