Reinstatement of the independent specific status of Camellia angustifolia, a tea plant (Camellia sect. Thea, Theaceae) from Guangxi, China

Camellia angustifolia Hung T. Chang was published in 1981 and was treated as a synonym of C. sinensis var. pubilimba in 1992. Field investigation and herbarium research have revealed remarkable morphological differences between C. angustifolia and C. sinensis var. pubilimba. Evidence from morphology — particularly the variations in indumentum on young branches, leaves, and flowers, the size of the sepals, and the thickness of the pericarp — suggests that C. angustifolia should not be reduced to C. sinensis var. pubilimba.

We hereby reinstate the independent specific status of C. angustifolia. A detailed description, including the flower morphology of C. angustifolia, is provided. In addition, the incorrect information regarding the type specimen in the protologue of C. angustifolia has been rectified.