黄连 huang lian

Petiole 5--12 cm, glabrous; leaf blade ovate-triangular, 4--10 × 4--10 cm, 3-sect, papery to subleathery, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely puberulous on veins, base cordate; lateral segments slightly shorter than central one, obliquely ovate, unequally 2-parted; central segment petiolulate, ovate-rhombic, 3--8 cm, deeply 3--5 lobed, ultimate lobes margin acute serrate, apex acute. Scapes 1 or 2, 12--25 cm tall, glabrous. Inflorescences 3--8-flowered; bracts lanceolate, palmately divided. Sepals 5, greenish yellow, lanceolate, 6.5--12.5 × 2--3 mm, glabrous. Petals linear-lanceolate, 5--6.5 mm, glabrous, apex attenuate. Stamens 3--6 mm, outer ones slightly shorter than petals. Pistils 8--12. Follicles 6--8 mm, stipe as long as follicle. Seeds ca. 2 mm. Fl. Feb--Mar, fr. Apr--Jun. 2n = 18*.

* Forests, shaded places in valleys; 500--2000 m. S Anhui, Fujian, N Guangdong, N Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.

This species is used medicinally.