Classification — Gaultheria sect. Brossaea (Linnaeus 1753: 1190) D.J. Middleton (1993: 325) ser. Leucothoide s (Airy Shaw 1941: 308) D.J. Middleton (1993: 325).

Phylogenetic placement — Leucothoides s.l. clade.

Literature — Fritsch et al. 2008, Kang et al. 2017.

Myanmar specimens — Kachin: [Putao District, Khaunglanphu Township,] Valley of the Nam Tisang, 27°30’N, 97°50’E, 3,000 ft, 8 September 1926, F. Kingdon-Ward 7376 (K K000618952!); [Putao District, Khaunglanphu Township,] hills E of Nam Tisang, 1,200 m, 4 January 1931, F. Kingdon-Ward 9091 (A!); Upper Burma, Kachin Hills, March 1898, Shaik Mokim s.n. (CAL CAL0000031059!*, CAL CAL0000031060!*, E E00231078!*, L L.2615009!*). Kayah or Kayin: from the Nat-toung Mts. Burmah 1861, Mr. Gross No. 2 (CAL CAL0000031057!*); Moulmein, Mts. Nattoung [Mt. Nattaung], top, 7,200 ft, S. Kurz 429 (CAL CAL0000031058!*, CAL CAL0000031067!*, L L.2615010!*); Moulmein, Expedition to Nat-toung, C. Parish s.n. (K K000618953!).

Notes — Fritsch et al. (2008) treated Gaultheria longibracteolata as a synonym of G. discolor and this treatment is followed here. In addition to G. discolor, Kress et al. 2003 listed Diplycosia discolor as a distinct species but the latter is a homotypic synonym of G. discolor .

The specimens from Kayin state have leaves that are smaller than normal for G. discolor and appear disjunct to the south from the main range of the species. The label of one of the two specimens of S. Kurz 429 from CAL (CAL0000081067) has the name “ Gaultheria punctata DC. var. pygmaea,” which apparently was never published. Examination by P.W.F. of the C. Parish s.n. specimen from K revealed no taxonomically significant differences from the Himalayan specimens of G. discolor, although there was only one poor-quality flower and one fruit on the specimen. The collection of more and better material from Kayin state might provide more information in this regard.