全 文 ：热带亚热带植物学报　2012， 20(5)： 513~516
Journal of Tropical and Subtropical Botany
Received： 2012–04–01　　　　Accepted： 2012–05–21
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31160037); the Organization Department of the Provincial Committee of Guizhou
(TZJF-2010-068)
CHEN Xiang (born in 1972)，male. E-mail: xiangchengz@163.com
As the largest genus in the family Ericaceae, the
genus Rhododendron L. is well known because of the
highly appreciated values to the world horticultural
and the flora of China. Baili Rhododendron Nature
Reserve, a 125.8 km2 highland located in the
northwest Guizhou, China, comprises approximately
35 species of the genus[1] and contains one of the
largest natural Rhododendron communities in
the World[2]. From the years 2007 to 2010, the
authors conducted an intensive taxonomic survey
of Rhododendron in the region. Based on careful
examination of hundreds of similar herbarium
specimens and the relevant literature[3–5], we describe
one previously undescribed species here.
Rhododendron bainaense Xiang Chen & Cheng
H. Yang sp. nov. Figures 1 and 2.
(R. subgen. Rhododendron, sect. Rhododendron,
subsect. Heliolepida (Hutch.) Sleumer)
Small trees, evergreen, 5 m tall; young shoots
中国杜鹃属一新种
陈翔1, 杨成华2, 谢华1, 陈训3
(1. 贵州省生物研究所，贵阳 550009； 2. 贵州省林业科学研究院，贵阳 550002； 3. 贵州科学院，贵阳 550001)
摘要： 报道了中国贵州杜鹃属一新种——百纳杜鹃(Rhododendron bainaense Xiang Chen & Cheng H. Yang)。百纳杜鹃与红棕
杜鹃(R.rubiginosum Franch.)相似，但本种的叶为长圆形至卵形，叶背鳞片大小近似、琥珀色、凹陷，花冠较小、白色带浅粉色且不
具斑点，花丝基部近无毛或仅部分被微柔毛，花药淡褐色。目前该新种的资源量十分稀少，野外调查仅发现 1 个种群含 3 株，应
该给予重点保护。
关键词： 百纳杜鹃； 杜鹃属； 新种； 中国
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005–3395.2012.05.013

A New Species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) from China
CHEN Xiang1, YANG Cheng-hua2, XIE Hua1, CHEN Xun3
(1. Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China; 2. Guizhou Academy of Forestry, Guiyang 550002, China; 3. Guizhou
Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550001, China)
Abstract: One new species, Rhododendron bainaense Xiang Chen & Cheng H. Yang from Guizhou Province,
China is described and illustrated. Rhododendron bainaense is most similar to R. rubiginosum from which it
differs mainly by having oblong to ovate leaf blades, subequal, amber and concave scales on leaf blades abaxial
surfaces, a 2.5 cm long, pale pinkish white and spotless corolla, and nearly glabrous or partly puberulent filaments,
and pale brown anthers. The new species is Critically endangered (CR), based on the IUCN Red List Categories
and Criteria, since there is only one population that includes 3 mature individuals found so far during the field
work, therefore, careful protection is highly desired.
Key words: Rhododendron bainaense; Rhododendron; New species; China
514　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　 热带亚热带植物学报　　　　 　　　　　　　 　 第20卷
Fig. 1 Rhododendron bainaense Xiang Chen & Cheng H. Yang. A. Flowering branch; B. Enlarged part of leaf blade abaxial surface; C. Corolla; D.
filament, ovary and style. [Drawn by H. Xie from the holotype Chenghua Yang & Xiang Chen 07376 (HGAS)].
densely scaly. Petiole 7–10 mm, scaly; leaf blades
aggregate towards the tip, fragrant when crashed,
oblong to ovate, 4–6 cm×2–3 cm; base obtuse; apex
obtuse to rounded, with mucronation; abaxial surface
scales dense, nearly contiguous to 1× their own
diameter apart, subequal, amber, concave; adaxial
surface scales sparse, 2–4× their own diameter apart,
unequal. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate, (4–)5–6-
flowered; rachis ca. 5 mm. Pedicel 10–13 mm,
densely scaly; calyx undulate, lobes 5, ca. 1 mm,
scaly; corolla broadly funnelform-campanulate, pale
pinkish white, without spots, ca. 2.5 cm, outer surface
scaly, glabrous inside; lobes 5, ovate, margin serrate;
stamens 9–10, unequal, 2–3 cm, slightly longer than
corolla; filaments nearly glabrous or partly puberulent
at base; anthers pale brown; ovary densely scaly; style
3–3.3 cm, exserted from corolla, glabrous. Capsule
cylindric, 12–17 mm. Fl. Mar.–Apr., fr. Aug.–Sep.
第5期 515
Distribution and habitat: China. Guizhou:
Baili Rhododendron Nature Reserve, Baina, Jiulong
Mt., 27º18′N, 105º52′E, alt. 1920 m, slope, in thickets
dominated by Fargesia spathacea Franch. and
Berberis deinacantha Schneid., 5 Apr. 2007, Cheng-
Hua Yang & Xiang Chen 07376 (holotypus, HGAS;
isotypus, IBSC, GF); Guizhou: Bijie, Baijiashao, alt.
1700 m, slope, 7 Apr. 1982, Yun-Yan Wang & Yong
Li 82024 (paratypus, HGAS).
Etymology: The species is named after its type
locality, Baina, Baili Rhododendron Nature Reserve,
Guizhou, China.
This species is most similar to Rhododendron
rubiginosum Franch.[6–9], but differs mainly by having
oblong to ovate leaf blades with obtuse to rounded
apex (vs. usually elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate leaf
blades with acuminate apex), subequal, amber and
concave scales on leaf blades abaxial surfaces (vs.
unequal, rust-brown and usually glandlike scales on
leaf blades abaxial surfaces), a smaller, pale pinkish
white and spotless corolla (vs. a bigger, usually rose-
red or pale red, and inside with purplish red spots
corolla), and nearly glabrous or partly puberulent
filaments (vs. pubescent filaments), and pale brown
anthers (vs. deep brown anthers).
Since there is only one population that
includes 3 mature individuals and a few seedlings
of this species were found in the area where the
type collection was made, we make a preliminary
conservation assessment for the new species as
Critically Endangered (CR), based on criterion D
(population less than 50 mature individuals) of
the IUCN Red List criteria[10]. Therefore, careful
protection for the species is desired. The current
major threats to the species are human disturbance
or damage (recreation/tourism), since its locality is
a scenic spot in a rural mountain setting, and habitat
loss (agriculture), despite the fact that the region is a
provincial nature reserve.
Acknowledgements Special thanks are due to Dr. Laurie
Consaul at Canadian Museum of Nature for helping with an
Fig. 2 Flowering branches of Rhododendron bainaense. (Photographed by Cheng-hua YANG)
陈翔等：中国杜鹃属一新种
516　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　 热带亚热带植物学报　　　　 　　　　　　　 　 第20卷
earlier version of the manuscript. We also thank Mr. Yun-
li JIANG and Mrs. Lun-xiu DENG and other colleagues for
joining and supporting the field work.
References
[1]　 Chen X, Huang J Y, Xie H, et al. Study on the plants of
Rhododendron (Ericaceae) from Baili Rhododendron Nature
Reserve in China [J]. Guizhou Sci, 2010, 28(4): 26–34,39.(in
Chinese)
[2]　 Yang C H, Li G Y, Deng L X, et al. A study on Rhododendron
species and ornamental characteristics in Baili Dujuan Nature
Reserve of Guizhou [J]. J W China For Sci, 2006, 35(4): 14–
18,39.(in Chinese)
[3]　 Chen X, Wu H M. Rhododendron Species from Guizhou, P. R.
China [M]. Guiyang: Science and Technology Press of Guizhou,
2003: 1–44.(in Chinese)
[4]　 Gibbs D, Chamberlain D, Argent G. The Red Lis t of
Rhododendrons [M]. Richmond: Botanic Gardens Conservation
International, 2011: 4–124.
[5]　 Zhang X S, Chen X. Ericaceae [M]// Li Y K. Flora Guizhouensis
Tomus 3. Guiyang: The People’s Press of Guizhou, 1990: 210–
233.(in Chinese)
[6]　 Fang M Y, Fang R C, He M Y, et al. Ericaceae [M]// Wu Z Y,
Raven P H. Flora of China Vol. 14. Beijing: Science Press & St.
Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden, 2005: 260–455.
[7]　 Yang H B, Fang R Z, Jin C L. Ericaceae [M]// Fang R Z. Flora
Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae Tomus 57(1). Beijing: Science
Press, 1999: 13–88.(in Chinese)
[8]　 Fang R Z, Ming T L. Ericaceae [M]// Wu Z Y. Flora Yunnanica
Tomus 4. Beijing: Science Press, 1986: 339–446.(in Chinese)
[9]　 He M Y, Zhao Z J. Ericaceae [M]// Gao B C. Flora Sichuanica
Vol. 17. Chengdu: Sichuan Press Group and Sichuan Nationality
Press, 2007: 102–234.(in Chinese)
[10]　 IUCN. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1.
IUCN Species Survival Commission [M]. Gland, Switzerland &
Cambridge, UK. 2001: 16–18.