Hapaline kimthoae K.Z.Hein, Vuong & V.C.Nguyen from Da Nang province, Vietnam, is described and illustrated as a species new to science. Description, colour plates, discussion of similar taxa, phenology, distribution and a preliminary conservation status assessment are provided. With this discovery, Vietnam now holds a total of five Hapaline species. An identification key to these species is provided.

Keyword: Aroideae, Caladieae, granite, Hapaline locii, H. kimthoae, plant taxonomy, South Central Coast

Hapaline kimthoae K.Z.Hein, Vuong & V.C.Nguyen, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: This new species is morphologically similar to Hapaline locii V.D.Nguyen & Croat in having peduncle longer than petiole and spadix with sterile apex formed of fused synandrodes. But it differs significantly in having cuneate or obtuse leaf base (vs. rounded to cordate leaf base), pinkish white spathe with reddish brown tessellation (vs. dull light green or lime green spathe) and ovoid ovaries arranged in a single row (vs. bottle-shaped ovaries arranged in two alternating rows).

Distribution and habitat: The new species can be found only from the type locality, Da Nang province of Vietnam. The species occurs along stream bank under lowland broadleaf evergreen forests in deep leaf litter soils over granites, at an altitude of about 700 m and associated with Aspdistra sp. 

Eponymy: The species named after Ms. Pham Thi Kim Thoa, Da Nang University of Science and Technology, who kindly supported the budget for the fieldworks.