Gaultheria marronina sp nov (Ericaceae) from Sichuan, China

Gaultheria marronina, a new species from the Hengduan Mountain chain of western Sichuan Province, China, is described and illustrated. This species is similar to G. bryoides P. W. Fritsch & L. H. Zhou from the Gaoligong Mountains in its white fleshy calyx with a maroon capsule but differs in its stem setae 0.34-0.50 mm long, petioles 0.4-0.6 mm long, leaf blades 5.1-6.2 x 2.1-3.1 mm, overwintering flower bud pedicels 0.6-0.8 mm long, calyx lobes 2.2-3.0 mm long, and usually slightly open fruiting calyx, among other characters. The species is known only from two widely separated unprotected populations and is categorized as endangered