Coptis wawushanensis Y. T. Ma, T. Zhou & Y. Xiao 2026, sp. nov.

Coptis wawushanensis Y. T. Ma, T. Zhou & Y. Xiao sp. nov. Figs 2, 3 Common name. “ 瓦屋山黄连 ” (Wa Wu Shan Huang Lian). Type. • China. Sichuan Province. Hongya County. Heishan Village; 1655 m a. s. l.; 29°28'N, 103°9'E; 16 April 2025; Yang Xiao & Chi Zhang HS 25041601 (holotype: CDCM!) (Suppl. material 3). Diagnosis. Coptis wawushanensis is morphologically similar to C. omeiensis but differs by an ovate leaf blade (vs. lanceolate to narrowly ovate), a central leaf segment 1.5–2.5 × as long as the lateral segments (vs. 3–3.5 ×), short scapes 5–8 cm long (vs. 15–27 cm), petals narrowly lanceolate (vs. linear-lanceolate), and well-developed stolons (vs. absent). It differs from its sister species C. huanjiangensis by the longer central segment relative to the lateral segments (1.5–2.5 × vs. subequal to slightly longer), linear-lanceolate sepals (vs. long-elliptic or lanceolate), narrowly lanceolate petals (vs. spatulate), and stolons present (vs. absent). It can be further distinguished from C. deltoidea by leaves deeply 6–11 - lobed with remote lobes (vs. 4–6 - lobed with lobes ± contiguous), a central leaf segment 1.5–2.5 × as long as the lateral segments (vs. only slightly longer), and linear-lanceolate sepals (vs. narrowly ovate). Description. Herbs perennial. Rhizomes unbranched or sparsely branched. Leaves basal, petioles 7–25 cm, glabrous; lamina 7–18 × 4–15 cm, ovate, three-segmented, margins sparsely bearing upturned spinulose hairs; central segment petiolulate, petiolule 0.3–2.5 cm long, 7–16 × 2.5–7 cm, rhombic-lanceolate, deeply 6–11 - lobed, lobes remote, ultimate lobes margin acute serrate; lateral segments sessile or with a slender petiolule, petiolule 1–6 mm long, obliquely ovate, unequally bidentate. Inflorescences cymose, monochasial or dichasial, 3–5 - flowered; scape 1 – several, erect, 5–8 cm long, glabrous, sulcate; bracts lanceolate, deeply 3 - lobed or pectinate-pinnatifid. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual; sepals 5, 5.5–9.0 × 0.8–1.6 mm, linear-lanceolate, greenish, sparsely puberulous; petals ca. 10, 2–4 mm long, 1 / 3–1 / 2 as long as sepals, narrowly lanceolate, glabrous, apex acuminate; stamens numerous, glabrous, 1.5–3 mm long; pistils 8–12, 2–4 mm long. Follicles 6.5–10 mm long, stipitate. Seeds ca. 2 × 0.8 mm, ellipsoid, brown. Distribution and habitat. Several populations of this species have been found in Wawu Mountain in Meishan City and Emei Mountain in Leshan City, China. It grows in the forest at 1600–2000 m. a. s. l. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Wawu Mountain, Sichuan. Phenology. The species was observed flowering in February – March and fruiting in April – May. Conservation status. Coptis wawushanensis is currently known only from the Wawu Mountain (Meishan City) and Emei Mountain (Leshan City) regions in Sichuan Province, China. Five discrete populations have been documented, each comprising approximately 100 individuals. Pending the collection of more comprehensive data, its conservation status is preliminarily assessed as “ Data Deficient (DD) ” according to the IUCN guidelines (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2022). Note. An identification key to Coptis wawushanensis and its closest relatives (C. huanjiangensis, C. omeiensis, and C. deltoidea) is provided below.