Three new species of Ericaceae from Xizang, Southwest China

Three new species of Ericaceae discovered from Motuo County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China, are described and illustrated here. Morphologically, Agapetes elegans X.C. Xie & Y.H. Tan most closely resembles A. praestigiosa and A. praeclara but differs in having shorter pedicel and smaller urceolate white corolla and red at the base. Agapetes obtusisepala X.C. Xie & Y.H. Tan is morphologically identical to A. incurvata and A. hookeri by having almost the same yellow flowers but differs in having very different leaf shapes. Vaccinium longisetosum X.C. Xie & Y.H. Tan is morphologically similar to V. lanigerum by having similar leaf shape and structure but differs in covered bristly brown hair on branches and leaves. In contrast, V. lanigerum is covered with woolly hair on branches and leaves. A detailed description, color plates, and notes on the new species are provided.