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.