Abstract: In 2011, Elatostema glochidioides W. T. Wang, a species endemic to southern China, was reduced into the synonymy of E.ramosissimum Reinecke, a species endemic to Savaii Island of Oceania. Two species have rather similar habit, but there are important morphological differences. In E.glochidioides, the leaves are adaxially strigose, abaxially glabrous, and trinerved; the pistillate capitula have conspicuous receptacles; the pistillate flower lacks tepals; and the achenes are longitudinally ribbed. In E.ramosissimum, the leaves are adaxially glabrous, abaxially on midrib strigose, and semi-triplinerved; the receptacles of pistillate capitula are very small, inconspicuous; the pistillate flower has 3(-4) tepals; and the achenes are minutely tuberculate. On the basis of the morphological differences just mentioned the specific status of E.glochidioides is restored here.

Key words: Urticaceae, Elatostema glochidioides W.T.Wang, Elatostema ramosissimum Reinecke, restoration of specific status