Sedum qingyuanense (Crassulaceae), a new species from Qingyuan, Guangdong, China

45 Sedum qingyuanense (Crassulaceae), a new species from Qingyuan, Guangdong, China Xiao-Wei Yi1, Zhi-Yi Xie2, Xue-Gui Shen3, Wei Xu2, Qiu-Gen Zeng3, Ke Tang1, Yan-Shuang Huang1, Qiang Fan1 1 State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China 2 Guangdong Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510308, China 3 Qingyuan Forestry Bureau, Qingyuan 511518, China Corresponding author: Qiang Fan ([email protected]) Copyright: © Xiao-Wei Yi et al. This is an open access article distributed under terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (Attribution 4.0 International – CC BY 4.0). Research Article Abstract This study describes a new species of Sedum (Crassulaceae), Sedum qingyuanense sp. nov. discovered in Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, China. Morphologically, S. qingyuanense resembles S. alfredii and S. emarginatum. The new species may have previously been misidentified as S. alfredii. However, the new species can be readily distinguished from S. alfredii by its creeping sterile stems, opposite leaves, emarginate leaf apices, and smaller sepals. Compared to S. emarginatum, it is differentiated by its creeping sterile stems, smaller sepals, and conspicuous pseudopetioles. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that the new species forms a sister clade to S.emarginatum within Sedum sect. Sedum, supported by moderate to strong bootstrap support (> 80%). Integrating both morphological evidence and the phylogenetic tree, we establish it as an independent lineage. Key words: New species, nrITS, phylogeny, Sedum Introduction The genus Sedum L. (Crassulaceae), comprising approximately 474 accepted species (WFO 2025), represents the most species-rich genus within the family. It has a broad distribution across temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with biodiversity hotspots concentrated in the Mediterranean Basin, Central America, the Himalayas, and East Asia (Stephenson 1994; Thiede and Eggli 2007). A few species extend into the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Africa and South America. Sedum species typically exhibit herbaceous to subshrubby growth forms with succulent leaves and stems, an adaptation to xeric habitats such as deserts, cliffs, rock crevices, and sandy slopes (Thiede and Eggli 2007). Certain taxa, including Sedum lineare Thunb. and S. sarmentosum Bunge, are widely used in urban green roofing due to their compact growth habit, shallow root systems, stress tolerance, low maintenance requirements, and ornamental value (Schindler et al. 2019). Academic editor: Takuro Ito Received: 8 October 2025 Accepted: 28 November 2025 Published: 15 December 2025 Citation: Yi X-W, Xie Z-Y, Shen X-G, Xu W, Zeng Q-G, Tang K, Huang Y-S, Fan Q (2025) Sedum qingyuanense (Crassulaceae), a new species from Qingyuan, Guangdong, China. PhytoKeys 268: 45–58. https://doi. org/10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025) DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 46 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China East Asia constitutes one of the major centers of Sedum diversity (Thiede and Eggli 2007; Ito et al. 2017a). According to the Flora of China (Fu and Ohba 2001), 121 Sedum species occur in China, of which 91 are endemic. These species are classified into three sections: sect. Oreades Fröd., sect. Sedum, and sect. Filipes Fröd., with the majority primarily distributed in southwestern China. Among them, Sect. Sedum represents the most species-rich group (Zou et al. 2025). It is characterized by convex ventral surfaces of carpels and follicles. From 2005 to 2024, 18 new species of the genus Sedum have been described from China (Dai et al. 2025). Between 2024 and October 2025, an additional five species—S. orientalichinense Q. Fan & P. Li (Dai et al. 2025), S. guangxiense Yan Liu & C.Y.Zou (Zou et al. 2025), S. simingshanense Y.L.Xu (She et al. 2025a), S. yongkangense Y.L.Xu et Z.H.Chen (She et al. 2025b), and S. shunhuangense L.Wu & Z.L.Feng (Feng et al. 2025) —were published. As of 2025, the genus Sedum comprises 144 species in China, including 114 endemic species. During field surveys in Guangdong Province, southern China, this species was discovered growing on rocky slopes in Qingyuan City. The species morphologically resembles S. alfredii Hance and S. emarginatum Migo but is distinguished by its smaller sepals, creeping sterile stems, and conspicuous pseudopetioles. Phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS sequencing supports its status as an independent lineage. Morphological comparisons and molecular evidence confirm that S. qingyuanense represents a previously undescribed species within Sedum sect. Sedum. This paper provides a comprehensive morphological description, taxonomic discussion, and ecological illustrations of the new species. Methods Morphological study To obtain fresh material for morphological analysis, detailed field investigations were conducted during the flowering period of the new species and its close relatives: S. emarginatum (Hangzhou), S. alfredii (Hangzhou and Guangzhou), S. jinglanii (ShaoGuan). Collected 4 specimens were thoroughly examined, dissected, and photographed. Living specimens of this new species were collected from TaiHe Grotto, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, China. Digital specimens of related species were examined via the Chinese Virtual Herbarium (https://www.cvh.ac.cn/); and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (https://www.gbif.org/) to obtain comparative morphological data. The holotype was collected from TaiHe Grotto, Qingyuan City, and is deposited in the Herbarium of Sun Yat-sen University (SYS!). Molecular study Fresh leaves from two individuals of S. qingyuanense were collected at TaiHe Grotto, Qingyuan City, and dried in silica gel. Total DNA was extracted using a modified CTAB method (Doyle and Doyle 1987). The partial internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and the partial internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region were amplified using the primers ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al. 1990), following PCR protocols from Huang et al. (2021). 47 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China We downloaded 74 ITS sequences from GenBank, representing 53 Sedum species (including subspecies and variants) and 3 outgroups (Table 1). Greenovia aizoon, Aeonium viscatum and A. lancerottense were selected as outgroups (Huang et al. 2023). Ultimately, a total of 79 sequences were used to construct the phylogenetic tree, including the sequence of S. qingyuanense and our newly sequenced S. alfredii and S. emarginatum sequences. Sequence alignment was performed using MAFFT v7.505 (Katoh and Standley 2013) with the ‘--auto’ strategy. The initial alignment was manually inspected and refined in BioEdit v7.2.5 to correct misalignments in hypervariable regions. Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic inference was conducted using IQ-TREE 2.1.4 (Minh et al. 2020). The best-fit nucleotide substitution model was determined through the built-in ModelFinder utility, which selected the SYM+I+G4 model under the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). Branch support was assessed through standard non-parametric bootstrap analysis with 3,000 replicates. Bayesian inference (BI) analysis was conducted with MrBayes v.3.2.1 (nruns = 2, nchains = 4, mcmc = 30,000,000). The consensus tree was visualized and annotated in FigTree v1.4.4, with branches scaled by the expected number of substitutions per site and bootstrap support values (BS) displayed at the nodes. Results and discussion The final length of the aligned ITS sequences was 659 bp. Using these ITS data, we successfully constructed a Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree (Fig. 1). In the ML tree, Sedum qingyuanense was clearly distinguishable from its morphologically similar relatives, S. alfredii and S. emarginatum. It formed a distinct clade, positioned as a sister group to S. emarginatum, while S. alfredii was located on a separate branch of the tree. Notably, although S. qingyuanense appeared phylogenetically close to S. jinglanii in the ML tree, it can be unequivocally distinguished from this species morphologically. Moreover, their habitats are markedly distinct: S. jinglanii is endemic to the Danxia landscape of Danxiashan Mountain in Shaoguan City, whereas S. qingyuanense is restricted to the granite cliffs in TaiHe Grotto of Qingyuan City. Table 1. Taxa, voucher information, GenBank accession numbers and references for ITS sequences of Sedum (S.) species and three outgroups used for phylogenetic analyses in this study. Taxon Voucher Accession number Reference S. actinocarpum Ito 1749 LC229265 Ito et al. 2017a S. alfredii IBK194564 FJ919949 Wang and Shu unpublished IBK114924 FJ919951 Wang and Shu unpublished –PX560094 Present Study S. arisanense Ito 1842 LC229273 Ito et al. 2017a Ito 1836 LC229272 Ito et al. 2017a S. baileyi LBG0064555 FJ919935 Wang and Shu unpublished S. bergeri –AY352897 Ni et al. unpublished S. boninense Ito 2371 LC229242 Ito et al. 2017a 48 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China Taxon Voucher Accession number Reference S. bulbiferum Ito 416 LC229234 Ito et al. 2017a 130514hs41 KM111166 Xie et al. 2014 130524qz09 KM111165 Xie et al. 2014 S. brachyrinchum var. brachyrinchum Ito 1359 LC229274 Ito et al. 2017a S. danjoense Ito 3658 LC260127 Ito et al. 2017b S. emarginatum 130512hs27 KM111145 Xie et al. 2014 130529hz03 KM111146 Xie et al. 2014 130503jz21 KM111147 Xie et al. 2014 24041001 PP981038 Dai et al. 2025 24052201 PP981037 Dai et al. 2025 AYJT-Nanjing-0308-08 EU592006 – –PX560095 Present Study –PX560096 Present Study S. erici-magnusii Ito 2077 LC229235 Ito et al. 2017a S. erythrospermum Tsutsumi 1504 AB906473 Ito et al. 2014b S. formosanum Ito1115 LC530813 Ito et al. 2020 Ito2296 LC260124 Ito et al. 2017b S. hakonense Mayuzumi C00005 AB088625 Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004 S. hangzhouense Ito 2604 LC260130 Ito et al. 2017b S. japonicum Kokubugata 16749 AB906475 Ito et al. 2014b S. japonicum var. oryzifolium Ito 2285 LC229239 Ito et al. 2017a S. japonicum var. pumilum Ito 2287 LC229240 Ito et al. 2017a S. japonicum var. senanense Ito 2200 LC229238 Ito et al. 2017a S. jinglanii Y. S. Huang 21040301 OP288035 Huang et al. 2023 DNPC 2873 OQ162326 Huang et al. 2023 S. jiulungshanense Ito 76 LC229243 Ito et al. 2017a S. kiangnanense CMQ1030 LC229244 Ito et al. 2017a S. lineare Mayuzumi C00120 AB088623 Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004 S. lipingense ZRB1479 MN150061 Zhang et al. 2019 S. lungtsuanense Ito 3563 LC260131 Ito et al. 2017b S. makinoi Kokubugata 16730 AB906476 Ito et al. 2014b S. mexicanum Ito 647 LC229247 Ito et al. 2017a S. microsepalum Ito 2771 LC229282 Ito et al. 2017a Ito 1965 LC229281 Ito et al. 2017a S. morrisonense Ito 2765 LC229290 Ito et al. 2017a Hornat S1 LM993281 Nikulin et al. 2016 S. multicaule Miyamoto et al. TI9596136 AB088631 Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004 S. nagasakianum Ito 2064 LC229249 Ito et al. 2017a S. nokoense Kokubugata 10426 AB906478 Ito et al. 2014b S. oligospermum Ito 74 LC229250 Ito et al. 2017a S. oreades Rao 090803-03 KF113733 Zhang et al. 2014 S. polytrichoides subsp. polytrichoides CMQ1057 LC229251 Ito et al. 2017a 49 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China This new species closely resembles S. alfredii morphologically and may have previously been misidentified as such. However, it can be differentiated by its smaller sepals, creeping sterile stems, opposite leaves, emarginate leaf apices, conspicuously pseudopetiolate, and consistently spatulate leaf shape. Because of its emarginate leaves and opposite phyllotaxy, S. qingyuanense may also be confused with S. emarginatum. However, the two species are readily distinguishable by differences in sepal size, leaf shape and size, presence of creeping sterile stems, and conspicuous pseudopetiolate. Morphological analyses of the putative new species and its relatives reveal that, despite some shared characteristics, they can be clearly distinguished by several diagnostic traits. Based on our measurements and previous studies (Fu and Ohba 2001; Wu et al. 2012; Huang et al. 2023; Dai et al. 2025), we summarize and detail the morphological distinctions among these three species in Table 2. Taxon Voucher Accession number Reference S. polytrichoides var. setouchiense Ito 2298 LC229253 Ito et al. 2017a S. qingyuanense TH1001 PX560092 Present Study TH1002 PX560093 Present Study S. rupifragum Ito2070 LC229254 Ito et al. 2017a S. sarmentosum Ito 978 LC229255 Ito et al. 2017a S. satumense Ito 2295 LC229256 Ito et al. 2017a S. sekiteiense Ito 1456 LC229295 Ito et al. 2017a S. simingshanense -PP464049 She et al. 2025 -PP464048 She et al. 2025 S. subtile Ito 624 AB930277 Ito et al. 2014a Shimizu 1999 AB088622 Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004 S. taiwanianum Ito 2770 LC229297 Ito et al. 2017a Ito 2770 LC229296 Ito et al. 2017a S. tetractinum Ito 3623 LC260135 Ito et al. 2017b S. tianmushanense Ito 355 LC229261 Ito et al. 2017a S. tosaense Kokubugata 16726 AB906483 Ito et al. 2014b S. triactina 9596091 AB088629 Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004 S. tricarpum Ito 2269 LC229259 Ito et al. 2017a -PP989617 - S. trullipetalum Miyamoto et al. 9420132 AB088630 Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004 S. truncatistigmum Ito 3254 LC229306 Ito et al. 2017a S. xunvense -PV101948 Chai et al. 2024 -PV101947 Chai et al. 2024 S. yabeanum Ito 396 AB906490 Ito et al. 2014b S. zentaro-tashiroi Ohba 1998 AB088619 Mayuzumi and Ohba 2004 Outgroups Aeonium lancerottense Mort 1518 AY082143 Mort et al. 2002 Aeonium viscatum Mort 1432 AY082154 Mort et al. 2002 Greenovia aizoon Mort 1425 AY082112 Mort et al. 2002 50 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China Figure 1. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree constructed based on ITS sequences of S. qingyuanense and closely related species with Bayesian posterior probabilities mapped onto the branches. Node support values are given as bootstrap support value (BS) and Bayesian posterior probabilities (PP). S. qingyuanense is highlighted in yellow and bolded. The newly sequenced S. alfredii and S. emarginatum from this study are marked in blue. 7 7 /0.5629 100/ 1 9 8 5 1 9 9 /0.9696 /0.5708 /0.9996 9 4 /0.8892 100 100/ 1 /1 9 8 /0.9865 100 7 2 9 8 /0.9688 /0.7376 /0.9999 8 3 7 7 /0.4205 /0.8607 6 5 /0.2027 9 2 9 7 /0.9534 /0.997 100/ 1 100/ 1 5 7 9 8 /0.9721 / 1 9 8 /0.984 9 4 100/0.7401 /0.8086 100/ 1 9 9 7 2 /0.1752 /0.7582 7 3 /0.7913 9 9 / 1 8 9 8 4 /0.1783 /0.9964 100 8 2 9 1 9 9 / 1 /0.9597 /0.8706 100/ 1 7 6 /0.335 /1 8 0 100 7 7 /0.1993 /1 /0.6855 7 6 9 6 100/ 1 / 1 /0.6355 9 8 / 1 100 100 9 9 / 1 /1 /1 27/0.1298 3 0 /0.1748 4 1 9 5 /0.9717 /0.1519 100 100 100/0.9999 /1 /1 100/ 1 100 8 6 /0.1983 /0.9855 100/ 1 100 9 9 /0.9862 /0.3337 100/ 1 100/ 1 8 1 8 2 6 7 9 3 9 6 /0.6347 /0.6347 /0.6172 /0.4705 /0.8648 100 100 7 8 100 9 3 /0.9948 /1 /0.3354 /1 /1 100/ 1 100/ 1 AB906476.1 Sedum 6 9 100/ 1 /0.6216 makinoi KM111165.1 Sedum bulbiferum AB088625.1 Sedum LC530813.1 Sedum formosanum subsp. miyakojimense hakonense AB088630.1 Sedum LC229290.1 Sedum morrisonense var. morrisonense trullipetalum AB930277.1 Sedum LC260135.1 Sedum tetractinum subtile LC229239.1 Sedum japonicum var. AB088629.1 Sedum LC229259.1 Sedum AY082154.1 Aeonium viscatum tricarpum triactina oryzifolium LC229296.1 Sedum taiwanianum LC229238.1 Sedum japonicum var. Sedum qingyuanense 2 senanense LC229247.1 Sedum PP981038.1 Sedum PV101948.1 Sedum xunvense emarginatum mexicanum LC229256.1 Sedum LC229250.1 Sedum LC229273.1 Sedum arisanense oligospermum satumense LC229297.1 Sedum LC229253.1 Sedum polytrichoides var. AB906473.1 Sedum erythrospermum setouchiense taiwanianum KF113733.1 Sedum PP464048.1 Sedum simingshanense oreades MN150061.1 Sedum PP464049.1 Sedum simingshanense lipingense LC229261.1 Sedum LC229272.1 Sedum arisanense tianmushanense AB906483.1 Sedum t KM111147.1 Sedum emarginatum osaense LC229244.1 Sedum kiangnanense OP288035.1 Sedum PV101947.1 Sedum xunvense jinglanii LC229242.1 Sedum LC260130.1 Sedum Sedum alfredii Sedum emarginatum1 hangzhouense boninense LC229240.1 Sedum japonicum var. FJ919951.1 Sedum LC229295.1 Sedum sekiteiense alfredii pumilum LC229251.1 Sedum polytrichoides subsp. polytrichoide s LC260124.1 Sedum formosanum AB088622.1 Sedum PP989617 Sedum FJ919949.1 Sedum AY082112.1Greenoviaaizoon alfredii tricarpum Sedum emarginatum2 subtile AB088623.1 Sedum lineare LC229243.1 Sedum FJ919935.1 Sedum KM111166.1 Sedum LM993281.1 Sedum LC229281.1 Sedum microsepalum Sedum qingyuanense 1 morrisonense bulbiferum baileyi jiulungshanense LC229282.1 Sedum microsepalum AB088619.1 Sedum KM111145.1 Sedum emarginatum LC229274.1 Sedum brachyrinchum var. LC229265.1 Sedum actinocarpum brachyrinchum zentaro-tashiroi AB906490.1 Sedum polytrichoides subsp. AB906478.1 Sedum nokoense yabeanum LC229235.1 Sedum LC229306.1 Sedum AY082143.1 Aeonium lancerottense truncastigmum erici-magnusii AB906475.1 Sedum LC260131.1 Sedum lungtsuanense japonicum LC229254.1 Sedum rupifragum AY352897.1 Sedum PP981037.1 Sedum emarginatum bergeri LC229255.1 Sedum LC260127.1 Sedum danjoense sarmentosum LC229234.1 Sedum EU592006.1 Sedum emarginatum bulbiferum LC229249.1 Sedum nagasakianum AB088631.1 Sedum KM111146.1 Sedum emarginatum multicaule OQ162326.1 Sedum jinglanii 0.07 51 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China Taxonomic treatment Sedum qingyuanense X.W.Yi, Z.Y.Xie & Q.Fan, sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77373284-1 Figs 2–5 Chinese name. 清远景天 (Qīng yuăn JĬng tiān). Type. China • Guangdong Province, Qingyuan City, TaiHe Grotto; on rocky cliff; 23.7553°N, 112.9807°E; 238 m a.s.l.; 18 April 2025; X.W.Yi & K.Tang QY1001 (holotype: SYS00237022). Diagnosis. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of creeping sterile stems, conspicuous pseudopetiolate, and small linear-spatulate sepals (1.8–3.2 × 0.5–1.5 mm). It differs from close species, S. jinglanii, S. alfredii and S. emarginatum in having creeping sterile stems (vs. ascending sterile stems), smaller sepals and more distinctly pseudopetiolate. In addition, we have also provided photographs of S. emarginatum and S. alfredii (Fig. 6). Description. Perennial herb, entirely glabrous. Stems succulent; fertile stems suberect 5–20 cm long, apex erect, usually 3-branched above; sterile stems present, creeping, rooting at nodes and producing new rosettes. Leaves opposite, conspicuously pseudopetiolate; leaf blades spatulate to broadly obovate, margin entire, apex emarginate, base attenuate with a spur, 1.1–5.9 × 0.5–1.4 cm. Cymes 3–8 cm in diameter, usually 3-branched, multiflowered; bracts obovate with an obtuse apex. Flowers sessile, 7–10 mm long, pentamerous, actinomorphic. Sepals 5, linear-spatulate, 1.8–3.2 × 0.5–1.5 mm, base spurred. Petals 5, yellow, lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 4–6 × 1.1–1.7 mm, apex acuminate, base connate ca. 0.3 mm. Stamens 10 antepetalous stamens ca. 3 mm long, adnate to petals for ca. 0.3 mm; antesepalous stamens ca. 4.5 mm long. Carpels 5, lanceolate, erect, connate at base, 3–4 mm long. Follicles obliquely divergent, many-seeded; placentation marginal. Seeds ovoid, brown at maturity, 0.6–0.8 mm long. Phenology. Flowering from March–April; fruiting in May. Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the distribution of this species in Qingyuan City. Table 2. Morphological comparisons of S. qingyuanense, S. alfredii, S. emarginatum, S. jinglanii. Character Species S. qingyuanense S. alfredii S. emarginatum S. jinglanii Fertile stems 4–15 cm 10–20 cm 10–27 cm 10–15 cm Phyllotaxy opposite, sometimes alternate alternate Opposite opposite Leaf apex emarginate obtuse sometimes emarginate Emarginate obtuse sometimes emarginate Leaf blade spatulate to broadly obovate linear-cuneate, spatulate, or obovate spatulate-obovate to broadly obovate spatulate or obovate Leaf size 1.1–5.9 × 0.5–1.4 cm 1.2–3 × 0.2–0.6 cm 1–2 × 0.5–1 cm 0.8–2.9 × 0.4–1.2 cm Pseudopetiolate conspicuously 8–24 mm inconspicuously Inconspicuously inconspicuously Sterile stem creeping ascending absent ascending Sepal shape linear-spatulate linear-spatulate lanceolate to narrowly oblong linear-spatulate Sepal size 1.8–3.2 × 0.5–1.5 mm 3–5 × 1–1.5 mm 2–5 × 0.7–2 mm 2–3.1 × 0.7–1.4 mm Flowering March–April April–May May–June April–May 52 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China Figure 2. Sedum qingyuanense. A. Flower; B. Petals and epipetalous stamens; C. Episepalous stamens; D. Back view of flower (with sepals); E. Sepals; F. Frontal and lateral aspects of carpels; G. Unripe follicles; H. Opened follicles; I. Unripe seeds; J. Flower compared with S. alfredii (left: S. alfredii; right: S. qingyuanense); K. Sepals compared with S. alfredii (upper: S. alfredii; lower: S. qingyuanense). Photos: XiaoWei Yi. Distribution and habitat. The new species is endemic to Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, southern China, growing on rocky cliffs at 200–300 m a.s.l. Conservation status. The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO) were calculated following the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2024). All known occurrences of Sedum qingyuanense are currently restricted to a single locality—TaiHe Grotto, Qingxin District, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, China. The EOO was estimated using the minimum convex polygon method based on this single site, resulting in an EOO < 2 km2. The AOO was assessed using a standard 2 km × 2 km grid system, and as all individuals fall within one grid cell, the AOO is inferred to be ≤ 4 km2. Given that the entire population occurs in a heavily visited tourist area along roadsides and is subject to ongoing anthropogenic threats (e.g., tram- 53 PhytoKeys 268: 45–58 (2025), DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.268.174287 Xiao-Wei Yi et al.: A new Sedum from Guangdong, China Figure 3. Sedum qingyuanense. A–B. Habitat; C. Leaves of a single S. qingyuanense; D. Immature cyme; E–G. Mature cyme. Photos: XiaoWei Yi & Ke Tang. Figure 4. Sedum qingyuanense. A–B. Flowers; C. Follicles; D. Petal with stamen; E. Seed; F. Sepals; G. Leave; H. Bract; I. Basal leaf; J. Fertile stems; K. Sterile stems. Drawing by RongEn Wu.