Abstract
Camellia tuxingsunii (Theaceae), a new species of sect. Camellia from central Yunnan, Southwest China, is described and illustrated. The species is distinguished by its relatively small leaves, flowers and fruits, and may represent one of the smallest-flowered species currently known in sect. Camellia. It is currently known from dry open forests and thickets on mountain slopes at elevations of 1300–1400 m in Xinping County, on the margin of the Yuanjiang dry–hot valley. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on complete plastid genome sequences reveals that sect. Camellia is not monophyletic. C. tuxingsunii falls within the southwestern Chinese clade of sect. Camellia and is most closely related to C. mairei and C. omeiensis. Morphologically, however, it most closely resembles C. saluenensis. Its ecology and potential threats are discussed. Following IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the species is preliminarily assessed as Data Deficient (DD), as comprehensive surveys across its potential distribution range have not yet been completed.