Aster sanqingshanica (Asteraceae, Astereae), a new species from Jiangxi, China

Aster sanqingshanica J.W. Xiao & W.P. Li, a new species of Asteraceae from Jiangxi, China, is described, illustrated and compared with related taxa based on evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny. Morphological observations have shown that A. sanqingshanica is most similar to A. tianmenshanensis , but readily differs by its ascending stem (versus erect), marcescent basal leaves (versus deciduous), ciliate basal leaf margins (versus glabrous), 4–5‐seriate phyllaries (versus 2–3‐seriate), purple phyllaries (apex) (versus green), flat receptacle (versus convex) and broader lamina of the ray florets (3–4 mm versus 2–3 mm). Phylogenetic analysis based on nrDNA ITS and ETS sequence data show that A. sanqingshanica is closely related to A. tonglingensis .