Barthea esquirolii H. Léveillé, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 11: 494. 1913; Bredia cordata H. L. Li; B. esquirolii var. cordata (H. L. Li) C. Chen.

Shrublets to 20(-50) cm tall, branched. Stems terete, obtusely 4-sided, densely pilose and minutely glandular puberulous. Petiole 1-3 cm, densely pilose and with glandular trichomes; leaf blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 3-10 × 1.7-5.5 cm, stiffly papery, both surfaces densely puberulous when young but glabrescent or abaxially puberulous and adaxially ± sparsely strigose, secondary veins 3 on each side of midvein, base cordate, margin serrulate with each tooth having a terminal seta, apex acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, cymose, 1-2 cm, 3-7-flowered. Pedicel ca. 1.4 cm, densely pilose and with glandular trichomes. Hypanthium bell- or funnel-shaped, ca. 5 mm, pilose and with glandular trichomes. Calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, both surfaces puberulous, margin with glandular trichomes. Petals purplish red, ovate, 6-10 × ca. 6 mm, oblique, outside puberulous, apex acute. Longer stamens ca. 1.8 cm; anthers linear, ca. 7 mm, minutely curved. Shorter stamens ca. 1.1 cm; anthers lanceolate, ca. 5 mm, tuberculate at base. Connective decurrent, forming a short spur. Ovary half inferior, ovate, glandular punctate, apex with a membranous crown, crown margin abruptly denticulate. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct.

● Forests, forest margins, hillsides, sunny slopes, damp places; 600-800 m. NW Guizhou, Sichuan.