Trees to 20 m high, with ascending bark. Petiole red, 3.6-7 cm; leaf blade adaxially bright green, broadly ovate, 8-15 × 7-12 cm, abaxially densely silky pubescent, strongly veined, adaxially finally glabrous, base cordate, margin dentate-serrate with acuminate teeth, apex acuminate. Flower heads terminal, ca. 2 cm in diam. on slender peduncles ca. 7 cm, on short lateral spurs; bracts 2(or 3), opposite, ovate to oblong-obovate, margin entire or serrate, larger one to 16 cm, smaller one ca. 1/2 as long. Fruit usually solitary, green with purple bloom, pear-shaped, 3-4 × 1.5-2 cm. Fl. Apr, fr. Oct. 2n = 40*, 42*.

This species was listed as rare in China by Fang and Song (in Fu & Jin, China Pl. Red Data Book 1: 474-476. 1992).

● Montane mixed forests; 1100-2600 m. Guizhou, W Hubei, W Hunan, Sichuan, N Yunnan.