Salvia tainingensis, a neglected new species of Lamiaceae from Fujian Province, China

A species could not be known to the world of science if it not be discovered and described, considerable number of new species are neglected due to the plant itself and some other external restricted factors. On the basis of morphological and molecular evidences, a new species previously identified as Salvia scapiformis is now described and illustrated as Salvia tainingensis, named after Taining County in Fujian Province, where it was discovered. S. tainingensis does not closely resemble S. scapiformis, but is more similar to Salvia glabrifolia and Salvia daiguii, which were once identified as S. scapiformis, in terms of leaf shape, apex, base, corolla color, and connective length. However, it can be easily distinguished from the latter two by its thinly leathery leaves, serrate leaf margins, densely villous or glabrescent leaf abaxial, and the X-shaped arrangement of connective and filament.