Plant molecular phylogeography in China and adjacent regions: Tracing the genetic imprints of Quaternary climate and environmental change in the world's most diverse temperate flora

► Mainland China and adjacent areas harbor the world's most diverse temperate flora. ► We review the phylogeographic literature on this flora for the first time. ► Studies generally reveal strong genetic imprints of Quaternary climate and environmental change. ► This challenges the oft-stated view of East Asia as a glacial sanctuary for temperate plants.