Plastid genome and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) arrays, proposed recently as “super‐barcodes,” might provide additional discriminatory power and overcome the limitations of traditional barcoding loci, yet super‐barcodes need to be tested for their effectiveness in more plant groups. Morphological homoplasy among Schima species makes the genus a model for testing the efficacy of super‐barcodes. In this study, we generated multiple data sets comprising standard DNA barcodes (matK, rbcL, trnH‐psbA, nrITS) and super‐barcodes (plastid genome, nrDNA arrays) across 58 individuals from 12 out of 13 species of Schima from China. No samples were correctly assigned to species using standard DNA barcodes and nrDNA arrays, while only 27.27% of species with multiple accessions were distinguished using the plastid genome and its partitioned data sets—the lowest estimated rate of super‐barcode success in the literature so far. For Schima and other taxa with similarly recently divergence and low levels of genetic variation, incomplete lineage sorting, hybridization or taxonomic oversplitting are all possible causes of the failure. Taken together, our study suggests that by no means are super‐barcodes immune to the challenges imposed by evolutionary complexity. We therefore call for developing multilocus nuclear markers for species discrimination in plant groups.

Laplacea alpestris is a member of the genus Laplacea, which distributes in Central and South America. Genetic information of L. alpestris would provide guidance for the phylogenetic position of this species. Here, we reported and characterized its complete chloroplast (cp) genome using Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The total chloroplast genome size of this species was 157,211 bp, including inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,103 bp, separated by a large single copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) of 86,749 and 18,256 bp, respectively. A total of 132 genes, including 37 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 87 proteincoding genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that L. alpestris formed a monophyletic clade with Laplacea fruticosa, and then grouped with Apterosperma oblata. The systematic position of Southeast Asian Laplacea species needs further studies.

Camellia crassicolumna (Theaceae) was described as an endemic species to southeastern Yunnan, China. In the most recent monograph of Camellia, seven names, including C. crispula, C. atrothea, C. makuanica, C. haaniensis, C. purpurea, C. rotundata, and C. crassicolumna var. shangbaensis, were listed as heterotypic synonyms of C. crassicolumna. Our examination of related specimens reveals that the statement ‘ovariis pilosis’ in the protologue of C. crassicolumna is incongruent with its type specimens whose ovaries are glabrous. The morphological traits of C. crassicolumna resemble C. kwangsiensis var. kwangnanica. Therefore, C. crassicolumna is reduced into C. kwangsiensis var. kwangnanica. The species status of C. crispula is reinstated with C. atrothea, C. makuanica, C. haaniensis, C. purpurea, C. rotundata, and C. crassicolumna var. shangbaensis treated as its heterotypic synonyms. A new combination, C. crispula var. multiplex, is proposed, and the lectotype of C. atrothea is designated here.