Camellia suddeeana D.Wei Zhao, Phytotaxa 594: 232. 2023.

Zhao, Dongwei, 2024, Taxonomic revision of Camellia (Theaceae) in Thailand, PhytoKeys 239, pp. 29-57 : 29

7. Camellia suddeeana D.Wei Zhao, Phytotaxa 594: 232. 2023.

Type material.

Holotype: Thailand. Nakhon Phanom: Ban Phaeng, Phu Lang Ka NP, trail to hill top, 17°58'58"N, 104°7'38"E, 373 m, 23 October 2015, S. Suddee et al. 4981 (BKF SN235114!).

Description.

Shrubs or trees up to 10 m tall. 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. Pedicels ca. 2 mm long. Bracteoles 3-6, persistent, deltate to semi-orbicular, 1-3 × 1.5-4 mm, abaxially glabrous or puberulous at apex, adaxially glabrous to slightly sericeous, margin ciliolate. Sepals 5-7, persistent, suborbicular, 2-5 × 4-5 mm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sericeous. Petals 6-8 in 1-2 whorls, white, elliptic to obovate, 7-18 × 4-9 mm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially 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 Fig. 9 .

Phenology.

Flowering October-November, fruiting April-July.

Distribution and habitat.

Camellia suddeeana is native to Thailand (Fig. 2 ) and occurs in the evergreen or deciduous forests at the elevations of 250-1200 m.

Additional specimens examined.

Loei: Ban Na Luang, 300 m, 20 November 1968, Chermsirivathana 1185 (BK 203761, BKF SN060858). Phu Luang, ca. 1200 m, 23 November 1957, Dee 1025 (BKF SN060875).

Mae Hong Son: Khun Youm, 8 April 1977, Nimanong & Phusomsaeng 1816 (BKF).

Nong Khai: 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; Fig. 9 ); Phu Wua, 20 April 1996, Niyomdham 4925 (BKF SN209980, BKF SN102858).

Phetchabun: Wang Thong, Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, 700 m, Koyama et al. T-31930 (BKF SN060873).

Pitsanulok: Nahaew to Romklao Rd, 700 m, Pooma 1237 (BKF SN090320).

Uttaradit: Nampad, Thud Phra Kiet National Park, ca. 650 m, 9 December 1994, Santisuk et al. s.n. (BKF SN109856).

Notes.

A specimen of C. suddeeana , Chermsirivathana 1185 at BKF, were misidentified as C. tenii by Keng in 1970. Camellia tenii bears a smaller leaf (2.5-4.2 × 1.2-2.3 cm), villous ovary and pubescent seeds, whereas C. suddeeana has a larger leaf (3.5-14 × 1.3-5.5 cm), glabrous ovary and seeds (Fig. 9 ; Zhao 2023). The former is native to Yunnan, China and absent in Thailand but was included in Keng’s (1972) "Flora of Thailand". As an essential element of a taxonomic revision ( Maxted 1992), Zhao’s (2023) description of C. suddeeana is provided above with revisions.

Figures

Figure 2. Distribution of Camellia taxa in Thailand: C. caudata (Pink square), C. connata (Purple star), C. furfuracea (Pink plus), C. kissi (Blue dot), C. kissi var. confusa (Brown diamond), C. laotica (Red star), C. sinensis var. assamica (Green triangle), C. suddeeana (Red dot) and C. taliensis (Blue plus).

Figure 9. Dry specimens of Camellia suddeeana, Pooma et al. 7333 at BKF A specimen sheet B flower fragments C fruits and seed D calyx and gynoecium remains. The minimum graduation of the rulers in A-C represents 1 mm.