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The genus Rhododendron Linnaeus (1753: 392) has more than 1,000 species that have been recognized in the temperate areas of the world (Chamberlain et al. 1996). In China, ca. 600 species of Rhododendron have been confirmed, including numerous species described after the publishing of Flora of China (Chen et al. 2010, Chen et al. 2012, Ma et al. 2013, Liao et al. 2015, Ma et al. 2015, Cai et al. 2016). They occur in most of China’s provinces except Xinjiang and Ningxia (Ma et al. 2014). Among these provinces, Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet have the greatest diversity.

A new species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) in sect. Vireya subsect. Pseudovireya from Malipo County, Southeast Yunnan, China, R. longipedicellatum, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to R. rushforthii but differs in its arrangement of leaves, the shape and color of the lamina, length of the petiole and the size of the calyx lobes. It also resembles R. trancongii and R. Datiandingense, but differs in its color and shape of the lamina, the leaf apex, lengths of the petiole, pedicel and stamens, and the indumentum of the ovary.

Rhododendron Linnaeus (1753: 392) exhibits great diversity and roughly 1,025 species are prized in the temperate parts of the world for their horticultural value (Chamberlain et al. 1996). There are approximately 680 species in six subgenera in China, of which more than 400 are endemic (Fang & Min 1995). However, the number of Rhododendron species known is increasing, with many new species being described after the publishing of Flora of China (Fang et al. 2005, Chen et al. 2012, Mao et al. 2013, Ma et al. 2015, Mao & Bhaumik 2015).

Rhododendron Linnaeus (1753: 392) is one of the largest genera in the family of Ericaceae, which is subject to much ongoing taxonomic debate. About 1,025 species are recognized; these are distributed from the northern temperate zone, throughout tropical Southeast Asia, to northeastern Australia (Chamberlain et al. 1996). In China, there are 571 species classified in 6 subgenera, of which 405 species are endemic (Fang et al. 2005). Apart from Xinjiang and Ningxia, Rhododendrons have been documented in all other provinces (Ma et al. 2014; Wu et al. 2005).

Rhododendron baihuaense sp. nov. is described as a new species endemic to Yunnan, China, that has, to date, only been found in Baihualing on the eastern side of the Gaoligong Mountains. Morphologically, R. baihuaense can be readily distinguished from R. hanceanum and R. genestierianum, by its absent scales on mature leaves, only 2–5 flowers per inflorescence, the funnel-shaped flower and white corolla, and its slender and erect style. A molecular analysis based on the four standard DNA barcodes (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA and ITS) indicates that R. baihuaense is genetically distinct from R. hanceanum and R. genestierianum, and, together with the morphological differences, is described here as a new species.