Lindera populifolia Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 26: 390. 1891; Benzoin obovatum (Franchet) Rehder; L. obovata Franchet; Litsea longipetiolata Lecomte.

Deciduous small trees, 3-5 m tall, glabrous except for hairy inflorescence. Leaves alternate, usually clustered at apex of branchlet; petiole 2-3 cm; leaf blade orbicular to broadly obovate, 6-8 × 5-7 cm, glaucous abaxially, pinninerved, lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, base rounded or cuneate, apex rounded. Umbels clustered at apex of branchlet, 9-11-flowered, flowering with leaves; peduncle 3-4 mm. Pedicel slender, 1-1.5 cm. Perianth segments 6, yellow, ovate or broadly ovate. Male flowers: fertile stamens 9; filaments glabrous, of 3rd whorls each with 2 stipitate large glands at base; rudimentary pistil glabrous. Fruit globose, 5-6 mm in diam., seated on shallowly discoid perianth tube; fruiting pedicel 1-1.5 cm, slightly thickened at apex. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Aug-Sep.

The leaves and fruit may be processed for their aromatic oil and used in cosmetics and soap. The fresh leaves contain ca. 0.5% of aromatic oil. The seeds contain ca. 36% oil and are used in industry.

● Sunny slopes on mountains, along banks in river valleys, thickets on shady slopes, arid and barren secondary forests, sometimes in pure stands; 700-2000 m. Sichuan, Xizang, NE Yunnan.