Tricyrtis ravenii (Liliaceae), a new species from Taiwan

Tricyrtis ravenii (Liliaceae) is reported here as a new species endemic to Taiwan. It belongs to sect. Hirtae, which comprises three species heretofore, namely T hirta (Japan mainland, mainly on the Pacific side), T formosana (Taiwan and Iriomote, Japan) and T lasiocarpa (Taiwan). Bearing a superficial resemblance to Tricyrfisformosana, specimens of T ravenii in most herbaria were nearly always erroneously annotated as the fortner or its synonyms such as T stolonifera. Careful morphological studies of these plants both from the field and in the experimental greenhouse reveal that they differ from T formosana significantly in floral details, habit, occur at higher elevations and deserve recognition of a new species. A taxonomic treatment, line drawings, field and micro-photographs of epidermal characters, karyotype analysis, and a map showing their distribution on this island is provided. A key is prepared to aid in the identification of all four species of Tricyrtis sect. Hirtae.