Classification — Gaultheria sect. Chiogenopsis ser. Trichophyllae .

Phylogenetic placement — Trichophyllae clade.

Literature — Airy Shaw 1941 (as var.), Fritsch et al. 2015, Fritsch & Lu 2020.

Myanmar specimens — The type. Kachin: [Putao District, Nawngmun Township, Hkakaborazi National Park,] Adung Valley, 12,000–13,000 ft, 15 June 1931, F. Kingdon-Ward 9639 p.p. (A! mixed with G. thymifolia) .

Notes —This species was not listed in Kress et al. (2003); it was raised to the species rank after that publication.