The genus Pterocyclus Klotzsch, along with many others, constituted the taxonomically complex Pleurospermum s.l. To delimit its circumscription and clarify its interspecific relationships, molecular phylogenetic analysis and detailed specimen examination were carried out. Its status as an independent genus was confirmed, with four species recognized. Pterocyclus wolffianus, the synonymous species of Pterocyclus forrsetii should be restored as an independent species. A new taxonomic account for Pterocyclus and an identification key to its four species, are provided.

Ligusticopsis acaulis , belonging to the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), is endemic to China. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of L. acaulis was assembled and annotated for the first time in this study. The results showed that the plastome was 148,509 bp in length and consisted of a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs: 19,468 bp), a large single-copy region (LSC: 91,902 bp), and a small single-copy region (SSC: 17,671 bp). A total of 114 unique genes were annotated, including 80 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. According to the phylogenetic analysis, L. acaulis belongs to the tribe Selineae, with a close relationship to Ligusticum hispidum (Franch.) Wolff.

Pimpinella crispulifolia, a species known only from the holotype locality (Laoguishan of Shilin County) collected in 1906, was rediscovered in Luquan County of Kunming City, China. To examine its systematic position, a phylogenetic reconstruction was performed based on nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region under the framework phylogeny of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae. It showed an affinity to Sium species of Oenantheae. Morphological similarity is reflected in its fascicled roots, simple pinnate leaves, long and reflexed styles, and ovoid, laterally compressed fruits with prominent and corky-thickened ribs. Therefore, a new combination of Sium crispulifolium (H.de Boissieu) J. Zhou is proposed with full taxonomic treatments. Its morphological description is also amended and completed with both living individuals and newly collected specimens.

The taxonomic placement of Pleurospermum lecomteanum, previously synonymized with Pleurospermum wilsonii, was carefully examined using herbarium specimens and molecular evidence. The results showed that Pleurospermum lecomteanum is distinguished from P. wilsonii by several morphological characters. Its phylogenetic position is separate from P. wilsonii in the ML tree. Therefore, Pleurospermum lecomteanum should be restored as a distinct species.

A new species, Cyclorhiza puana J. Zhou & Z.W. Liu (Apiaceae) from Sichuan Province of China, is described and illustrated here. Morphological comparisons with congeneric species revealed that it is distinguished by its slender habit, sparse annular scars, 4-pinnatisect leaf blade with ultimate segments linear (2–4×0.5–1 mm), subequal rays, oblong fruits with slightly thickened ribs, obconic stylopodium and slightly concave seed face. A molecular analysis based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences indicated that C. puana is genetically distinct from the other two species of the genus. A distribution map, as well as an updated key, are provided for the species of Cyclorhiza.