# Ranunculus Yuexiensis (Ranunculaceae): A New Species From Dabie Mountains, China, Based on Plastome and Morphological Data

## TL;DR

A new species of Ranunculus, named R. yuexiensis, was discovered in China and is distinguished by unique morphological and genetic traits.

## Contribution

The discovery and description of a new plant species, Ranunculus yuexiensis, based on both morphological and plastome data.

## Key findings

- R. yuexiensis is morphologically distinct from R. ternatus with features like simple basal leaves and puberulent carpels.
- The plastome of R. yuexiensis is 155,537–156,009 bp in length and has a typical quadripartite structure.
- Phylogenetic analysis confirms R. yuexiensis is closely related to R. ternatus.

## Abstract

A new species of Ranunculaceae, Ranunculus yuexiensis, is described and illustrated from the Dabie mountains, China. R. yuexiensis is similar to R. ternatus in having root tubers. However, it can be readily distinguished from R. ternatus by its simple and fewer basal leaves, larger flower size, long petioles on the lower stem leaves, and puberulent (vs. glabrous) carpels and achenes. The complete plastomes of this new species are 155,537–156,009 bp in length and exhibit a typical quadripartite structure. Phylogenetic analysis, based on plastome data, shows that R. yuexiensis is closely related to R. ternatus, which is consistent with our morphological analysis.

A new species, Ranunculus yuexiensis L. Shen, H. J. Ma & Kun Liu sp. nov. from Dabie mountains, China. R. yuexiensis is similar to R. ternatus in having root tubers. However, it can be readily distinguished from R. ternatus by its simple and fewer basal leaves, larger flower size, long petioles on the lower stem leaves, and puberulent carpels and achenes.