Camellia suddeeana D.Wei Zhao, 2023

Zhao, Dongwei, 2023, Camellia suddeeana (Theaceae), a new species from Thailand, Phytotaxa 594 (3), pp. 232-236 : 232-234

Camellia suddeeana D.Wei Zhao sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Type:— THAILAND. Nakhon Phanom Province, Ban Phaeng District, Phu Lang Ka Natianal Park ,trail to hill top, 17°58’58’’N, 104°7’38’’E, 373 m, 23 October 2015, S. Suddee et al. 4981 (holotype: BKF SN235114!, isotypes: BKF SN235115!, BKF SN235116!, TCD!) .

Diagnosis:

Similar to C. szemaoensis Chang (1981: 94) and C. hainingii S.X. Yang & Y.S. Huang in Ye et al. (2022: 291), but differs from the former in having glabrous (vs. hairy) abaxial surface of the sepals, ovary and seeds, and from the latter by leaves without (vs. with) cork-warts and the longer styles (3–9 mm vs. 1.5–2.0 mm) ( Table 1 ).

Shrubs or trees up to 10 m tall. Bark greyish brown. New branchlets pubescent to villous, terminal buds puberulous. Petioles 2–10 mm long, pubescent or puberulous; leaf blades elliptic or oblong, 3.5–14 × 1.3–5.5 cm, coriaceous, abaxially dull green, sparsely appressed puberulous especially along midrib, or glabrous, adaxially dark green, glabrous or hirsute along midrib, midrib and secondary veins abaxially elevated and adaxially impressed, secondary veins 5–8 pairs, base attenuate, margin serrulate, apex acute, attenuate to caudate. Flowers axillary, solitary or paired, 1.5–3.5 cm in diam. Pedicel ca. 2 mm long. Bracteoles 3–6, deltate to semi-orbicular, 1–3 × 1.5–4 mm, outside glabrous or puberulous at apex, inside glabrous to slightly sericeous, margin ciliolate. Sepals 5–7, persistent, suborbicular, 2–5 × 4–5 mm, outside glabrous, inside sericeous. Petals 6–8 in 1–2 whorls, white, elliptic to obovate, 7–18 × 4–9 mm, outside glabrous, inside glabrous or sericeous at apex, apex obtuse to rounded, inner 4–5 petals basally adnate to filament whorl for ca. 2 mm. Stamens numerous, 6–10 mm long; filaments white, glabrous, outer filaments basally connate for 2–3 mm. Ovary globose to ovoid, glabrous. Styles 3(–4), distinct, 3–9 mm long, glabrous. Capsule globose or bi-coccal, 2.5–4.5 cm in diam., 1–2-loculed with 1–2 seeds; pericarp 0.5–2 mm thick, smooth or furfuraceous. Seeds light brown to fuscous, globose, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam., glabrous. Flowering October–November, fruiting April–July.

Other specimens examined (paratypes). THAILAND. Loei Province: Phu Luang, ca. 1200 m, 23 November 1957, Dee 1025 ( BKF SN060875 ); Ban Na Luang , 300 m, 20 November 1968, Chermsirivathana 1185 (BK203761, BKF SN060858 ; Fig. 3F) . Mae Hong Son Province: Khun Youm District , 8 April 1977, Nimanong & Phusomsaeng 1816 ( BKF) . Nong Khai Province: Phu Wua, 20 April 1996, Niyomdham 4925 ( BKF SN 209980 , BKF SN102858; Fig. 3G); Bueng Khla, Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, trail from Pha Nang Khoi to Tham Noi , 18°14’14’’N, 103°57’38’’E, 350 m, 30 July 2008, Pooma et al. 7333 ( BKF SN191784 ) . Phetchabun Province: Wang Thong, Thung Salaeng Luang National Park , 700 m, Koyama et al. T-31930 ( BKF SN060873 ) . Pitsanulok Province: Nahaew to Romklao Rd , 700 m, Pooma 1237 ( BKF SN090320 ) . Uttaradit Province: Nampad, Thud Phra Kiet National Park , ca. 650 m, 9 December 1994, Santisuk et al. s.n. ( BKF SN109856 ) .

Distribution and habitat. Camellia suddeeana is endemic to the northern Thailand and occurs in the evergreen or deciduous forests at elevations of 250–1200 m.

Etymology. Camellia suddeeana is named after the leading collector of its type, Dr. Somran Suddee at BKF. Its Chinese name is proposed as “ ðẍψ⁂ ” because it generally occurs in the northern Thailand.

Figures

FIGURE 1. The holotype of Camellia suddeeana, S. Suddee et al. 4981 (BKF SN235114!). Image scanned by BKF.

FIGURE 2. Camellia suddeeana. A: branchlet; B–D: flowers; E: flower without petals and androecium; F: fragment of a dry flower, with some sepals removed to show gynoecium; G: dry carpels and seeds. A–E: the plant of S. Suddee et al. 4981 (type); F: Chermsirivathana 1185 (BKF, paratype); G: Niyomdham 4925 (BKF, paratype). The bars indicate 2 cm (in A and G) and 5 mm (in B–F). Photos A–E were taken by Wittawat Kiewbang (BKF) and F–G by Dongwei Zhao.