Abstract:

Aims: Since 2020, the average annual number of changes in plant names in China has accounted for about 1.5%. Although this proportion is small, the cumulative changes over time cannot be ignored. To timely integrate these plant nomenclatural changes into the Catalogue of Life China, it is necessary to compile information on new taxa, new records, and nomenclatural changes related to Chinese plants annually, facilitating reference for scholars. 

Methods: We collected data on newly discovered taxa and nomenclatural changes for Chinese higher plants by reviewing 117 journals and related monographs. This compilation involved 409 articles from 61 journals and 5 monographs, focusing on the new taxa and nomenclatural changes of higher plants in 2024. 

Results: In 2024, China reported a total of 6 new families, 5 new genera, 284 new species (including hybrid), 24 new infraspecies, 34 new higher taxa (including 1 suborder, 2 new subfamilies, 15 new supertribes, 8 new tribes, 8 subtribes), 5 new sections, 1 new series in higher plants. Additionally, 531 new combinations and status (5 at supraspecific level, 507 at species level and 19 at infraspecific level) and 92 replacement names were published. At the national level, 6 newly recorded genera, 56 newly recorded species, and 3 newly recorded infraspecies were documented. Furthermore, 166 names were synonymized with 109 species, 9 names were resurrected. 4 species that had not been observed for many years were rediscovered, and 3 species distribution was excluded. Among the newly published species, there were 4 bryophytes, 21 pteridophytes (including 2 hybrids), 3 new gymnosperms, and 256 angiosperms (including 1 hybrid) and 24 infraspecies. Detailed intergrative evidences were provided for 136 new species when described, accounting for 44% of all new species. Additionally, the conservation status of 97 new species were evaluated according to Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria when published, representing 31% of all new species. Four southwestern provinces, i.e., Yunnan, Guangxi, Xizang, and Sichuan, boast the highest number of species new to science, accounting for two-thirds of the total new species reported nationwide. Medog County is the richest in the number of new species and national new records among county-level administrative units, with 13 new species and 6 new records published. 

Conclusion: In 2024, China witnessed a net increase of 316 new taxa of higher plants, accounting for 0.67% of the total Chinese plant species. Additionally, 796 names of higher plants underwent changes, accounting for 1.69% of the total. These changes represented 2.36% of all Chinese plant names modified in 2024, encompassing both species additions and nomenclature treatments. Multiple indicators suggest that the number of newly published plant taxa and nomenclatural changes in China have fluctuated but still remain at a comparatively high level.

Key words: higher plants, new taxa, nomenclatural changes, China