疏晶楼梯草 shu jing lou ti cao

Elatostema subfalcatum W. T. Wang.

Herbs perennial, dioecious, 20-30 cm tall, glabrous. Stems ascending or erect, simple. Leaves alternate; nanophylls absent; stipules linear-lanceolate, 6-8 × 0.6-0.8 mm, without cystoliths; petiole 0-1 mm; leaf blade falcate, 2.5-6.5 × 1.5-2 cm, papery, major basal lateral veins both arising at base of leaf blade, cystoliths conspicuous, only present along margins; base with broader half cordate, margin denticulate, apex acuminate or caudate. Male inflorescences solitary, simple, 3-4 mm in diam., subsessile; receptacle very small; bracts connate, 2.5-4 mm; bracteoles lanceolate or linear. Female inflorescences solitary, 30-flowered or more, 4-9 mm in diam., subsessile; receptacle 3.5-7.5 mm in diam.; bracts oblong or broadly ovate; bracteoles linear or spatulate-linear. Male flowers 4-merous. Achenes ellipsoid, 10-ribbed. Fl. Jan-May.

Streamside rocks, dark damp places, evergreen broad-leaved forests in mountains; 1300-2400 m. S Guangxi, SE Xizang, W Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, Sikkim, N Vietnam].