毛核木 mao he mu

Shrubs erect, 1-2.5 m tall. Young branches glabrous to pubescent. Bark fibrous. Petiole 1-2 mm; leaf blade abaxially glaucescent, adaxially green, rhombic to ovate, 1.5-2.5 × 1.2-1.8 cm, both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins inconspicuous, base cuneate and narrowed to petiole, margin entire, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescence a terminal, pedunculate spike of paired flowers at ends of axillary branches. Paired flowers 3-6, decussate, with conspicuous internodes; each flower with 1 small subulate bract and 2 shorter ones. Sepals to 1 mm, glabrous, acute. Corolla white, campanulate, 5-7 mm; lobes ovate, slightly shorter than tube, both sides glabrous; tube slightly gibbous at base. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube, equaling or slightly exceeding corolla; anthers white, ca. 2 mm. Style 6-7 mm, glabrous; stigmas capitate. Drupe bluish black, pruinose, ovoid, ca. 7 mm, crowned with a short beak. Pyrenes 2, densely pilose. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Sep-Nov.

● Scrub; 600-2300 m. S Gansu, Guangxi, W Hubei, Shaanxi, E Sichuan, N Yunnan.

This is rather rare and local species.