Fordiophyton gracile Handel-Mazzetti, Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 63: 10. 1926; Bredia gracilis (Handel-Mazzetti) Diels.

Shrublets 20-40 cm tall. Stems 4-sided, puberulous, later nearly glabrous. Petiole 1.5-6 cm, puberulous; leaf blade long elliptic to ovate, 8-16 × 4-6 cm, papery to stiffly papery, both surfaces puberulous, secondary veins 3 on each side of midvein, base obtuse to subcordate, margin sparsely serrulate and inconspicuous ciliate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, cymose, 3-12-flowered; peduncle 1-3(-11) cm. Peduncles, pedicel, calyces puberulous. Pedicel 5-10 mm. Hypanthium funnel-shaped, ca. 3 mm. Calyx lobes less than 1 mm, apex shortly acute. Petals purplish red to purple, broadly ovate, ca. 7 × 5 mm, oblique, apex acuminate. Longer stamens 1-1.2 cm; shorter stamens 8.5-9.5 mm; anthers erect, base tuberculate; connective decurrent, forming a short spur. Ovary half inferior, ovate, with glandular trichomes, apex with a membranous crown. Fl. Aug-Sep.

● Dense forests, hillsides, valleys, trailsides, thickets, in well-drained soil; 1100-1300 m. Hunan.