Classification — Gaultheria sect. Chiogenopsis ser. Trichophyllae .

Phylogenetic placement — Trichophyllae clade.

Literature — Airy Shaw 1941 (as var.), Fritsch et al. 2008, Fritsch et al. 2015, Fritsch & Lu 2020.

Myanmar specimens — Kachin: [Putao District, Nawngmun Township, Hkakaborazi National Park,] Adung Valley, 13,000 ft, 28°20’N, 97°40’E, 29 June 1931, F. Kingdon-Ward 9628A (BM BM013823046!*, NY 04117493!); ditto, 13,000 ft, 31 July 1931, F. Kingdon-Ward 9885 (BM BM013823045!*); [Putao District, Nawngmun Township, Hkakaborazi National Park,] Nam Tamai Valley, Ka Karpo Razi, 28°15’N, 97°30’E, 13,000–14,000 ft, 8 October 1937, F. Kingdon-Ward 13396 (BM BM013823047!*) .

Notes — Kress et al. (2003) did not list this species; it was raised to the species rank after that publication.