Coptis chinensis Franchet var. omeiensis Chen, Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol., n.s., 1: 93. 1943.

Petiole 5--14 cm, glabrous; leaf blade lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 6--16 × 3.5--6.3 cm, 3-sect, subleathery, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely puberulous on veins, base cordate; lateral segments 3--3.5 × shorter than central one, obliquely ovate, unequally 2-parted to 2-foliolate; central segment petiolulate, rhombic-lanceolate, 5.5--15 cm, pinnately divided; segments 7--14 pairs, remote, margin acute serrate, apex attenuate. Scapes usually 1, 15--27 cm tall, glabrous. Inflorescences ca. 4-flowered; bracts lanceolate, margin finely serrate. Sepals 5, greenish yellow, linear-lanceolate, 7.5--10 × 0.7--1.2 mm, glabrous. Petals linear-lanceolate, ca. 2 × as long as sepals, glabrous, apex attenuate. Stamens ca. 5 mm. Pistils 9--14. Follicles 5--6 mm, stipe nearly as long as follicle. Seeds ca. 1.8 mm. Fl. Feb--Mar, fr. Apr--Jul.

* Cliffs, fissures of rocks; 1000--1700 m. Henan, W Sichuan (Emei Xian and adjacent regions).