匙叶草属 chi ye cao shu

Herbs perennial, rhizomatous. Basal leaves in a well-developed rosette; blades mostly over 5 cm. Stem leaves in 1-3 pairs below inflorescence. Inflorescences formed by flowers in groups of (2 or) 3, partly in a terminal umbel-like cluster surrounded by whorl of 4 bracts, also in axil of bracts to form apparent whorls of (4-)6 flowers. Flowers 4merous. Calyx lobed nearly to base. Corolla campanulate, lobed to middle, plicae absent. Stamens inserted at sinus between corolla lobes. Ovary incompletely 2celled. Style slender, distinct; stigma 2lobed. Nectaries in a whorl at base of ovary. Capsules distinctly curved, often with a long beaklike persistent style, many seeded. Seeds ± fusiform, wingless; seed coat longitudinally rugose.

One species: endemic to SE and SW China.

Lower Taxon

• Latouchea fokienensis Franchet