细穗玄参属 xi sui xuan shen shu

Herbs, perennial. Roots glabrous. Rhizomes present. Stems erect. Leaves alternate. Inflorescences terminal, spicate. Flowers crowded. Calyx 5-lobed, upper lobe much smaller than other lobes. Corolla unequally 4-lobed; tube at first as long as limb, straight, becoming jar-shaped and slightly longer than limb; limb 2-lipped; lower lip narrowly ligulate, conspicuously reflexed; upper lip shallowly 3-lobed, middle lobe wider than lateral 2, base with dense tuft of hairs, apex subtruncate, lateral lobes revolute toward lateral-posterior position. Stamens 2, included; filaments glabrous, adnate to middle of corolla tube; anther locules parallel, not confluent. Disc cupular. Style short, persistent; stigma slightly dilated, short clavate, apex obscurely emarginate. Capsule ovoid-conical, slightly compressed laterally, 2-grooved, 4-valved. Seeds numerous per capsule, ellipsoid, slightly curved; seed coat thick, transparent, foveolate.

One species: endemic to China.

Lower Taxon

• Scrofella chinensis Maximowicz