泰北山茶 Camellia suddeeana D.Wei ZhaoCamellia suddeeana

Camellia suddeeana D.Wei Zhao. First published in Phytotaxa 594: 232 (2023). sect. Heterogena

A new species endemic to northern Thailand that was previously misidentified as C.tenii, is described and illustrated here. It is similar to C. szemaoensis and C. hainingii for sharing the subsessile flower with white petals and distinct styles, but can be distinguished from the former by its glabrous abaxial surface of the sepals, ovary and seeds, leaves without cork-warts and a different flowering period, and from the latter by leaves without cork-warts and the longer styles. Based on its morphology, C.suddeeana may be placed in  sect. Heterogena or sect. Furfuracea according to the classifications proposed by Ming and Chang, respectively.  

 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!).  

Distribution and habitat. 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 “泰北山茶” because it generally occurs in the northern Thailand.

Morphologically, the new species could be placed in Ming’s (2000) C. sect. Heterogena Sealy (1958: 152) becauseof its subsessile flower with white petals and distinct styles, or Chang’s (1981) C. sect. Furfuracea Hung T. Chang (1981: 25) for its distinct styles and furfuraceous pericarp. However, Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that Ming’s sect. Heterogena was a polyphyletic group (Zhao et al. 2023). Camellia suddeeana can be distinguished from species of sect. Furfuracea by its persistent and coriaceous sepals whereas the latter usually bears caducous sepals with a wide membranous margin.

Northern Thailand

泰北山茶 Camellia suddeeana D.Wei Zhao in Phytotaxa 594: 232 (2023).

泰国国北部特有的新种山茶（Camellia suddeeana）。该种之前被误认为是C.tenii。它与 C. szemaoensis 和 C. hainingii 相似，都有近无柄的花，花瓣白色，花柱明显，但前者的萼片、子房和种子背面无毛，叶片无木栓翘，花期不同，后者的叶片无木栓翘，花柱较长。根据其形态，C.suddeeana 可按照闵天禄（Ming）和张宏达（Chang）提出的分类法，归入sect. Heterogena）或 sect. Furfuracea。 

泰国国北部特有