Abstract
Based on morphological and plastid data, we have described and confirmed that Coptis austrogaoligongensis distributed in Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, is a new species of Coptis. It is distinctly different from C. teeta subsp. teeta and C. teeta subsp. lohitensis with differences mainly reflected in the following features: former leaf segment lobes contiguous to each other, and lateral segments equal to central one; plants without developed stolons; inflorescences with only 1–3 flowers; petals have short claws. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. austrogaoligongensis is a sister to C. teeta subsp. teeta and C. teeta subsp. lohitensis.