Research Paper

Unveiling hidden beauty: Two new Camellia species from Center South of Vietnam

Thi Thuy Nhan Tran, Van Dung Luong, Thanh Nha Phan-Thi, Van Canh Nguyen, Ba Vuong Truong

Published on: 07 October 2025

Page: 677 - 688

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.677

  • BibTeX
    •
  • EndNote
    •
  • RIS
    •

    Abstract

    Two new species of Camellia section Bidoupia are described and illustrated as new for science Camellia lienthuongiae and C. danhducii. Both species share morphological similarities with C. inusitata, such as a single, branchless trunk, but clearly differ in leaf size and shape, larger flowers, shorter pedicels, bracteoles, petals, and sepals, as well as ovary and style indumentum. This study provides formal taxonomic descriptions, comparative morphological analyses with related species, and detailed illustrations of floral structures.

    Keyword: Bidoupia, Camellia danhducii, Camellia inusitata, Camellia lienthuongiae, Corallina, plant taxonomy, Theaceae

    Literature Cited

    Chang, H. T., Bartholomew, B. 1984 Camellias. B. T. Bastford Ltd., London. pp. 211.

    Hoang, T.T., Le, H.E, Nguyen, T.L. 2022 Camellia thuanana (Camellia sect. Chrysantha) – A new species from the central highlands, Vietnam. Dalat university journal of science 12(3): 18–26.
    DOI: 10.37569/DalatUniversity.12.3.931(2022)View Article Google Scholar

    IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee 2024 Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 16 by the Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 15 April 2025).

    Le, V. S., Curry, A., Truong, C., Luong, V. D., Nguyen, T. L. 2021 Camellia flosculora: A new species of Camellia section Thea series Sinensis (Theaceae) from Vietnam. Brittonia 73(2), 220–228.
    DOI: 10.1007/s12228-020-09646-5View Article Google Scholar

    Li, Z.-Y., Wu, B.-H., Qu, S., Du, L.-S., Liu, H.-O., Duan, H.-X., Liu, F.-F., Liu, W.-H. 2025 Camellia shuangbaiensis (Theaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys 254: 143–149.
    DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.254.144891View Article Google Scholar

    Lin, M., Ye, Q.-L., Zhang, Z.-J., Liao, W.-B., Fan, Q. 2024 Camellia zijinica (Theaceae), a new species endemic to Danxia landscape from Guangdong Province, China. PhytoKeys 237: 245–255.
    DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.237.114768View Article Google Scholar

    Liu, Z., Chai, S.-F., Wu, F.-Y., Ye, P.-M., Jiang, C.-J., Zhang, Z., Yu, X.-Q., Ma, J.-L,, Yang, S.-X. 2020a Camellia rostrata, a new species of yellow camellias from Southwest China. Phytotaxa 459(1): 61–68.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.459.1.6View Article Google Scholar

    Liu, Z., Fang, W., Liu, E.-D., Zhao, M., He, Y.-F., Yang, S.-X. 2020b Camellia mingii, a new species of yellow camellias from Southeast Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 393(1): 47–56.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.393.1.4View Article Google Scholar

    Liu, Z., Ye, P., Li, Z., Wei, X., Liu, E., Zhang, Z., Ma, J., Yang, S. 2020c Camellia zhaiana (sect. Longipedicellata), a new species of Theaceae from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 460(3): 225–229.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.460.3.5View Article Google Scholar

    Ly, N.S., Luong, V.D., Le, T.H, Do, N.D., Tran, N., Nguyen, A.D., Nguyen T.L., Uematsu, C., Katayama, H. 2022 Camellia annamensis (Theaceae), a new species from central Vietnam. Taiwania 67(2): 243?249.
    DOI: 10.6165/tai.2022.67.243View Article Google Scholar

    Ming, T.L., Bartholomew, B. 2007 Theaceae Mirb. In:Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H. Hong, D.Y. (eds.) Flora of China, Vol. 12., Science Press, Beijing and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp 366–478.

    Nguyen, H.H. 2017 Flora of Vietnam (Th?c v?t ch? Vi?t Nam), Theaceae D. Don (H? Ch?), Vol. 19: 128–147. Publishing house of Science and Technology, Ha Noi (in Vietnamese)

    Nguyen, T.L.T., Nguyen, V.C., Truong, Q.C., Nguyen, V.K., Pham, T.N., Luong, V.D. Truong, B.V., Dang, V.S. 2023 Camellia hiepii (Theaceae), a new species from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Kew Bull. 78(3): 359–366.
    DOI: 10.1007/s12225-023-10098-9View Article Google Scholar

    Nguyen, T.T., Luong, V.D., Do, N.D., Kim, S.Y., Curry, A.S. 2023 Camellia maianhii (Theaceae), a new species of red-flowered Camellia from the North Central Coast Region of Vietnam. J. Bot. Res. 6(1): 176–183.
    DOI: 10.36959/771/576View Article Google Scholar

    Orel, G., Curry, A.S. 2015 In pursuit of hidden Camellias; or 32 new Camellia species from Vietnam and China. Theaceae Exploration Associates, Sydney, Australia. pp 280.

    Orel, G., Wilson P. G., Curry A. S. & Hong Truong Luu H. T. 2012 Camellia inusitata (Theaceae), a new species forming a new section (Bidoupia) from Vietnam, Edin. J. Bot. 69(2): 347–355.
    DOI: 10.1017/S0960428612000170View Article Google Scholar

    POWO 2025 Camellia L. "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; https://powo.science.kew.org/ Retrieved 15 April 2025."

    Quach, V.H., Hoang, T.T., Truong, Q.C., Le, V.H., Luong, V.D., Vo, Q.T., Nong, V.D., Curry, A.S. 2022a Camellia phuongchiana (Theaceae, section Piquetia), a new species from Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam. Brittonia 74(4): 339–345.
    DOI: 10.1007/s12228-022-09716-wView Article Google Scholar

    Quach, V.H., Luong, V.D., Doudkin, R.V., Averyanov, L.V., Bui, B.T., Nguyen, T.L., Luu, H.T. 2021 Camellia proensis (Theaceae, sect. Piquetia), a new species from Southern Vietnam. Phytotaxa 479(1): 137–141.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.479.1.12View Article Google Scholar

    Quach, V.H., Luong, V.D., Hoang, T.T., Nong, V.D., Bui, D.C., Doudkin, R.V. 2022b Camellia quynhii (Theaceae, sect. Stereocarpus), a new yellow species from the Central Highlands, Vietnam. Dalat university journal of science 12(3): 3–9.
    DOI: 10.37569/DalatUniversity.12.3.931(2022)View Article Google Scholar

    Quach, V.H., Tran, N., Luong, V.D., Hoang, T.T., Tagane, S, Pham, V.T. 2024 Camellia hoabinhensis (Theaceae: sect. Chrysantha), A new Yellow-flowered species from Northern Vietnam. Dalat University Journal of Science 14(1): 21–29.
    DOI: 10.37569/DalatUniversity.14.1.1143(2024)View Article Google Scholar

    Sealy, J.R.1958 A revision of the genus Camellia. Royal Horticultural Society, London. pp. 239.

    Trinh, N.B., Le, V.Q., Hoang, T.S. 2024 Camellia pyriformis (Theaceae, Section Calpandria), a new species from Northern Vietnam. Dalat University Journal of Science 14(1): 13–20.
    DOI: 10.37569/DalatUniversity.14.1.1160(2024)View Article Google Scholar

    Trinh, N.B., Luong, V.D., Le, N.H.N., Pham, V.T. 2023 Camellia vanlangensis (Theaceae, Sect. Archecamellia), a new yellow flowered species from Vietnam. Taiwania 68(4): 465?471
    DOI: 10.6165/tai.2023.68.465View Article Google Scholar

    Truong, Q.C., Le, V.H., Le, V.S., Le, Q.M., Hoang, G., Luu, H.T. 2022 Camellia sphamii (Theaceae, sect. Piquetia), a new taxon of yellow flower from Langbiang Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam. Dalat University Journal of Science 12(3): 10–17.
    DOI: 10.37569/DalatUniversity.12.3.947(2022)View Article Google Scholar

    Truong, Q.C., Luong, V.D., Le, V.S., Tran, N., Curry, A. 2020 Camellia bidoupensis - A new species of Camellia section Theopsis (Theaceae) from Bidoup Nui Ba National Park in Vietnam. International Camelia Journal 52: 125–128.

    Xu, Z., Yuan, D., Tang, Y., Wu, L., Zhao, Y. 2020 Camellia hainanica (Theaceae) A New Species from Hainan, Supported from Morphological Characters and Phylogenetic analysis. Pak. J. Bot. 52(3): 1025–1032.
    DOI: 10.30848/PJB2020-3(31)View Article Google Scholar

    Yu, X.-Q., Liu, E.-D., Liu, Z.-W., Xiao, B., Ma, J.-L., Yang, S.-X. 2021 Camellia luteocalpandria (Theaceae), a new species and the first discovery of sect. Calpandria in China. Phytotaxa 489(2): 223–228.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.489.2.11View Article Google Scholar

    Zhao, D. 2025 Camellia yangii (Theaceae), a new species of tea plants (Camellia section Thea). PhytoKeys 257: 247–256.
    DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.257.152000View Article Google Scholar