Two new species of Hedyotis L. (Rubiaceae) from Yunnan and Guangxi, China

Two new species, Hedyotis jinghongensis from Yunnan Province and H. austroguangxiensis from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, are described and photographed here. H. jinghongensis is similar to H. communis and H. interrupta in having lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate leaves and triangular stipules, but it differs from them by its smaller leaves, stipules marginally with 3–6 colleter-tipped linear lobes on each side, and shorter inflorescences.

H. austroguangxiensis is most similar to H. taishanensis and H. shenzhenensis in having terminal, compound-cymose inflorescences and short internodes at the base, but it differs from them by its terete stem and inflorescence rachis and longer corolla tubes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two new species represent independent clades. In addition, they were assessed as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.