Gaultheria sect. Brossaea ser. Gymnobotrys ( Airy Shaw 1941: 308 ) D.J. Middleton (1993: 325)

Fritsch, Peter W., Armstrong, Kate E., Aung, Mu Mu, Fujikawa, Kazumi & Lu, Lu, 2023, Gaultheria (Ericaceae) of Myanmar: an updated species list for the country, a new species, and a new species combination, Phytotaxa 595 (1), pp. 37-61 : 45

Classification — Gaultheria sect. Brossaea ser. Gymnobotrys ( Airy Shaw 1941: 308) D.J. Middleton (1993: 325) .

Phylogenetic placement —Gymnobotrys clade.

Literature — Kress et al. 2003 (as Gaultheria laxiflora , G. yunnanensis ), Fang & Stevens 2005, Fritsch et al. 2008.

Myanmar specimens — Kachin: [Myitkina District, Chipwi Township,] Hpimaw Hill , 7,000–8,000 ft, 23 September 1919, R.J. Farrer 1324 (E E00887326!); [Myitkyina District, Chipwi Township,] Kang-fang, N Burma, 6,000 ft, 4 January 1939, F. Kingdon-Ward 188 (A!, BM BM000834413!, NY 02651438!); [Myitkyina District, Tsawlaw Township,] ridge of Naung-chaung-Nmai Divide, 8,000 ft, 28 February 1914, F. Kingdon-Ward 1840 (E E00197164!) .

Notes — Kress et al. (2003) did not list Gaultheria leucocarpa but instead listed the synonyms G. laxiflora and G. yunnanensis , each as distinct species.A critical reassessment of the infraspecific taxonomy of G. leucocarpa appears to be warranted. No attempt has been made here to distinguish or identify the varieties or forms. Specimens from outside of Myanmar can have rounded to subcuneate leaf blade bases.

Sleumer (1957) restricts the type material of Gaultheria leucocarpa to specimens with glabrous inflorescences. Sleumer’s annotation of Blume s.n., Java, K K000780333!* states that the specimen is possibly part of the type collection because it has glabrous inflorescences. Sleumer’s annotation of Blume s.n. G-DC G00342279!* states that it is probably part of the type collection and the label “ Gaultheria leucocarpa Java Herb. Dr Bl” appears to be in Blume’s handwriting ( Burdet 1972), but only the right-hand branchlet has glabrous inflorescences. Although the specimen NY 00010870 does not indicate the collector, it can be considered a possible isolectotype by the presence of Blume’s handwriting on the label. The specimen NY 00010869!*, Java, with glabrous inflorescences, also does not indicate collector but “ Thibaudia ” on the label may be in Blume’s handwriting and it is thus another possible isolectotype; an annotation by T. Zanoni indicates status as a probable type.