Ligustrum guangdongense (Oleaceae), a New Species from China

Ligustrum guangdongense R. J. Wang & H. Z. Wen (Oleaceae), from Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to L. punctifolium M. C. Chang and L. morrisonense Kaneh. & Sasaki, based on the small leaf blades and terminal inflorescences. Ligustrum guangdongense differs from L. punctifolium by having sparsely punctate glands on the abaxial leaf blade surface (vs. densely so), a corolla tube longer than the corolla lobes (1.6-1.9:1 vs. 1.1-1.3:1), and stamens that are included within (vs. exserted). Ligustrum guangdongense differs from L. morrisonense by having abaxially punctate leaf blades (vs. not punctate), typically 12 to 28 flowers in an inflorescence (vs. two or three), and a corolla tube that is shorter relative to the corolla lobes. The pollen grains of the new species are subprolate, with tricolpate apertures and a reticulate exine. The IUCN conservation status of L. guangdongense is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).