Chinese researchers have identified a new species in the Polygalaceae family with potential medicinal value in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to the Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science.

The newly discovered species, named Polygala spatulata, was found in a karst cave at an elevation of approximately 530 meters. It is endemic to Bama County in northwestern Guangxi, as stated by Nong You, a member of the research team.

Nong explained that plants in the Polygalaceae family are distributed worldwide, with some species known for their medicinal properties, including treatments for malaria and physical weakness.

This discovery provides new insights into the distribution and adaptive mechanisms of the Polygalaceae family in karst ecosystems. It also highlights the critical role of southwestern China's karst region in conserving plant biodiversity, researchers noted.

The findings were recently published in PhytoKeys, an international journal dedicated to plant taxonomy.