In Taiwan, only one species of the genus Epithema, E. ceylanicum Gardner, had previously
been recorded. This study reports a newly naturalized species, Epithema benthamii C.B. Clarke,
growing in Shuangxi, Meinong Dist., Kaohsiung City. These two taxa can be distinguished by the
following characteristics: leaves of E. benthamii are oblong, with dark-green adaxial surfaces, and
the corolla is light bluish-purple to white, with inconspicuous purple spots; whereas leaves of E.
ceylanicum are elliptic to broad-elliptic, with light-green adaxial surfaces, and the corolla is bluishpurple,
with conspicuous purple spots. Taxonomic descriptions and color photographs of the above
two species are provided to assist in their identification.