Over the next two years, the researchers dedicated themselves to thorough investigations and experimental studies of this population both in its natural setting and in a laboratory. The team's collaborative efforts with both domestic and international experts involved detailed morphological and molecular data analyses.

Their findings revealed this perennial herb belongs to a particular subgroup known as Glutinaria. This subgroup consists of six known Salvia species that exhibit a fascinating disjunct distribution, spanning from Europe, Central Asia and the Himalayas to East China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan.

They compared the new species with the six known ones in the Glutinaria subgroup. What set the new one apart was its distinctive corolla shape, heart-shaped leaf bases, notably larger leaves and a unique characteristic not commonly observed in the East Asian species — it exhibits flowers in either pale purple or pale yellow. Furthermore, DNA evidence also suggested the ubiquitous status of the newfound population.

After integrating all evidence, the team confirmed it as a new member of the Salvia genus, naming it Salvia guidongensis.

It is named after the location of its first discovery, Guidong county, where it is currently exclusively distributed, making it an endemic species to this region.

The discovery was published in the international botanical journal Frontiers in Plant Science on March 5.

"China is a significant hub of Salvia diversity, boasting nearly 100 species," said Huang Yanbo, the lead author of the article. "The vast morphological diversity, from root to stamen, coupled with its varied habitats makes taxonomic studies of East Asian Salvia a formidable challenge."