200 years Aspidistra (Asparagaceae), and now more than 200 species: a new comprehensive determination key, and an annotated bibliography of the genus

Abstract

During the past decades the number of known species of Aspidistra (Asparagaceae) increased rapidly to 209. The present paper provides a comprehensive and detailed dichotomous key for the identification of all currently accepted species, subspecies and varieties. Additional information is provided concerning the distribution of each species, and its chromosome number(s). Furthermore, an annotated bibliography is added.

Aspidistra pentagona (Asparagaceae, Convallarioideae), a new species from northern Vietnam

“…Nonetheless, the global inventory of this group appears to be far from complete. Here we continue the publication of one more new species of the genus discovered in northern Vietnam, in addition to many more species of this genus already discovered in this area (Tillich 2023). Observations and measurements of morphological features were made on living cultivated plants grown from seedlings collected in nature.…”

“…This genus of flowering plants has been one of the fastest‐increasing in terms of species number over the previous two decades. A recent comprehensive fundamental treatment of the genus (Tillich 2023) listed 209 species with a number of subspecies and varieties. Nonetheless, the global inventory of this group appears to be far from complete.…”

Aspidistra pentagona (Asparagaceae, Convallarioideae), new species from northern Vietnam

“…This genus of flowering plants has been one of the fastest-increasing in terms of species number over the previous two decades. The recent comprehensive fundamental treatment of the genus (Tillich 2023) listed 209 species with a number of subspecies and varieties. Nonetheless, the global inventory of this group appears to be far from complete.…”

Comprehensive Comparative Analyses of Aspidistra Chloroplast Genomes: Insights into Interspecific Plastid Diversity and Phylogeny

“…Aspidistra (Asparagaceae) is one of the represented plant groups of evergreen perennials in limestone karsts, with a center of diversity in southwest China and northern Vietnam [7]. Over the last forty years, the number of recognized Aspidistra species has experienced a remarkable increase [8], rapidly rising from 11 (until the year 1978) [9] to more than 200 [10][11][12][13]. However, the diversity of Aspidistra is still far from being revealed, with more new species being discovered during field investigations every year [8,11,12,14].…”