A taxonomic study of Thymelaeaceae of Taiwan

This revision of Thymylaeaceae of Taiwan is based on morphological, palynological and molecular phylogenetic studies.
According to former studies, the shape of disks is a key character to distinguish between the genera Daphne L. and Wikstroemia Endl. In this study, morphological features such as the shape and texture of leaves, the existence of bracts, the color and dissecting characters of calyx tube and the pubescence of the plant are useful in classification between species of Taiwan. Sculptures of pollen exine are with differences among species and give some comparative evidence. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS sequences could also provide some taxonomic information
in some taxa.
In the present revision, eight taxa (including one variety) of two genera are recognized: D. arisanensis Hayata, D. genkwa Siebold & Zucc., D. kiusiana Miq. var. atrocaulis (Rehder) Maekawa, W. indica (L.) C.A. Meyer, W. lanceolata Merr. var. lanceolata, W. lanceolata Merr. var. taiwanensis (C.E. Chang) R.Y. Yu & J.M. Hu comb. nov. & stat. nov., W. mononectaria Hayata, and W. retusa A. Grey. Four former recognized species: Stellera formosana (Hayata) H.L. Li, D. chingshuishaniana S.S. Ying, D. morrisonensis C.E. Chang and D. nana Tagawa are treated as synonyms of D. arisanensis Hayata. The species W. taiwanensis C.E. Chang was reduced to be a variety of W. lanceolata Merr. Moreover, D. arisanensis is firstly reported to be gynomonoecious in this study. Some former mistakes on nomenclature are also revised.