Reinstatement of the independent specific status of Camellia angustifolia, a tea plant (Camellia sect. Thea, Theaceae) from Guangxi, China

<i>Camellia angustifolia</i> Hung T. Chang was published in 1981 and was treated as a synonym of C. sinensis var. pubilimba in 1992. Field investigation and herbarium research have revealed remarkable morphological differences between <i>C. angustifolia</i> and C. sinensis var. pubilimba. Evidence from morphology-particularly the variations in indumentum on young branches, leaves, and flowers, the size of the sepals, and the thickness of the pericarp-suggests that <i>C. angustifolia</i> should not be reduced to C. sinensis var. pubilimba. We hereby reinstate the independent specific status of <i>C. angustifolia</i>. A detailed description, including the flower morphology of <i>C. angustifolia</i>, is provided. In addition, the incorrect information regarding the type specimen in the protologue of <i>C. angustifolia</i> has been rectified.