LAUSR

Stellaria pentastyla sp. nov. (Caryophyllaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Yunnan Province of China on the basis of both morphological and molecular data [nuclear ITS and two plastid regions (matK and trnL-F)]. The new species is similar to S. palustris and S. graminea from which differs by the number styles (5 vs. 3), the shorter leaves (10–13 mm vs. 20–45 mm and 5–50 mm, respectively). S. pentastyla is also similar to S. patens from which can be distinguished in having 5 styles (vs. 3 styles) and glabrous stem (vs. pubescent), and to S. lanipes from which differs from by styles (5 vs. 3), glabrous nodes (vs. densely white lanate on the nodes), and sessile leaves (vs. proximal leaves with very short petiolate).