Agapetes wardii W.W. Smith (1915: 330) var. heterotricha Y.H.Tong & N.H.Xia, 2014

Tong, Yi Hua & Xia, Nian He, 2014, New taxa of Agapetes (Ericaceae) from Myanmar, Phytotaxa 184 (1), pp. 39-45 : 41-44

2. Agapetes wardii W.W. Smith (1915: 330) var. heterotricha Y.H.Tong & N.H.Xia , var. nov. ( Figure 3 ).

A varietate wardii pedicellis longioribus, 1.2–1.5 cm longis cum calycibus albo-puberulis interdum glanduloso-setosis differt. Type:— MYANMAR. Kachin State: Hkawng Lamhpu, on the way to Thi Wang Hkung , epiphytic on trees in forest, 27°04’30”N ,

98°21’26”E, elevation 1500 m, 15 March 2009 (fl.), Ayeyarwady Expedition 1245 (holotype: IBSC!; isotype: CDBI!) .

Shrubs epiphytic, ca. 2 m tall. Twigs subterete, densely yellow-brown or brown setose when young. Leaves scattered; subsessile; leaf blades elliptic, 2–2.2 × 0.9–1.3 cm, leathery, glabrous, midveins conspicuously raised above, slightly raised below, secondary and fine veins slightly conspicuous on both surfaces, base cuneate, margin entire, slightly revolute when dried, apex acute, usually mucronate. Inflorescences axillary, subfasciculate, 1–4-flowered; peduncles less than 2 mm long, white puberulous; bracts triangular-ovate, ca. 1 mm long, margin pubescent; pedicels 1.2–1.5 cm long, longitudinal-striate, white puberulous, sometimes with glandular setae; bracteoles 2, basal, triangular-ovate, ca. 1 mm long, margin pubescent. Calyx tube ca. 2 mm long, white puberulous, sometimes sparsely or densely mixed with glandular setae; lobes narrowly triangular, 3–3.5 mm long, nearly glabrous or sparsely glandular setose. Corolla red, tubular, 1.5–1.7 × 0.4–0.5 cm, 5-angled, with sparse spreading glandular setae along the edges; lobes greenish, shortly triangular, ca. 1.5 mm long. Stamens 10, ca. 1.5 cm long; filaments flat, ca. 8 mm long, glabrous; anthers ca. 7 mm long, thecae 2.5 mm long, tubules 4.5 mm long, with 2 short spurs on the back. Style slender, ca. 1.5 cm long; stigma truncate. Fruit not seen.

Distribution and habitat:— This new variety is known only from the type locality, Hkawng Lamhpu Town, Kachin State ( Figure 4 ). It grows on the trees in rainforest at elevations of 1500–1700 m.

Etymology:— This variety is named for its pedicels and calyces with white puberulence and/or sparse or dense white glandular setae up to 2 mm.

Conservation status:— This new variety has only been found twice in a forest on the way from Hkawng Lamhpu Town to Thi Wang Hkung Village, and the habitat destruction is more serious than that of A. putaoensis , so it may also turn out to be Vulnerable (IUCN, 2001), but for the present it is best classified as Data Deficient (DD) because more information of its distribution and number of individuals needs to be obtained for accurate assessment.

Paratypes:— MYANMAR. Kachin State: Hkawng Lamhpu, on the way to Thi Wang Hkung , along the ridge, elevation 1680 m, 15 March 2009 , Ayeyarwady Expedition 1283 ( CDBI!, IBSC!) .

Affinities:— This variety differs from the nominate variety in having longer pedicels (1.2–1.5 cm, not 0.7–0.9 cm), puberulous (not glabrous) pedicels and calyxes sometimes with glandular setae. Both varieties are found in Kachin State. Agapetes wardii is included in Agapetes sect. Agapetes ser. Longifiles Airy Shaw (1935: 25) subser. Cuneatae Airy Shaw (1959: 502) , which is characterised by small leathery leaves with cuneate base and entire margin, fasciculate inflorescences and elongated filaments longer than anthers.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Agapetes wardii var. heterotricha. A. Habit. B. Flowering branch. C. Opened corolla, abaxial view. D. Stamen, abaxial view. E. Calyx and style. From Ayeyarwady Expedition 1245 (IBSC).

FIGURE 4. Distribution map of Agapetes putaoensis and A. wardii var. heterotricha in Myanmar.