Background: Herbal tea usually refers to “beverage plants that do not belong to the genus Camellia”, and it holds a significant historical legacy as a traditional beverage among specific regions and ethnic groups. In light of this, our research aims to investigate and analyze the traditional knowledge pertaining to herbal tea plants used by local people in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. We also initiated preliminary efforts to create tea products from herbal tea leaves using various processing techniques. Additionally, we attempted to test hypotheses to elucidate how local people select herbal tea plants. Methods: Data related to the use of herbal tea plants in this study were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory observations in four villages in Qianxinan. Quantitative indicators, including the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and the relative importance (RI) value, were calculated, and the availability of plants was also evaluated. General linear model was performed to examine the relationship between the frequency of citation and resource availability, as well as the correlation between the relative frequency of citation and the relative importance, to test both the resource availability hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis. Centella asiatica tea was processed using techniques from green tea, black tea and white tea, with a preliminary sensory evaluation conducted. Results: A total of 114 plant species were documented as being used for herbal teas by local residents, representing 60 families and 104 genera. Of these, 61% of herbal tea plants were found growing in the wild, and 11 species were exotic plants. The family with the highest number of species was Asteraceae (20 species). The study identified 33 major medicinal functions of herbal tea, with clearing heat-toxin and diuresis being the most common functions. General linear model revealed a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.72, p < 0.001) between the frequency of citation and plant availability, as well as a significant correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.63, p < 0.001) between RFC and RI. Under different processing conditions, the characteristics of Centella asiatica tea exhibited variations and were found to be suitable for consumption. Conclusion: The consumption of herbal tea serves as a preventive measure against common ailments for local residents. The resource availability hypothesis, diversification hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis were shown to provide some insight into “how and why local communities select plants for use.” Exotic herbal tea plants in the study area also possess valuable therapeutic properties. The processing and production of Centella asiatica herbal tea products hold promising prospects.

Sect. Drymosphace is one of eight sections of Salvia subg. Glutinaria and includes 13 species and one dubious species that hold great economic value. Although the section is well supported, interspecific relationships remain unresolved. Moreover, most of this section’s plastome information remains unknown. In this study, we sequenced and assembled eight sect. Drymosphace plastomes and conducted comparative analyses within this section. The length of plastid genome sequences ranged from 151,330 bp to 151,614 bp, with 80 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and four rRNA genes being annotated. The plastomes were found to be as conservative as other Lamiaceae species, showing high consistency and similarity in terms of gene content, order, and structure. Within the sect. Drymosphace, single-copy regions were more variable than IR regions, and the intergenic regions were more variable than the coding regions; nine hypervariable regions were detected, and some of them may be useful for the phylogenetic analysis of Salvia. The topologies inferred from all of the data sets indicated that sect. Drymosphace was monophyletic and that S. honania was sister to S. meiliensis. Compared to previous studies involving more sect. Drymosphace species, phylogenomic analyses can improve the phylogenetic resolution considerably.

China is one of the origins of ancient tea gardens, with a long history of tea culture and tea cultivation. Guizhou Province is an important tea production place in southwest China with rich forest tea resources. The purpose of this study is to obtain historical information on companion plants in historical tea gardens and provide a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of forest tea gardens in Guizhou Province. We conducted a statistical analysis and comparison of plant species among ancient tea gardens, terrace tea gardens, and forest tea gardens from a diachronic perspective, based on 21 ancient tea literature studies, 116 terrace tea garden documents, and 18 sampled plots of forest tea gardens in Guizhou. A total of 24 companion plants species belonging to 16 families and 22 genera were found in ancient tea gardens, 81 species were found in terrace tea gardens belonging to 37 families and 74 genera, and 232 species were found in sample plots of forest tea gardens belonging to 90 families and 178 genera. Companion plants can be divided into three categories. Most of the plant families recorded in the literature also appeared in the forest tea garden we surveyed. In ancient tea gardens, terrace tea gardens, and forest tea gardens, Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Rosaceae were the most dominant families, respectively. The intercropping of tea gardens has been practiced since ancient times. Companion plants in natural forest tea gardens not only provide important insights into intercropping of terrace gardens but also hold significant implications for the conservation of existing forest tea gardens and the sustainable development of tea gardens.

Salvia penghuana, a new species from Guizhou Province of southwestern China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, Salvia penghuana is similar to S. filicifolia, but can be easily distinguished from the latter by ovate-lanceolate bracts, purple corolla, and foot-shaped fused lower arms of connective. In addition, S. penhuana is morphologically similar to S. cavaleriei, but differs by having 3–4-pinnate leave, ovate-lanceolate bracts, puberulent calyx, and longer upper arms of connective. Based on the fibril root, small calyx and corolla, and completely reduced posterior thecae, S. penghuana should be placed in section Sobiso of subg. Glutinaria.

Introduction: The unique geographical environment of Guizhou Province, China, has nurtured rich resources of Lamiaceae. The Dong people have developed diverse medicinal and edible utilization methods for Lamiaceae plants through long-term practice. This study mainly aims to (1) document the medicinal and edible uses of Lamiaceae plants in the Dong community of Yangwei Village, Shangzhong Town, Liping County, Guizhou; (2) evaluate the chemical composition of five Lamiaceae species; and (3) provide a detailed account and assessment of the tea-making process of Elsholtzia rugulosa, a commonly used local plant, while exploring its potential for development as a specialty tea beverage.Material and methods: Yangwei Village (Liping County), a representative Dong ethnic community with rich ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal and edible plants, was selected as main study site. Ethnobotanical knowledge of Lamiaceae plants was collected through semi-structured interviews with key informants and participatory observations. Five Lamiaceae plants were chemically analyzed, with E. rugulosa selected as the primary research subject due to its traditional applications, rich bioactive compounds, and good processing adaptability. The processing workflow of E. rugulosa tea was thoroughly investigated, with improvements based on standard green, oolong, and black tea procedures. The resulting three flavored tea broths were then subjected to sensory and compound evaluations.Results: The survey documented 101 Lamiaceae species (39 genera), mostly herbs. Chemical analysis indicated significant development potential for Prunella vulgaris, Leonurus japonicus, and Perilla frutescens. Sensory evaluation showed optimized E. rugulosa infusions had translucent color, pure aroma, and mellow taste. The black tea flavored infusion exhibited higher total phenolics and flavonoids; the oolong tea flavored infusion excelled in free amino acids and dry matter; and the green tea flavored infusion contained the highest water extract. The optimized E. rugulosa tea enhanced taste and preserved bioactive compounds, aligning with the urban demand for health, naturally derived, and culturally meaningful beverage products.Conclusion: The findings documents Dong-specific ethnobotanical knowledge in Yangwei Village Lamiaceae plants, which is valuable for both conservation and sustainable use. The medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family have significant development potential, especially in urban use and commercialization.

Background "Herbal tea" is a kind of "tea" made from the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and even whole plants of herbal plants. In southwestern Guizhou Province, where ethnic minorities gathering, drinking herbal tea has always been one of the methods used by the local people to prevent common diseases. Systematical records of the use of herbal tea are urgent of ethnic groups. The present study sought to investigate and analyze the traditional knowledge of the herbal tea plants used by the minority people in Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of southwestern Guizhou province, and reveal their utilization characteristics and its formation factors. Methods: In 2020 and 2021, field surveys of four villages were conducted in Qianxinan, with ethnobotanical methods such as semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was used to determine the commonly used herbal tea plants. Herbal tea plant specimens were identified according to the Flora of China (http://www.iplant.cn/). Results: A total to 114 species of herbal tea plants belonging to 59 families 103 genera in Qianxinan, with 60% of herbal tea plants grow in wild. The families with the richest species were Asteraceae (19 species). Of the 114 species, herbaceous were common (59%); the most popular used plant parts were whole plants (35%); processing methods of most herbal tea were dried in the sun (38%); most of herbal tea preparation forms were decocted in water for oral dose (50%). 33 major medicinal functions of herbal tea were recorded, which clearing heat, detoxify, and diuresis being the most commonly. The RFC index determined the most used species was Houttuynia cordata (RFC=0.51). Conclusions: After investigation, the resources of herbal tea plants in Qianxinan are rich. However, the traditional knowledge and sustainable development and utilization of herbal tea plants need more extensive basic investigations as support. This study records the types of herbal tea plants and related information used in the Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest Guizhou Province, and lays the foundation for the development, protection and sustainable use of herbal tea resources.