Huazhong Agricultural University, in collaboration with multiple domestic and international institutions, recently published a research paper titled "Chelonopsis guchengensis, a new species of Lamiaceae from Hubei Province in Central China" in the journal PhytoKeys.

The morphological characteristics of Chelonopsis guchengensis. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
The paper reports for the first time a new species of the genus Chelonopsis, named Chelonopsis guchengensis, discovered in the Nanhe National Nature Reserve in Gucheng county, Hubei province.
The new species is named after Gucheng, the location of its type specimen collection. The discovery of this species not only enriches the composition of the Chelonopsis genus but also provides strong evidence for the biodiversity monitoring results of the Nanhe National Nature Reserve.
Belonging to the Lamiaceae family, the Chelonopsis genus is endemic to East Asia and comprises perennial herbs and shrubs. The newly discovered Chelonopsis guchengensis can be clearly distinguished from other species of the Chelonopsis genus based on morphological characteristics such as leaf shape, plant height, growth habit, and flower color. It has an independent distribution range, confirming its status as a new species, which has been further validated through molecular phylogenetic analysis.
The flowering period of Chelonopsis guchengensis is from September to October. It is distributed throughout valleys and moist and fertile thickets at an altitude of around 570 meters in the Nanhe National Nature Reserve and the Shennongjia Forestry district.