ABSTRACT. Agapetes subsessilifolia S. H. Huang, H. Sun & Z. K. Zhou, a new species of Ericaceae from the Gorge of Yalu Tsangpo, Medog, Tibet, in the eastern Himalayas, is described and illustrated.

During a botanical expedition to the big bend gorge of Yalu Tsangpo of southeastern Tibet, the following distinct new species of Ericaceae was discovered.

Agapetes subsessilifolia S. H. Huang, H. Sun & Z. K. Zhou, sp. nov. TYPE: China. Tibet: Medog, Hammi, 1600 m, Oct. 1992, Sun Hang et al. 0997 (holotype, KUN). Figure 1.

Species Agapetes pseudo-griffithii Airy-Shaw affinis, sed petiolis valde brevis, pedicellis apice leviter in clavatos expansis, calycis segmentis anguste triangulatis, corollis cylindricis, 2.5 cm longis differt.

Frutex epiphyticus, rami graciles, brunnei, glabri, leviter angulati. Folia subopposita vel in ramulis congestis, coriacea, ovato-oblonga vel late elliptica, 7.5--14 cm longa, 3--3.5 cm lata, apice longe acuminata vel caudata, basi rotundata, margine subintegra, utrique glabra, costa utrinque prominula. Nervis lateralibus obscuris; petiolus valde brevis, 2--3 mm longus, diam. 3 mm, glaber. Inflorescentiae corymbiformes, 3--5 florae, axillares vel in ramis veteribus, pedunculo 2.5--3.5 cm longo; pedicelli graciles, 3 cm longi, apice leviter clavati expansi; receptaculum 4 mm longum, 3 mm latum; calycis segmenta 5, anguste triangularia, 5 mm longa, 4 mm lata, acuta. Corolla cylindrica, rubra, transversaliter V-formiter purpureo-striata, 2.5 cm longa, supra leviter ampliata, 1 cm lata, lobis 5, stamina 10, deltoidea; filamenta valde brevia, ca. 1 mm longa, leviter puberula; thecae 5--6 mm longae, dense papillosae, rostris 16 mm longis, dorso ecalcaratis apice poris dehiscentibus; discus annulatus, ca. 0.5 mm altus; ovarium 5-loculare. Stylus cylindricus, 2.5 cm longus; Stigma truncatum, glabrum. Frutus ignotus.

Epiphytic shrub, glabrous. Leaves subopposite, clustered at the top of branches, coriaceous, ovate-oblong to widely elliptic, 7.5--14 ´ 3--5.5 cm, apex narrowly acuminate, base rounded, glabrous, margins entire; petioles very short, 2--3 mm long, or subsessile, glabrous. Corymbs 3--5-flowered, axillary on old branches, peduncle 2.5--3.5 cm, pedicels 3 cm, glabrous, clavate-shaped at apex. Sepals narrowly triangular, 5 ´ 4 mm, acute. Corolla tubular, red with V-shaped purplish striated, 2.5 ´ 1 cm, triangular lobes. Filaments very short, ca. 1 mm, slightly pubescent; thecas 5--6 mm; rostrum 16 mm long, glabrous, not spurred. Disk annular, 0.5 mm tall; ovary 5-locular, style 2.5 cm, stigma truncate, glabrous. Fruit unknown.

Agapetes subsessiflifolia is similar to A. pseudo-griffithii Airy-Shaw but differs in having very short or subsessile petioles; pedicels that are clavate-shaped at the apex; calyx lobes narrowly triangular; and cylindrical corollas to 2.5 cm long.

Paratypes. CHINA. Tibet: Medog, Gelin, 1750 m, Dec. 1992, Sun Hang et al. 2537 (KUN), 2661 (KUN); Buqiong Lake, 1600 m, Nov. 1992, Sun Hang et al. 1140 (KUN).

Acknowledgments. We are very grateful to the National Natural Science Foundation of China for supporting this expediton to Tibet; to Wu Xi-lin for the excellent illustration, and to Zhu Guanghua for reviewing the manuscript.