Anplectrum barbatum Wallich ex C. B. Clarke in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 2: 546. 1879; Backeria barbata (Wallich ex C. B. Clarke) Raizada.

Climbers or scandent shrubs, 3-4 m tall. Stems obtusely 4-sided, sparsely stellate pilose, later subterete and glabrescent. Petiole ca. 5 mm, densely stellate pilose, both sides setose; leaf blade oblong, broadly lanceolate, or oblong-ovate, 8-12 × 2.8-4 cm, stiffly papery to subpapery, both surfaces with stellate trichomes but glabrescent, secondary veins 2 on each side of midvein, base slightly cordate to subcordate, margin entire, apex acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, cymose paniculate, ca. 22 × 12 cm, many-flowered, with dense stellate trichomes. Pedicel 2-5 mm, with stellate trichomes. Hypanthium tubular-campanulate, 5-7 mm, with stellate trichomes. Calyx lobes inconspicuous. Petals white, broadly ovate, ca. 7 × 6 mm, apex acute. Longer stamens ca. 1.2 cm; anthers ca. 8 mm, U-curved, abaxially spurred, adaxially 2-tuberculate at base. Shorter stamens abortive, ca. 2.5 mm; anthers papery, rhomboid-ovate, ca. 1 mm, margin denticulate, abaxially with a spur ca. 2 mm, adaxially at base with 2 setae ca. 1 mm. Ovary ovoid, apex truncate. Fl. Jun or Nov, fr. Jun-Jul.

This species has also been treated as a synonym of Dissochaeta divaricata (Willdenow) G. Don (Renner et al., Fl. Thailand 7(3): 423-424. 2001). In addition to Hainan, D. divaricata sensu lato occurs in India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Dense forests, climbing up trees; ca. 400 m. Hainan [India, Malaysia, Vietnam].