Primulina rufipes Y.L. Su, P. Yang & Yan Liu (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. Molecular phylogenetic analyses unambiguously put this species in Primulina. Morphological observations and comparisons showed that P. rufipes is similar to P. huaijiensis Z.L. Ning & J. Wang, differing by all over the plant densely pubescent and glandular-puberulent, leaf blade elliptic to rhomboid-ovate, and obliquely campanulate corolla without appendages. P. rufipes is also similar to P. yulinensis Ying Qin & Yan Liu and P. gongchengensis Y.S. Huang & Yan Liu in vegetative characters, but its obliquely campanulate corolla is obviously different from the latter two species.

Iris calcicola Z.C.Lu, Z.P.Huang & Yan Liu, a new species of Iris sect. Lophiris was found from limestone areas of Guangxi, China. Iris calcicola is similar to Iris japonica Thunb., but differs by its inflorescence simple; flowering stems ascendent, with 2-5 branches; spathes 2, narrowly lanceolate, 2-3.8 cm long, 1-2 (3)-flowered, apex acuminate; flower segments obliquely ascending, not spreading when blooming; pedicel enveloped by spathes or subequal to spathes; outer segments elliptic, with prominent, irregular, yellow crest.

Gleditsia saxatilis Z.C.Lu, Y.S.Huang & Yan Liu, a new species was found from limestone areas of Guangxi, China. The morphological and phylogenetic analyses showed that G. saxatilis is similar to G. sinensis, but differs by its habit indeciduous, winter buds globose or subglobose, apex round, petiolules glabrescent to glabrous, leaflets 2–4 pairs, leathery, both sides glabrous, racemes shorter, 2.5–7 cm long, ovary glabrous, legume slightly falcate, stipe 3–8 mm long.

Styrax hwangiae, a new species with a narrow geographic distribution in limestone areas of Jingxi and Longzhou counties, Guangxi, China, is here described. The new species is similar to S. rugosus in habit, rugose leaves, shape of flowers and fruits, and to S. tonkinensis in habit and leaf shape, but it differs from S. rugosus by its longer petiole, paniculate or racemose inflorescence with more flowers, calyx abaxially tissue extend outward into many spires covered by many trichomes, flexuous longer filaments, and larger fruits with thicker pericarp, and from S. tonkinensis in its thickly leathery and rugose leaf blades, larger calyx and shorter peduncles. Colour plates of S. hwangiae, a distribution map and a table comparing the morphology of the three species are provided.

To clarify the difference of soil moisture characteristics between mixed broad leaf-conifer forest soil and artificial cultivation of Notopterygium incisum, the HYPROP system and the dew point potential meter were used to determine soil water retention curves(SWRC) for samples of two horizons(i.e. 2-7 cm, 10-15 cm). The basic physical and chemical properties of soil and its water characteristic parameters were also determined. The result showed as fllows:①The bulk density of mixed coniferous-broad leaf forest soil was between 0.33 and 0.52 g·cm~(-3), significantly lower than the corresponding value of field soil(1.01-1.18 g·cm~(-3))(P<0.05), While the organic matter content was significantly higher than the corresponding value of field soil(P<0.05). ②The saturated water content(θ_s), field water holding capacity(θ_(FC)) and Water that can be effectively utilized by plants(θ_(PAC)) of mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest soil were significantly higher than the corresponding value of field soil(P<0.05), while the retained water content(θ_r) value that cannot be effectively utilized by plants was significantly lower than that of field soil(P<0.05). ③The values of structural porosity(0.13-0.24 cm~3·cm~(-3)) and Matrix porosity(0.34-0.44 cm~3·cm~(-3)) of mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest soil were higher than the corresponding values of field soil. Therefore, with low bulk density and high content of organic matter, mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest soil can store more water in soil in the form of effective water to meet the needs of plants for water, thus possibly forming high quality medicinal materials of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix. In conclusion, the results of this study can provide theoretical basis guidance for soil structure improvement and water management to form high quality medicinal materials in the artificial cultivation of N. incisum.

Indigenous knowledge and traditional culture for sustainable use of native plants in Juenang cultural region of Rangtang county, Aba Zang and Qiang Prefecture of Sichuan province, have been characterized in this paper followed the principles and methods of ethnobotany. The results indicate that 38 species from 27 families(including 6 species of fungi) are ethnobotanically used commonly in this area. Of 38 species of the native plants, 13 species from 12 families are collected for eatables and vegetables, 12 families and 16 species of indigenous plants for medicinal and edible use, 4 species from 4 families for decoration, 4 species from 4 families used for building materials or firewood, and 1 species from 1 families used for religious folklore. Under the influence of Juenang culture and Tibetan culture, indigenous knowledge such as instinctive reverence and gratitude for nature, protection ecological environment and habitats, and moderate use of natural resources(especially wild bioresource), have been gotten passed on from generation to generation in Juenang culture region of Rangtang county, which is of great significance to the protection of local bioresources and environment, including ethnic medicinal plants, and also to provide practical guidance for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration in those alpine ecological vulnerable areas.

Study the growth and development process of rhizomes(bamboo-like part) of Notopterygium incisum and the changes of carbohydrate, endogenous hormones and secondary metabolites, and provide theoretical guidance for the formation of high-quality N. incisum medicinal commodities under artificial cultivation. The One-year-old seedlings were transplanted to the original habitat,and the growth and physiological characteristics of N. incisum were dynamically monitored. The results showed that: ① Seedlings transplanted to the original habitat in spring could form rhizomes(bamboo-like part) in the same year. ② After 60 days of transplantation, the root length and root diameter of underground part of N. incisum had increased rapidly, and carbohydrate content in roots and rhizomes had accumulated rapidly. After 120 days of transplantation, the roots and rhizomes of underground part had grown slowly, and starch content in roots and rhizomes increased continuously, while sucrose and total soluble sugar content decreased gradually. ③ The content of abscisic acid(ABA) in rhizomes decreased firstly and then increased, while the indole acetic acid(IAA) content stabilized firstly and then increased rapidly, and the contents of gibberellin(GA_3) and zeatin riboside(ZR) continued to increase. ④ The content of notopterol in rhizomes was higher than that in roots, while the content of isoimperatorin was lower than that in roots, but the total content of the both in rhizomes was higher than that in roots. Therefore, N. incisum can form rhizomes with high content of secondary metabolites under wild tending, and the growth and development of rhizomes are closely related to changes in carbohydrates and are regulated by related endogenous hormones.

To investigate the adaptive mechanism of Notopterygium incisum to water changes, one-year-old seedlings were used as test materials. The characteristics of growth, physiology, and active ingredients of N. incisum were studied at different soil water content by pot experiments. The result showed that: ①The water content at 100% field capacity is conducive to the growth and accumulation of biomass of N. incisum. The leaf length, petiole length, petiole diameter, root diameter, root length and biomass of underground dry of N. incisum were all significantly increased at the 100% field capacity, and they slightly declined at 70% field capacity. 20% field capacity could not provide the necessary water to growth of N. incisum, all N. incisum withered and died. ②With the extension of moisture treatment time, the relative content of chlorophyll (SPAD) in leaves and the activity of peroxidase (POD) in rhizome showed a trend of increasing firstly, decreasing then; the tendency of activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in rhizome increased; the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in rhizome decreased firstly and increased then;. For the late test, the SPAD value, the activity of POD and SOD in N. incisum at the 40% field capacity were lower than 70% field capacity and 100 field capacity, while the content of MDA in rhizome were higher than 70% field capacity and 100% field capacity. ③ At 70% field capacity, the active ingredients accumulated most in the N. incisum. At the 70% field capacity, the notopterol and isoimperatorinwerehigher than100 field capacity and 40 field capacity. In summary, the soil water content at 70%-100% field capacity would contribute to the growth and accumulation of active ingredients of N. incisum.