滇杜根藤 dian du gen teng

Calophanoides yunnanensis (W. W. Smith) C. Y. Wu ex H. P. Tsui.

Shrubs to 45 cm tall. Stems basally unbranched, suberect, apically ascending, whitish sericeous. Petiole 2-5(-7) mm, pilose; leaf blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, ca. 2.5 × 1 cm, papery, both surfaces pilose, base narrowly cuneate and decurrent onto petiole, margin entire, apex ± obtuse. Spikes axillary, ca. 1 cm, usually 3-5-flowered; bracts surrounded by leaves, circular-spatulate to obovate, 5-10 mm; bracteoles linear to oblanceolate. Pedicel short. Calyx light grayish green, ca. 5 mm, 5-lobed to base; lobes linear-lanceolate, midvein pale whitish yellow, apex acuminate. Corolla light whitish yellow, ca. 8 mm, outside minutely pilose; lower lip broad, 3-lobed with center one larger; upper lip triangular, 2-lobed. Stamens inserted at apical part of corolla tube, pilose around insertion; anther thecae superposed, lower one with a white spur at base. Capsule glabrous, 4-seeded. Seeds verrucose. Fl. Sep.

● Limestone slopes; ca. 1600 m. Yunnan.

Based on the known characters, Justicia yunnanensis appears remarkably similar to J. albovelata, if it is indeed distinct. We have refrained from making taxonomic alterations because no specimens of J. yunnanensis were studied.