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Issue: Vol. 732 No. 2: 4 Dec. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-12-04
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.732.2.8
Page range: 212-216
Abstract views: 48
PDF downloaded: 8

Rhododendron wumengense sp. nov. (Ericaceae) from northeast Yunnan, China

Administration Bureau of Yunnan Wumengshan National Nature Reserve, Zhaotong 657099, Yunnan, China
Administration Bureau of Yunnan Wumengshan National Nature Reserve, Zhaotong 657099, Yunnan, China
Administration Bureau of Yunnan Wumengshan National Nature Reserve, Zhaotong 657099, Yunnan, China
Administration Bureau of Yunnan Wumengshan National Nature Reserve, Zhaotong 657099, Yunnan, China
Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201 Yunnan, China
Yunnan Key Laboratory for Integrative Conservation of Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201 Yunnan, China
Morphology new taxon Rhododendron Wumengshan Eudicots

Abstract

Rhododendron wumengense (Ericaceae), a new species discovered in Zhaotong City in northeast Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to R. orbiculare and R. williamsianum. However, it can easily be distinguished from R. orbiculare by its densely glandular young shoots, non-overlapping leaf base lobes, yellowish corolla, and straight, 7–8-locular capsule. It can also be easily distinguished from R. williamsianum in its young shoots densely covered with short-stalked glands, yellowish corolla, more flowers per inflorescence, a 7–8-locular capsule and a glabrous style. Based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, R. wumengense is assessed as Critically Endangered.

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How to Cite

Zhao, Y.-L., Yi, X.-B., Hao, Y.-S., Chen, T., Ma, Y.-P. & Liu, D.-T. (2025) Rhododendron wumengense sp. nov. (Ericaceae) from northeast Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 732 (2): 212–216. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.732.2.8