A new species of Agapetes(Ericaceae) from Bhutan Himalaya

Agapetes athangensis P.Gyeltshen, a new species from the warm broad-leaved forest of Athang Block in Wangdue District, Bhutan is described and illustrated. The new species is assigned to Agapetes D.Don ex G.Don sect.Agapetes owing to its free filaments and calyx articulated at the junction with the pedicel, and to ser. Agapetesas it has stout stems,pseudowhorled leaves, and 5-lobed, glandular-capitate stigma. The new species is similar to Agapetes auriculata(Griff.) Benth. & Hook.f. in having an angular calyx and corolla, and capitate stigma, but differs by the pubescent inflorescence, longer pedicels, and tubular corolla tube. It differs from Agapetes sikkimensis Airy Shaw by the racemose or sub-corymbose inflorescence, longer peduncle, and calcarate stamens. Due to inadequate information on population abundance and distribution, the species is currently assessed as Data Deficient (DD)