九节龙 jiu jie long

Shrubs or subshrubs, stoloniferous. Stems 15-40 cm, 1.5-2(-3) mm in diam. Leaves opposite or whorled; petiole 3-8 mm, pubescent; leaf blade elliptic or obovate, 2.5-6 cm, papery, sparsely punctate, strigose adaxially, pubescent and villous abaxially, base cuneate or subrounded, margin serrate or denticulate, apex acuminate, acute, or obtuse; lateral veins 5-9 on each side of midrib, conspicuous, marginal vein obscure. Inflorescences simple, lateral, umbellate, pubescent and hirsute or villous; peduncle 1-3.5 cm. Flowers white or pinkish to reddish, (3-)4 mm. Pedicel slender, ca. 6 mm. Sepals linear- or subulate-lanceolate, pilose and villous, punctate. Petals broadly ovate, punctate, apex acute or obtuse. Stamens to subequalling petals; anthers ovate, punctate dorsally, acute and somewhat apiculate. Ovary glabrous; ovules 5 or 6, uniseriate. Fruit reddish, globose, 5-6 mm in diam., punctate, glabrous or puberulent. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Jul-Dec.

Dense mixed forests, hilly areas, roadsides, along streams, shady damp places, rock crevices; 200-700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan [Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines]