A NEW MEDICINAL SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF GENUS GENTIANA

Two new medicinal plants, Gentiana suffrutescens J. P. Luo et Z. C. Lou (sp. nov.) and G. manshurica Kitag. ssp. jiandeensis J. P. Luo et Z. C. Lou (ssp. nov.), were found among the plants used as Longdan in Chinese traditional medicine. The former plant is closely related to G. cephalantha Franch. and the latter to G. manshurica Kitag.. In addition to the descriptions of the new species and subspecies, comparisons of chromatograms between the new taxa and their similar species, the microscopical diagnostic features of their seeds, pollens and leaves are also described and illustrated with scanning electron photomicrographs. The results strongly support the establishment of these new taxa.