Camellia kissi var. confusa (Craib) T.L. Ming, Fl. Yunnan. 8: 300. 1997.

Zhao, Dongwei, 2024, Taxonomic revision of Camellia (Theaceae) in Thailand, PhytoKeys 239, pp. 29-57 : 29

4b. Camellia kissi var. confusa (Craib) T.L. Ming, Fl. Yunnan. 8: 300. 1997.

Thea confusa ≡ Thea confusa Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew (1): 5 1914. Lectotype (first-step designated by Craib [1925: 131]; second-step designated by Zhao et al. [2017a: 174]): THAILAND. Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep, 1200-1500 m, 31 October 1909, A.F.G. Kerr 889 (K 000704304!).

Description.

Trees or shrubs up to 12 m tall. New branchlets puberulous; terminal buds puberulous or glabrous. Petioles 5-15 mm long, puberulous; leaf blades elliptic, obovate, oblong or ligulate, 5.5-13 × 2-4.5 cm, coriaceous, abaxially yellowish green and glabrous, adaxially dark green, hirsute along midrib, midrib abaxially elevated and adaxially slightly impressed or flat, secondary veins 7-11 on each side of midrib, flat or obscure on both surfaces, base attenuate, cuneate or rounded, margin sparsely serrate, apex attenuate, acute, acuminate or caudate. Flowers solitary, 4.5-10 cm in diam., subsessile. Bracteoles and sepals 6-8, caducous, crescent to broadly ovate, 1.5-20 × 3-10 mm, abaxially glabrous, puberulous or pubescent, adaxially glabrous, margin ciliolate. Petals 6-8 in 1-2 whorls, white, elliptic or obovate, 2.5-5.5 × 1.5-4 cm, abaxially glabrous, puberulous or pubescent at apex, adaxially glabrous, apex bilobed. Stamens numerous, 1-1.5 cm long; filaments yellow, glabrous, basally connate for 2-3 mm. Ovary globose, pubescent. Styles 3(-4), basally connate or distinct, 8-12 mm long, basally pubescent and gradually becoming glabrous apically. Capsule globose or oblate, 2.5-6 cm in diam., 2-5 cm in height, 1-3-loculed with 1-3 seeds; pericarp 2-8 mm thick. Seeds brown or fuscous, hemispherical, polyhedral or globose, 1.5-2.5 cm in diam., glabrous Fig. 6 .

Phenology.

Flowering October-January, fruiting December-September.

Distribution and habitat.

Camellia kissi var. confusa is distributed in the evergreen forest at elevations of 350-1700 m in China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand (Fig. 2 ) and Vietnam.

Additional specimens examined.

Chiang Mai: Chom Thong, Ban Pha Mon, 900 m, 31 May 1979, Vidal & Vidal 6247C (K); Doi Inthanon, 18°40'N, 98°25'E, 1400 m, 3 January 1975, Geesink et al. 8045 (BKF SN060804, C), 1680 m, 19 December 1983, Fukuoka & Ito T-35316 (BKF SN060813), 1700 m, 18 November 1998, Hara et al. C002 (BKF SN173305) & C044 (BKF SN173303), road to Khun Wang, 1310 m, 24 October 2000, Chayamarit et al. 2204 (BKF SN173163); Fang, Doi Ang Khang, 1490 m, 8 December 1934, Garrett 905 (BKF SN060834, E 00681092, K); Mae Cham, Mae Sanga, 1300 m, 6 May 2000, Sangnin & Sillapasuwan 3346 (BKF SN138882), between 34 and 35 km, on the road to Mae Aum Watershed Management Station , 18°30'30"N, 98°30'19"E, 1636 m, 12 November 2015, Zhao et al. 83 (BKF, KUN, TCD); Mueang Chiang Mai , Doi Suthep , ca. 1600 m, 22 December 1920, Kerr 4680 (BK 203745), 1300 m, 20 February 1959, Sørensen et al. 6967 (BKF SN060827, C, K), ca. 900 m, 17 November 1922, Kerr 6676 (BK 203730, BM, K) & 6676A (BK 203741, BM, E 00681089, K), 1050 m, 7 November 1987, Maxwell 87-1379 (BKF SN060825); east side of Doi Pui at the Chang Kian Agricultural Station , 1350 m, 24 November 1988, Maxwell 87-1351 (BKF SN060851); Samoeng , Samoeng Tai , Ban Pa Kar, 1424 m, 24 June 2008, Jatupol 08-233 (QBG 35892) .

Loei: Phu Kradueng, top area of Phu Kradueng, 1200-1300 m, 19 December 1982, Koyama et al. T-31384 (BKF SN060872); Phu Ruea, 13 December 1966, Umpai 311 (BK 203736); Phu Luang, 17°17'2"N, 101°31'8"E, 1440 m, 3 November 2015, Zhao et al. 26, 27, 32 (BKF, KUN, TCD) & 33 (TCD); Wang Saphung, Phu Luang, 900-1000 m, 15 November 1968, Chermsirivathana 1057 (BK 203722); 1410 m, 13 May 1998, Chayamarit et al. 1357 (BKF).

Nan: Pua, Doi Phu Kha, 1100 m, 17 August 1995, Pooma 1104 (BKF SN167083), 19°13'N, 101°5'E, 1500 m, 8 October 1998, Srisanga 293 (QBG 12268) & 294 (QBG 12269).

Sakon Nakhon: Phu Phan, ca. 17°N, 104°E, 380-450 m, 12 November 1984, Murata et al. T-51155 (BKF SN115022); Huai Lub Num Lud, 9 March 1996, Puudjaa 195 (BKF SN091534).

Sukhothai: Khiri Mat, Kao Luang, ca. 1000 m, 2 May 1922, Kerr 5917 (BK 203747).

Notes.

The variety usually bears a larger flower and a thicker pericarp than C. kissi var. kissi (Figs 5 , 6 ; also see the key above). It is sometimes difficult to distinguish them because the size of flowers and fruits can vary gradually in the forests. However, the taxonomic treatment of two varieties suggested by Ming (2000) is provisionally followed here before more data, especially those of population genetics, are available.

Figures

Figure 2. Distribution of Camellia taxa in Thailand: C. caudata (Pink square), C. connata (Purple star), C. furfuracea (Pink plus), C. kissi (Blue dot), C. kissi var. confusa (Brown diamond), C. laotica (Red star), C. sinensis var. assamica (Green triangle), C. suddeeana (Red dot) and C. taliensis (Blue plus).

Figure 5. Camellia kissi A habitat B, C branches with flowers D a dissected flower E a mature fruit with a single seed. Scale bars: 5 cm (B); 1 cm (D, E). The minimum graduation of the ruler in C represents 1 mm.

Figure 6. Camellia kissi var. confusa A habitat B branchlets with flowers, flower buds and caducous fruits C, D branchlet with flower E a pedicel and gynoecium. Scale bars: 2 cm (D); 1 cm (E). The minimum graduation of the rulers in B, C represents 1 mm.