In this paper, Sedum xunvense is described as a new species from Zhejiang, Southeast China. Sedum xunvense is morphologically similar to S. formosanum, but the latter differs in clustered and robust stems (vs. solitary, slender), green or slightly red smooth stems and inflorescence rachises (vs. purple-red and ribbed), thick and succulent leaves (vs. thin), yellow anthers (vs. reddish-brown), erect follicles (vs. oblique), and is found in dry habitats in rock crevices (vs. damp ravines, rocks and mossy thickets). A reconstructed ML phylogeny of Sedum, based on nrITS sequence data, strongly suggests that S. xunvense forms an independent clade that is sister to a larger clade of many species, including S. formosanum.

In this paper, Sedum simingshanensesp. nov. is described as a new species based on morphological and molecular analyses, and its taxonomic relationships are discussed. Morphological analysis indicates S. simingshanense should be classified in the genus Sedum sect. Sedum and is distinct from the related species S. xunvense and S. formosanum in the morphology of its solitary, light green and smooth stems, flattened leaves, larger, obovate and spurless sepals, yellow anthers, 22–30 ovules per carpel, oblique follicles, and its habitat on shaded slopes or rocks. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) also demonstrates that S. simingshanense has a highest similarity of only 97.22% with any known species and S. formosanum is the closest extant relative of the new species.

Sedum orientalichinense, a new species of Crassulaceae from eastern China, is described and illustrated here. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nrDNA suggests that the new species belongs to S. sect. Sedum sensu Fu and Ohba (2001) in the “Flora of China”, and is sister to S. makinoi with high support values (BS = 100, PP = 1). The new species was previously always misidentified as S. makinoi, S. emarginatum or S. baileyi, due to its opposite leaves. Sedum emarginatum can be easily distinguished by its leaf blades with the apex emarginate in which it differs from the other three species. Sedum orientalichinense usually has 2-branched cymes, unlike S. makinoi which is 2- to 4-branched. The new species further differs from S. makinoi in its obovate to obovate-rhombic leaf blades (vs. obovate to obovate-spatulate in the latter) and has shorter stems (6–18 cm vs. 11–28 cm) with less internodes. It can also be easily distinguished from S. baileyi by its slender to sub-woody suberect stems (vs. slender and erect stems) and larger plant height (6–18 cm vs. 3–7 cm).

Salvia changchuniana (Lamiaceae), a new species from Zhejiang Province of eastern China, is described with illustrations. The new species is similar to Salvia liguliloba, but differs in having wider leaves, basal leaf blade ovate-elliptic, ovate-oblong or broadly ovate, 7‒13 cm long, 4‒9 cm wide, cauline leaf blade ovate-elliptic, ovate or broadly ovate, 9.5‒13(‒20) cm long, 4.5‒7(‒12) cm wide, inflorescence rachis densely recurved pubescent and glandular, calyx glandular externally, with ribs short-hispidulous, corolla short, 1.3‒1.5 cm long, tube pubescent externally, limb villous and glandular externally, middle lobe of lower lip compressed rounded-spathulate, ca. 3 mm long, ca. 2.5 mm wide, margin praemorse. All species of Salvia ser. Ligulilobae were compared with the new species.

Sedum taishunense X.X. Chen, X. Liu & Y.L. Xu (Crassulaceae) is described as a new species from Taishun County, Zhejiang Province, China. Based on morphology, S. taishunense should be placed in sect. Sedum due to the presence of adaxially gibbous carpels. It is morphologically similar to S. lipingense, S. kawaraense and S. shunhuangense, but differs from them by having larger rosulate leaves, fertile stem leaves and primary bracts; inflorescence with multiple flowers; spatulate sepals; ovules 16–24 per carpel; and seed surface with narrow elliptical or scale-like tuberculae. The systematic position of S. taishunense was assessed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic analysis supported S. taishunense as sister to S. makinoi with high support values (UFBS/ PP/ SH-aLRT) 98.5/1/99.

The genus Elatostema (Urticaceae) is most diverse in the limestone regions of southern China. Elatostema weizhianum , a new species from Zhejiang Province, East China, is described and illustrated in the present paper. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new species is closely related to E. hypoglaucum but differs in having a triplinerved leaf base, stipules 4–6 mm long and purple-brown maculate, peduncles of staminate inflorescences 5–12 mm long and densely strigose, and achenes ca. 1 mm long, longitudinally 5-ribbed, and tuberculate. This new species is morphologically similar to E. grandidentatum but differs in having purple-brown maculate stipules, subsessile pistillate inflorescences borne in pairs axillary, a glabrous receptacle, triangular bracts that are sparsely pubescent dorsally, ovate-orbicular outer bracteoles, oblong-navicular inner bracteoles that are corniculate at the apex and pubescent dorsally and at the margin, inconspicuous, degenerative sepals, and 5-ribbed and tuberculate achenes. Based on current observations of the geographic range and population size of the new species, it was assessed as “EN” under the IUCN categories and criteria.