27. Chirita tribracteata W. T. Wang, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin. 1(4): 58. 1981.
三苞唇柱苣苔 san bao chun zhu ju tai
Perennials, stemless. Rhizome internodes inconspicuous. Leaves basal, opposite; petiole 2-4.5 cm X 3-5 mm; leaf blade elliptic to broadly obovate, (1.8-)8-10 X (1.4-)5-7.4 cm, papery, adaxially puberulent near margin, eglandular, abaxially sparsely puberulent, base oblique, broadly cuneate, margin crenate to repand, apex obtuse to rounded; lateral veins 4 or 5 on each side of midrib, inconspicuous. Cymes ca. 7-flowered; peduncle 8.5-9.8 cm, villous and glandular puberulent; bracts 3, free, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 0.9-1.3 cm X 3-7.5 mm, ciliate, margin entire, apex acute. Pedicel 0.8-1.6 cm, glandular puberulent. Calyx 5-sect from base; segments equal, linear-lanceolate, 7-10 X 1-1.5 mm, outside puberulent, inside glabrous, margin entire, apex attenuate. Corolla blue, 3.6-4 cm, outside sparsely puberulent, inside puberulent on adaxial lip; tube narrowly funnelform, ca. 2.5 X 0.9-1.1 cm; adaxial lip ca. 7 mm; abaxial lip ca. 1.4 cm. Filaments ca. 1.3 cm, glandular puberulent near apex; anthers fused by entire adaxial surfaces, ca. 3.2 mm, glabrous; staminodes 3, central ca. 0.5 mm, laterals ca. 3.2 mm. Pistil ca. 2.5 cm, densely puberulent; ovary ca. 1.5 cm. Stigma cuneate, ca. 2 mm, 2-lobed. Fruit and seeds unknown. Fl. Jun.
* Near caves in limestone hills. NW Guangxi (Fengshan Xian).
After publication of the family treatment for the Flora of China,
this was treated as Primulina tribracteata (W. T. Wang) Mich. Möller & A. Weber (Taxon 60: 785. 2011).