白边沿阶草 bai bian yan jie cao

Stem prostrate proximally and erect distally, or wholly decumbent, elongate, terete, 13--22 cm × 2--5 mm, covered with sheaths and with a few roots (1--)2--3 mm thick. Leaves in distant tufts, indistinctly petiolate, long linear to narrowly elliptic-linear, 14--30 cm × 6--11 mm, 5--9-veined, base slightly attenuate, apex acuminate. Scape arising from an apical leaf axil, slightly compressed, narrowly 2-winged. Inflorescence a reduced panicle, 4.5--6.5 cm, 14--18-flowered; bracts linear-lanceolate to narrowly ovate, basal one ca. 2 cm, base 3--5 mm wide, membranous. Flowers in clusters of 2 or 3; pedicel 6--9 mm, shorter than bracts, articulate proximally or near middle. Tepals reflexed distally, purple with white margin, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, ca. 7 × 2.3 mm, apex obtuse. Seeds broadly ellipsoid, 8--11 × 5--8 mm.

* Valley forests; ca. 300 m. E Guangxi (He Xian).

The present authors have not seen flowers of this species. Judging from the characteristics of the vegetative organs, it is similar to Ophiopogon jiangchengensis. Detailed observation of the flowers is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the two species are really distinct.