Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2026-09-22
Page range: 55-60
Abstract views: 7
PDF downloaded: 0

Camellia nganiana: a new species of Theaceae from Vietnam

Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology; University of Science; Ho Chi Minh City; No. 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street; Cho Quan Ward; Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam; Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City; Linh Xuan Ward; Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam
Institute of Advanced Technology; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam; Graduate University of Science and Technology; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; Hanoi; Vietnam
Eudicots Camellia sect. Piquetia Central Highlands endemic new taxon red camellia

Abstract

This study describes Camellia nganiana Nguyen-Phi & Luu as a new red-flowered species of section Piquetia from Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Morphologically, it closely resembles C. phuongchiana but differs by its entire leaf margins, shorter petiole, larger bracteoles, 6–9 petals, larger petals, shorter and glabrous filaments. The new species is fully described and illustrated based on living collections and compared with closely related taxa. As a result, Camellia sect. Piquetia is currently recognized to comprise eighteen species, including nine with red to purple flowers.

References

  1. Chang, H.T. & Bartholomew, B. (1984) Camellias. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 211 pp.
  2. Chang, H.T. (1981) A taxonomy of the genus Camellia. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni Monograph Series 1: 1–180.
  3. Doudkin, R.V., Vu, K.C., Tran, T.V., H’Yon, N.B., Dang, T.T. & Quach, V.H. (2023) An updated checklist and comments for section Piquetia (Camellia, Theaceae). Dalat University Journal of Science 13 (2): 93–108. https://doi.org/10.37569/DalatUniversity.13.2.1124(2023)
  4. Gagnepain, F. (1942) Notulæ Systematicæ 10 (3): 127–128.
  5. IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee (2024) Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 16. Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 9 September 2026)
  6. Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species plantarum. L. Salvius, Stockholm, 1200 pp.
  7. Luu, H.T., Tran, G., Nguyen, Q.D. & Nguyen, H.C. (2018) A new species of the family Theaceae from central Vietnam. Academia Journal of Biology 40: 23–28. https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9023/v40n4.12919
  8. Lý, N.S., Lương, V.D., Lê, T.H., Đỗ, N.D., Trần, N., Nguyễn, A.D., Nguyễn, T.L., Uematsu, C. & Katayama, H. (2022) Camellia annamensis (Theaceae), a new species from central Vietnam. Taiwania 67 (2): 243–249. https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.2022.67.243
  9. Ming, T.L. & Bartholomew, B. (2007) Theaceae. In: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (Eds.) Flora of China, vol. 12. Science Press & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing & St. Louis, pp. 366–478.
  10. Ming, T.L. (2000) Monograph of the genus Camellia. Yunnan Science and Technology Press, Kunming, 352 pp.
  11. Nguyen, T.L.T., Nguyen, V.C., Truong, Q.C., Nguyen, V.K., Luong, V.D., Truong, B.V. & Dang, V.S. (2023) Camellia hiepii (Theaceae), a new species from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Kew Bulletin 78: 359–366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-023-10098-9
  12. Nguyen, T.T.H., Pham, T.A., Nguyen, D.D. & Luu, H.T. (2025) A new member (Camellia dakplaoensis) and new synonymization in Camellia section Piquetia (Theaceae). Phytotaxa 716: 137–144. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.716.2.6
  13. Orel, G. & Curry, A.S. (2015) In Pursuit of Hidden Camellias: 32 new Camellia species from Vietnam and China. Theaceae Exploration Associates, Sydney, 339 pp.
  14. Orel, G. & Wilson, P.G. (2012) Camellia cattienensis: a new species of Camellia (sect. Archaecamellia: Theaceae) from Vietnam. Kew Bulletin 66: 565–569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-012-9317-0
  15. Orel, G., Wilson, P., Curry, A.S. & Luu, H.T. (2014) Four new species and two new sections of Camellia (Theaceae) from Vietnam. Novon 23: 307–318. https://doi.org/10.3417/2012076
  16. Pierre, L. (1887) Flore Forestière de Cochinchine. Octave Doin, Paris, Vol 2: t. 119.
  17. POWO (2026) Plants of the World Online: Camellia L. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet. Available from: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:39017-1 (accessed 19 April 2026)
  18. Quach, V.H., Luong, V.D., Doudkin, R., Averyanov, L., Bui, B.T., Nguyen, T.L. & Luu, H.T. (2021) Camellia proensis (Theaceae, sect. Piquetia), a new species from Southern Vietnam. Phytotaxa 479: 137–141. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.479.1.12
  19. Quach, V.H., Hoang, T.T., Truong, Q.C., Le, V.H., Luong, V.D., Vo, Q.T., Nong, V.D. & Curry, A.S. (2022) Camellia phuongchiana (Theaceae, section Piquetia), a new species from Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam. Brittonia 74: 339–345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12228-022-09716-w
  20. Richards, G., Orel, G., Harland, C. & Jones, S. (2002) The elusive Camellia piquetiana. International Dendrology Society Yearbook 2002: 137–141.
  21. Richards, G.D., Orel, G., Harland, C. & Jones, S. (2003) The rediscovery of Camellia piquetiana, a short communication. International Camellia Journal 35: 54–56.
  22. Sealy, J.R. (1949) New names in Camellia. Kew Bulletin 4 (2): 215–222.
  23. Sealy, J.R. (1958) A revision of the genus Camellia. Royal Horticultural Society, London.
  24. Tran, T.T.N., Truong, B.V., Phan, T.T.N., Um, S.W., Nguyen, T.L.T. & Nguyen, V.C. (2026) Camellia section Piquetia: description of two new species from southern Vietnam. Dalat University Journal of Science 16 (2): 3–19. https://doi.org/10.37569/DalatUniversity.16.2.1551(2026)
  25. Yu, X.Q., Gao, L.M., Soltis, D.E., Soltis, P.S., Yang, J.B., Fang, L., Yang, S.X. & Li, D.Z. (2017) Insights into the historical assembly of East Asian subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests revealed by the temporal history of the tea family. New Phytologist 215: 1235–1248. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14683
  26. Zhao, D.W., Parnell, J.A.N. & Dubearnes, A. (2016) Requests for binding decisions on the descriptive statements associated with Thea dormoyana and T. piquetiana. Taxon 65 (5): 1183. https://doi.org/10.12705/655.29
  27. Zhao, D.W., Hodkinson, T.R. & Parnell, J.A.N. (2023) Phylogenetics of global Camellia (Theaceae) based on three nuclear regions and its implications for systematics and evolutionary history. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 61 (2): 356–368. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12837

How to Cite

Nguyen-Phi, N. & Luu, H.T. (2026) Camellia nganiana: a new species of Theaceae from Vietnam. Phytotaxa 776 (1): 55–60. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.776.1.6