A research paper has been officially published in the international botanical taxonomic journal PhytoKeys: Researchers led by Li Bo from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have discovered and named a new species of the genus Mazus (Mazaceae) in Tianzhushan UNESCO Global Geopark, Anhui Province —— Mazus unguiculatus Bo Li. This is another endemic new species found in Tianzhushan in recent years, further highlighting the geopark’s outstanding biodiversity and ecological conservation value.

The new species was first discovered in July 2021 growing in steep rock crevices in the Tianlongguan area of Tianzhushan UNESCO Global Geopark. After years of field monitoring, specimen collection, morphological dissection, combined with phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast and nuclear gene sequences, the research team finally confirmed it as a distinct new species. It is also one of the significant new Mazus species discovered in China in the past decade.

Morphologically, Mazus unguiculatus is a perennial herb with slender and drooping branches and distinctly elongated inflorescences. Its flowers range from white to pale purple; the upper corolla lip is bifid with slightly emarginate lobe apices, while the lower lip is deeply three-lobed with subequal lobes that are shortly unguiculate at the base and shallowly dentate at the apex. Notably, it lacks the typical palate structure found in congeneric species —— an extremely rare feature among known taxa, providing high taxonomic distinctiveness. The species inhabits only low‑elevation rock crevice habitats, flowers from June to August, and fruits from July to September. To date, it is distributed exclusively in the Tianlongguan area of Tianzhushan.

Botanical experts note that the discovery of Mazus unguiculatus not only enriches the species diversity of Mazaceae in China and refines the systematic classification and evolutionary framework of Mazus, but also provides crucial scientific material for studying the floristic formation of East China and the adaptive evolution of rupicolous plants, carrying significant academic importance.

Located at the eastern foot of the Dabie Mountains, Tianzhushan UNESCO Global Geopark features a complete ecosystem and unique habitat types, serving as a vital species gene bank in East China. As a typical well‑preserved ecological zone within the geopark, Tianlongguan boasts precipitous terrain and numerous rock faces, offering natural habitats for many rare plants. With continuous enhancement of biodiversity surveys and conservation efforts in the geopark in recent years, multiple new species and new records have been successively documented.

The formal publication of Mazus unguiculatus represents both a major achievement of long‑term scientific monitoring and field research, and strong evidence of Tianzhushan’s effective ecological protection, contributing Tianzhushan’s share to global biodiversity conservation.