乐昌野桐 le chang ye tong

Basionym: Mallotus castanopsis F. P. Metcalf, Lingnan Sci. J. 10: 487. 1931; M. paxii Pampanini var. castanopsis (F. P. Metcalf) S. M. Hwang.

Branchlets and inflorescences white stellate-tomentulose. Leaf blade ovate or broadly ovate, papery, abaxially densely white tomentulose, obscurely reddish glandular-scaly, adaxially dull brown when dry, scattered stellate-pilosulose. Male inflorescences 8-13 cm. Male flowers 2-7-fascicled; calyx lobes 4, ca. 3 mm. Female inflorescences or infructescences 5-12 cm. Female flowers: styles 3, ca. 3 mm. Capsule white tomentulose, softly spiny, spines 10-15 mm. Seeds ovoid, ca. 4 mm in diam., black, smooth. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Oct-Nov.

● Rocky hills, thickets; 200-300 m. N Guangdong, E Guangxi, S Hunan, E Jiangxi.