A new species of tea plants, Camellia yangii D.Wei Zhao was just published in PhytoKeys 257: 247–256. This new species is similar to C. fangchengensis and C. ptilophylla by the densely pubescent new branchlets, abaxial surface of leaves and pedicel, but differs from them in bearing a larger flower, fewer (3 vs. 5) but larger sepals, and the indumentum of the sepals. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using RPB2 introns 11–15 and 23 and waxy suggests that it is a member of Camellia sect. Thea and its phylogenetically closely related species are C. longissima and C. taliensis. Camellia yangii has a later flowering phase compared with other taxa of C. sect. Thea that occurred or were planted nearby, so it cannot naturally hybridize with other tea plants. The new species bears a red or purplish red and densely pubescent terminal bud, which suggests it is a rare germplasm resource of tea plants. Camellia yangii is only known from a single extremely vulnerable population and strict conservation and asexual propagations are urgently needed to avoid extinction.
This new species had been added to the Database of International Camellia Register.
茶组新种三萼茶（Camellia yangii D.Wei Zhao）最近发表于PhytoKeys 257: 247–256。该新种与防城茶（C. fangchengensis）和毛叶茶（C. ptilophylla）相似，新枝密被柔毛，叶背面和花梗具毛；不同之处在于，三萼茶的花较大，萼片数量较少（3 vs. 5），但萼片较大，且有毛被。利用RPB2内含子11–15和23以进行分子系统发育分析及蜡叶标本的特征，表明其属于山茶属茶组（Camellia sect. Thea）。三萼茶与其系统发育上亲缘关系较近的物种是超长柄茶（C. longissima）和大理茶（C. taliensis）。虽然与茶组的其他分类群相邻或附近种植有种植，但三萼茶的开花期较晚而无法与其他茶组植物自然杂交。该新种的顶芽呈红色或紫红色，并覆有浓密的短柔毛，表明其为一种稀有的茶树种质资源。三萼茶（Camellia yangii）目前仅存在于一个极其脆弱的种群中，迫切需要进行严格的保护和无性繁殖，以避免其灭绝。
该新种已收录至本库中。
