匙叶荛花 chi ye rao hua

Daphne pampaninii (Rehder) Halda subsp. cochlearifolia (S. C. Huang) Halda.

Shrubs to 0.5 m tall. Young branches turning black in second year, densely gray pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, rarely subopposite; petiole short to almost absent; leaf blade elliptic to oblanceolate-spatulate, 1-2 × 0.2-0.5 cm, abaxially densely appressed puberulous, adaxially glabrous, base gradually narrowed, apex acuminate; lateral veins obscure. Inflorescences terminal, on short lateral shoots, or in axils of subterminal leaves, capitate, 1- to several flowered. Calyx pale yellow, ca. 8 mm, exterior pubescent; lobes 4, in two pairs: one larger than other, apex rounded. Stamens 8, lower whorl inserted above middle of calyx tube, upper whorl at throat. Disk scales 4, linear, small. Ovary obconic, ca. 2 mm, pubescent; style short, hidden by hairs; stigma globose. Drupe ellipsoid, enclosed by persistent calyx. Fl. autumn.

● Thuja forests; ca. 1200 m. N Sichuan.