A New Variety of Agapetes praeclara Marquand (Ericaceae) From India

A new variety of a smaller leaved and red flowered species Agapetes praeclara Marquand (Ericaceae) is described from Siang valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new variety is distinguished from the typical variety of Agapetes praeclara in having glandular hairy pedicel with hairs 0.2–0.7 mm long, spirally arranged and with larger hyaline hairs 0.5–0.7 mm long forming a collar at the apex of the pedicel, articulated to the base of the calyx and having shorter lengths of leaves, pedicel, corolla and style. The new variety is presented with morphological diagnosis, type, description, photoplates and taxonomic notes. A table on comparison of the key distinguishing morphological features of the new variety along with very closely related ecalcarate species of the genus Agapetes is also provided.