Reinstatement of the specific status of Ligularia shifangensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae)

Ligularia shifangensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) has been treated as L. liatroides var. shifangensis. Observations of both herbarium specimens (including type material) and living plants demonstrate that L. shifangensis is a distinct species. From L. liatroides it can be readily distinguished by the shape of leaves and involucres, the number and pubescence of phyllaries, and a shorter pappus. The affinity of L. shifangensis may lie with L. tsangchanensis, from which it differs mainly in the shape of involucres, the length of peduncles and a shorter pappus.