Camellia crispula Hung T. Chang (1981a: 93)

Jiang, Yin-Zi, Yu, Xiang-Qin, Zhang, Tao, Peng, Hua & Yang, Shi-Xiong, 2023, Taxonomic notes on Camellia crassicolumna and its related species (Theaceae), Phytotaxa 595 (1), pp. 109-114 : 111-112

2. Camellia crispula Hung T. Chang (1981a: 93)

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan: Jinping , 2000m, 12 May 1956, SINO-USSR Yunnan Exp. 1344 (holotype: KUN0055527 !; isotypes:PE00024305!, 00026331!, 00026337!, 00026338!, 00702766!) .

= Camellia atrothea Hung T. Chang et H.S. Wang in Hung T. Chang (1984: 5), syn. nov.

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Pingbian , 1900m, 7 November 1982, B.H. Chen et al. A21002 (lectotype, designated here: SYS00095178! Fig. 1C ; isolectotypes: SYS00095179!, TEA!) .

= Camellia rotundata Hung T. Chang et F.L. Yu in Hung T. Chang (1984: 6), syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Honghe , 1850m, 5 November 1982, Y.J. Tang A24001 (holotype: SYS00095184!).

= Camellia makuanica Hung T. Chang et Y.J. Tang in Hung T. Chang (1984: 6), syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Maguan , 1720m, 17 October 1982, Y.J. Tang et al. A17003 (holotype: SYS00090461!).

= Camellia haaniensis Hung T. Chang et F.L. Yu in Hung T. Chang (1984: 7), syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Jinping , 2220m, B.H. Chen et al. A22005 (holotype: SYS00090460!; isotype: TEA!).

= Camellia purpurea Hung T. Chang et B.H. Chen in Hung T. Chang (1984: 9), syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Pingbian , 1500m, 8 November 1982, B.H. Chen A21003 (holotype: SYS00095186!; isotype: TEA!).

= C. crassicolumna var. shangbaensis F.C. Zhang (1997: 437) , syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Yunnan, Zhenyuan , 2450m, 3 November 1996, F.C. Zhang et al. 01 (holotype: Yunnan Agriculture University; isotype: KUN0055550 !).

Notes: —Chang (1984) cited a single gathering B.H. Chen et al. A21002 at SYS as the type of Camellia atrothea . Two specimens of this gathering were found at SYS. The specimen SYS00095178 bears mature flower and fruit, so it is designated here as the lectotype ( Fig. 1C ).

Ming (1992, 2000) reduced seven taxa ( C. crispula , C. atrothea , C. rotundata , C. haaniensis , C. makuanica , C. purpurea and C. crassicolumna var. shangbaensis ) into C. crassicolumna , which is inappropriate because the ovaries of these taxa are tomentose and different from those of C. crassicolumna . However, it is true that the seven taxa are very close to each other so that it is difficult to find any substantial differences among them when their types are compared.

Chang (1984) stated that C. atrothea is close to C. taliensis and C. irrawadiensis , and different from them by thin and dull leaves, short petioles and pedicels, large and hairy sepals, and large fruits. These diagnostic features are shared by C. crispula .

The diagnostic characters of Camellia rotundata (pubescent young branches, pubescent leaves round at base and short petioles) listed in its protologue (Chang 1984) exactly occurs in C. crispula .

In the protologues (Chang 1984, Zhang 1997), C. crassicolumna with glabrous ovaries was selected as the kindred taxon of C. makuanica , C. haaniensis and C. crassicolumna var. shangbaensis , which is obviously inappropriate. The tomentose ovaries suggest that C. makuanica , C. haaniensis and C. crassicolumna var. shangbaensis are closer to C. crispula .

According to the protologues (Chang 1984), C. purpurea is different from C. crispula only by its 3-loculed ovaries. However, the specimens (S.X. Yang 92009, 93537, 93538) collected in the type locality of C. purpurea show that 3-, 4- and 5-loculed ovaries really coexist on the same tree.

In conclusion, there is no substantial differences can be found among C. crispula , C. atrothea , C. rotundata , C. haaniensis , C. makuanica , C. purpurea and C. crassicolumna var. shangbaensis . The seven taxa can be easily distinguished from other species of sect. Thea by 5-locular tomentose ovary, hairy sepals and petals, and hairy terminal buds and young branches, so it is advisable to treat all the seven taxa as one species. Therefore, the species status of C. crispula , the earliest described among the seven names, is reinstated and the rest six taxa are treated as its heterotypic synonyms.

Habitat:— Montane forests, 1300–2450m.

Distribution:— Endemic to Southeast and Central Yunnan, China.

Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. Yunnan: sine loc., Tsiang Y. 13072 ( PE) . Hekou, Lianhuatan , 26 November 1993, S.X. Yang 93533, 93534, 93535 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 30 March 1995, S.X. Yang 95682 ( KUN) . Honghe, Leyu , 1943m, 6 June 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4909, 4910, 4911, 4912 ( KUN) . Jinping, 2300m, 7 December 1958, H.W. Li 309 (paratype of C. crassicolumna ) ( KUN, LBG) ; Fenshuiling , 2400m, 11 October 1996, S.G. Wu et al. 3911 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 2200–2350m, 12 November 2010, S.X. Yang 2931 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 2380m, 1 June 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W.Zhao 4875, 4876, 4877, 4878, 4879 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 1682m, 21 October 2020, E.D. Liu et al. LED10179 ( KUN) ; Kuihe , 1800m, 10 October 1996, S.G. Wu et al. 3896 ( KUN) ; Hetou to Guantang , 2100m, 17 October, S.G. Wu et al. 4328 ( KUN) ; Yongping , 2210m, 31 May 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4869, 4870, 4871, 4872, 4873 ( KUN) . Maguan, Dulong, 2250m, 28 May 1959, Q.A. Wu 8132 (paratype of C. crassicolumna ) ( KUN) ; Jiahanqing , 1650m, 12 October 1979, L.S. Xie & M. Cai 0450 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 1650m, 9 September 1985, L.S. Xie 85-031 ( KUN) ; Gulinqing , 1780–1890m, 8 September 1985, L.S. Xie 85-026, 85- 027 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 1700–1900m, 17 August 1994, S.G. Wu et al. 2492 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 1800m, 27 May 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4843, 4844, 4845 ( KUN) ; Michang , 1695m, 27 May 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4838, 4839, 4840 ( KUN) . Malipo, Laojunshan, 1600–1800m, 10 December 1947, K.M. Feng 13748 (paratype of C. crassicolumna )( KUN, PE) ; the same locality, 1300–1500m, 20 December 1947, K.M. Feng 13964 (paratype of C. crassicolumna )( KUN, PE) ; the same locality, 13 May 2021, E.D. Liu et al. OYY00201 ( KUN) . Pingbian, Heping , 2200m, 17 Janurary 2005, S.X. Yang 1355 ( KUN) ; Daweishan , 2100–2300m, 24 October 1989, T.L. Ming et X.D. Li C-6, C-7 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 2000m, 13 May 1992, S.X. Yang 92009 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 28 November 1993, S.X. Yang 93537, 93538 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 21 March 1995, S.X. Yang 95685, 95686 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 2150m, 2 July 2012, S.X. Yang 3885 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 29 May 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4852, 4853, 4855 ( KUN) ; Guzubei , 1942m, 28 May 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4848, 4849 ( KUN) . Wenshan, Laojie , 1695m, 26 May 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4836, 4837 ( KUN) . Xichou, Xiangpingshan, 1800m, 15 November 1965, 65- Wenshan Exp. 313 (paratype of C. crassicolumna )( PE) ; the same locality, 1500–1700m, 2 September 1947, K.M. Feng 11580 ( PE) ; the same locality, 1800m, 29 September 1991, W.J. Zhang et S.X. Yang 91001, 91002 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 24 May 1994, S.X. Yang et W.J. Zhang 94624 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 1670m, 21 March 1995, S.X. Yang 95633, 95634 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 1700m, 27 December 2004, S.X. Yang 1312 ( KUN) ; the same locality, 1667m, 24 May 2014, S.X. Yang et D.W. Zhao 4834 ( KUN) . Xinping, Erdaoqing , 2120m, 21 October 1958, S.G. Wu 488 ( PE) . Yuanjiang, 5000 ft., Henry 13551 (E); Jiezihe , 2050m, 31 October 1964, Y.H. Li 05779 ( KUN, PE) ; Yangchajie , 2200m, 9 November 1980, G.D. Tao 23746 ( HITBC, PE) . Yuanyang, Shengcun , 1848m, 2 November 1982, Y.J.Tan et S.C. Ma A25003 ( SYS) ; the same locality, 1910m, 2 October 2005, E.D. Liu 1320 ( KUN) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Type specimens of Camellia crassicolumna (C.P. Tsien 644, PE00024303) (A), C. kwangsiensis var. kwangnanica (B.H. Chen et al. A20002, SYS00095169) (B) and C. atrothea (B.H. Chen et al. A21002, SYS00095178) (C). Photo A by S.X. Yang, photos B and C from CVH (https://www.cvh.ac.cn/).