New species and new combinations in Brassaiopsis (Araliaceae) from Vietnam and southwestern China

Brassaiopsis ficifolioides J.Wen & Lowry (Araliaceae) is described based on material in the Paris herbarium from Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, previously associated with another well delimited species, B. ficifolia Dunn. Brassaiopsis gigantea J.Wen & Lowry is described from Ninh Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, based on collections from Cuc Phuong National Park. Recent field work has shown that Acanthopanax bodinieri H.Lév. from southwestern China and northern Vietnam, long regarded as a synonym of B. ciliata Dunn, also represents a distinct species, necessitating its transfer to Brassaiopsis. Another taxon, previously described as B. ficifolia var. nhatrangensis Bui from southern Vietnam, is likewise distinct, and is thus also elevated to the rank of species.