Taxonomic study on Pseudotaxus (Taxaceae)

Two specific names, viz. Pseudotaxus chienii (Cheng) Cheng and P. liana J. Silba, were published within Pseudotaxus and leaf width was considered to be discontinuous between the two species. Width of leaf blades of herbarium specimen was measured and analyzed statistically with student’s t test and XY PLOT. Though a significant difference of leaf width was indicated between specimens from Zhejiang and those from Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangxi, XY PLOT suggests that the difference on the variation of leaf width, suggested by J. Silba, is continuous. As a result, Pseudotaxus liana J. Silba was reduced to synonymy of P. chienii (Cheng) Cheng.