Camellia zijinica M.Lin, Q.L.Ye & Q.Fan, 2024

Lin, Min, Ye, Qin-Liang, Zhang, Zhi-Jian, Liao, Wen-Bo & Fan, Qiang, 2024, Camellia zijinica (Theaceae), a new species endemic to Danxia landscape from Guangdong Province, China, PhytoKeys 237, pp. 245-255 : 245

Camellia zijinica M.Lin, Q.L.Ye & Q.Fan sp. nov.

Figs 2 , 3 Chinese name: 紫金短柱茶

Type.

China. Guangdong: Zijin County, Guzhu Town, Mount Yuewang , in mixed forests, 23°29'N, 114°44' E, 294 m a.s.l., 22 September 2018, H.W. Wang & Q. Fan 18084 (holotype: SYS00236945! isotypes: IBSC1010670! SYS00236946! SYS00236947! SYS00236948!)

Diagnosis.

Camellia zijinica is morphologically similar to C. microphylla in the flower shape and size, but differs from the latter by its young branchlets glabrous (vs. densely pubescent), the diverse leaf shape (elliptic, oblong-elliptic, obovate-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate vs. oblong-elliptic or obovate-elliptic), midvein raised slightly with sparsely pubescent or glabrous (vs. prominently with densely pubescent), fewer bracteoles and sepals (4-6 vs. 6-7), leaf adaxially matt when dried (vs. vernicose).

Description.

Small evergreen shrubs, 2-5 m tall; bark yellowish brown; young branchlets reddish brown, glabrous. Leaf blades elliptic, oblong-elliptic, obovate-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 2-4.8 × 0.8-1.9 cm, adaxially dark green, abaxially light green, thick papery to coriaceous; petiole 1-3 mm long, pubescent; midrib prominent on both surfaces, glabrous and sometimes adaxially sparsely pubescent, secondary veins 6-7 on each side, invisible; apex rounded, acute or acuminate; margin serrulate; base cuneate. Flowers solitary, terminal or axillary, 1.5-2.3 cm in diameter, subsessile. bracteoles and sepals 4-6, caducous, outside pubescent at base, inside glabrous, margin ciliate; outer bracteoles and sepals broadly semiorbicular, partial apex bifid; inner bracteoles and sepals suborbicular to oblong-elliptic. Petals 4-6, white, distinct, glabrous, oblong-elliptic to obovate-elliptic, apically 2-lobed, 7-11 × 4-5 mm. Stamens 33-40, 4-5 mm long, glabrous; outer filament whorl basally connate for 1-1.5 mm. Ovary 3-4-loculed, with 2 ovules per locule, about 2 mm in diameter, tomentose. Styles 3 or 4, 1-2 mm long, connate half from the base, apically 3-4-lobed. Capsule ovoid or subglobose, ca. 1.2 cm in diameter; pericarp 1-2 mm thick, splitting into 3-4 valves. Seeds semiglobose or globose, 9-10 mm in diameter, brown, glabrous.

Phenology.

Flowering from September to December, fruiting from January to September.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to Zijin County of Guangdong Province, the type locality of the new species.

Distribution and habitat.

Presently, Camellia zijinica is only known from its type locality, Zijin County of northeastern Guangdong. It is distributed in mixed forests of Danxia landscape at altitudes of 200-400 m a.s.l.

Conservation status.

Only two populations of a total of about 90 mature individuals were found currently. Thus, the species could be considered as Endangered (EN; D) status according to IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee 2022).

Additional specimens examined

(paratypes). China. Guangdong: Zijin County, Guzhu Town, near Mount Yuewang , 23°37'N, 115°10'E, 234 m a.s.l., 12 Oct. 2022 (fl. and fr.), Z.M. Zhong 1012 (SYS); Zijin County , Guzhu Town , near Mount Yuewang , 23°29'N, 114°44'E, 310 m a.s.l., 7 June 2023 (young fr.), Z.M. Zhong 0607 (SYS), the type locality, 21 July 2023 (young fr.), Z.M. Zhong 0721 (SYS) .

Figures

Figure 2. Camellia zijinica sp. nov. A flowering and fruiting branch B flower in front view C fully ripe fruit, tending to split D young fruit in longitudinal section E seeds in obverse and reverse sides F bracteoles and sepals G petals H stamens (incomplete) I ovary in transverse section J pistil in longitudinal section. Illustrated by Yun-Xiao Liu.

Figure 3. Camellia zijinica sp. nov. A habit B, C flowering branch D leaf shape E flower in front view F flower in back view G pistil and ovary H flowering branch, showing the stamens I flowering branch, showing the bracteoles and sepals J fruits, showing young to ripe (a-c) K bracteoles, sepals and petals. Photographed by Zhi-Ming Zhong, Qiang Fan and Min Lin.