taxonID	type	description	language	source
03D487D0FFB5FFC653A12C498344FD6E.taxon	description	The new species resembles R. genestierianum by flower shape and petal color, but differs from the latter by the much shorter petiole and leaf, densely white powder on outer surface of petal, and slender and erect style (Table 1).	en	Liu, Zhenwen, Liu, Ende, He, Deming, Ma, Yongpeng, Gao, Lianming (2023): Rhododendron mingii (Ericaceae), a new species from Southeast of Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 619 (1): 97-104, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5
03D487D0FFB5FFC653A12C498344FD6E.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — CHINA. Yunnan: Wenshan Prefecture, Maguan County, Laojun Mountain, ca. 2500 m, 14 May 2019, E. D. Liu, Y. Yang & Y. Y. Li, OYY 00214 (holotype: KUN!).	en	Liu, Zhenwen, Liu, Ende, He, Deming, Ma, Yongpeng, Gao, Lianming (2023): Rhododendron mingii (Ericaceae), a new species from Southeast of Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 619 (1): 97-104, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5
03D487D0FFB5FFC653A12C498344FD6E.taxon	description	Shrubs, evergreen, 1 – 2 m tall; stem and branches glabrous, gray white, bark peeling. Petiole grooved, 2 – 3 mm long; leaves clustered at stem apex, leathery, oblong-lanceolate, 3 – 6 (8) × 1 – 2 cm, base cuneate, apex caudate-acuminate, margin slightly revolute and fringed with sparse hairs; abaxial surface pale green, densely white powder, scales sparse, small, circular, about equal in size, brown; adaxial surface green, shiny; midrib grooved adaxially; lateral veins 10 – 12 - paired, usually not obviously reaching the margin. Inflorescence terminal, umbellate, 5 – 9 - flowered. Pedicel 1 – 1.5 cm, glabrous, white powder; calyx pruinose, rim-like, slightly lobed, 2 – 3 mm long, persistent; corolla campanulate, fleshy, pruinose, reddish purple, 1.2 – 1.6 cm long, tube 0.8 – 1.2 cm long, glabrous; stamens 10, unequal, 0.5 – 1.5 cm long, shorter than style, filaments glabrous, unequal, 0.4 – 1.2 cm long, anthers ca. 2 mm long, deep red; ovary scaly; style purple, 1.2 – 1.5 cm long, glabrous, slender and longer than corolla; stigma small, capitate. Fruit not known.	en	Liu, Zhenwen, Liu, Ende, He, Deming, Ma, Yongpeng, Gao, Lianming (2023): Rhododendron mingii (Ericaceae), a new species from Southeast of Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 619 (1): 97-104, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5
03D487D0FFB5FFC653A12C498344FD6E.taxon	distribution	Distribution and ecology: — To date, Rhododendron mingii has only been found from the type locality of Laojun Mountain, Malipo County, SE Yunnan of China (104 ° 34 ’ E, 22 ° 57 ’ N). It grows in evergreen bushes on the summit of Laojun Mountain at an elevation of ca. 2500 m, co-occurring with R. maguanense Feng (1983: 268) and R. sinofalconeri Balfour (1916: 272). Phenology: — Rhododendron mingii flowers from April to May.	en	Liu, Zhenwen, Liu, Ende, He, Deming, Ma, Yongpeng, Gao, Lianming (2023): Rhododendron mingii (Ericaceae), a new species from Southeast of Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 619 (1): 97-104, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5
03D487D0FFB5FFC653A12C498344FD6E.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet is in honor of Prof. Tien-Lu Ming, a taxonomist of the genus Rhododendron.	en	Liu, Zhenwen, Liu, Ende, He, Deming, Ma, Yongpeng, Gao, Lianming (2023): Rhododendron mingii (Ericaceae), a new species from Southeast of Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 619 (1): 97-104, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5
03D487D0FFB5FFC653A12C498344FD6E.taxon	discussion	Notes: — Base on morphological and phylogenetic evidence in the present study, we are still unable to make an accurate subsectional placement for the new species, due to no clear boundaries between subsections Tephropepal and Genestieriana (Figure 2). Morphologically, R. mingii is similar to R. genestierianum, but the most contrasting character distinguishing them is the characteristic of style (Table 1). In general, whether a slender or deflexed style is the key trait to define subsections in section Rhododendron. However, there is exception for the subsection Moupinensia, which is including three species and R. moupinense Franchet (1886: 33) has slender style whereas the remaining two have deflexed styles. The newly discovered R. mingii would further raise the interesting topic regarding the importance of style characteristics in defining subsection or species within section Rhododendron.	en	Liu, Zhenwen, Liu, Ende, He, Deming, Ma, Yongpeng, Gao, Lianming (2023): Rhododendron mingii (Ericaceae), a new species from Southeast of Yunnan, China. Phytotaxa 619 (1): 97-104, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.619.1.5
