The genus Cinnamomum encompasses diverse species with various applications, particularly in traditional medicine and spice production. This study focuses on Cinnamomum burmanni, specifically on a high-D-borneol-content chemotype, known as the Meipian Tree, in Guangdong Province, South China. This research explores essential oil diversity, chemotypes, and chloroplast genomic diversity among 28 C. burmanni samples collected from botanical gardens. Essential oils were analyzed, and chemotypes classified using GC-MS and statistical methods. Plastome assembly and phylogenetic analysis were conducted to reveal genetic relationships. Results showed distinct chemotypes, including eucalyptol and borneol types, with notable variations in essential oil composition. The chloroplast genome exhibited conserved features, with phylogenetic analysis revealing three major clades. Borneol-rich individuals in clade II suggested a potential maternal inheritance pattern. However, phylogenetic signals revealed that the composition of essential oils is weakly correlated with plastome phylogeny. The study underscores the importance of botanical gardens in preserving genetic and chemical diversity, offering insights for sustainable resource utilization and selective breeding of high-yield mother plants of C. burmanni.

Vincetoxicum emeiense (Apocynaceae), a new species from Emeishan City, Sichuan Province, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to V. hui and V. koi but can be distinguished by the glabrous stem, marginally finely ciliate with adaxially puberulent leaves and orange to purple corolla. Color photographs, conservation assessment and other relevant notes are also provided.

Accurate species delimitation serves as a cornerstone for effective biodiversity conservation strategies, particularly for rare taxa where misclassification of taxa may lead to misallocation of limited resources. Callicarpa oligantha , one of only two plant species declared extinct in Guangdong Province, South China, was historically documented solely from its type specimen--a single individual collected in 1917 at Luofushan (Loh Fau Mountain). However, the morphological similarities with C. brevipes have long challenged the taxonomic status of C. oligantha . Following the rediscovery of the species at its type locality in 2024, we conducted an integrative taxonomic reassessment of C. oligantha and C. brevipes based on the newly collected materials using combined analyses of molecular phylogenetics and morphological comparisons. Both molecular and morphological evidence congruently support the conspecificity of C. oligantha and C. brevipes . We therefore propose synonymizing C. oligantha under C. brevipes and recommend its exclusion from extinction lists. This study underscores the importance of robust taxonomic frameworks in preventing conservation misprioritization, and highlights the value of integrative, multidisciplinary approaches for establishing accurate biodiversity baselines prior to biological conservation action.

Based on examination of relevant literature and herbarium specimens, we designate a lectotype for Bauhinia esquirolii Gagnep., the basionym of Phanera esquirolii (Gagnep.) Sinou & Bruneau. We also synonymize P. comosa (Craib) Bandyop. & Ghoshal under P. esquirolii and provide an emended description of the latter.

Pseudostellaria wuyishanensis, a new species from the Wuyishan National Park, Fujian, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, Pseudostellaria wuyishanensis resembles P. heterantha. However, the new species can be distinguished by presence of stolons, 1 line of hairs on the stem, smaller leaf blades, shorter pedicels, and ovary with 2 styles.