Typification and new synonyms of tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) and one of its infraspecific taxa

Tea, Camellia sinensis, is a world-widely popular beverage source shrub. Its basionym, Thea sinensis, was lectotypified as a vague illustration, which cannot precisely exhibit the diagnostic character states of the species. Here, a Linnaean specimen of Thea bohea at LINN, Linnaeus C. 152, was designated as the epitype of T. sinensis to avoid potential confusion.

This specimen was also selected as the neotype of T. viridis, a heterotypic synonym of C. sinensis. Camellia sinensis var. niaowangensis, T. cantoniensis, T. chinensis var. pubescens, T. oleosa, and T. parvifolia are treated as new heterotypic synonyms of C. sinensis var. pubilimba, one of the infraspecific taxa of tea. Thea parvifolia is neotypified, and T. chinensis var. pubescens is lectotypified here.