Reappraisal of Microtropis macrocarpaC.Y. Cheng & T.C. Kao (Celastraceae), a critically endangered species endemic to Yunnan, China

Abstract Microtropis macrocarpaC.Y. Cheng & T.C. Kao has been treated as a synonym of Microtropis macrophyllaMerr. & Freeman in most taxonomic reports in China. According to our study, M. macrocarpais an independent species endemic to Yunnan, China. Microtropis macrophyllaand Microtropis pachyphyllaMerr. & Freeman should be treated as synonyms of Microtropis longifoliaWall. ex Kurz. M. macrocarpais also identified as a critically endangered species, CR B1ab (i,ii,iii,v), based on the IUCN Red ListCategories and Criteria. The foliar surface, anther and pollen structures were also observed with a scanning electron microscope.