Vincetoxicum inamoenum Maximowicz, Melanges Biol. Bull. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg 9: 787. 1876; Alexitoxicon inamoenum (Maximowicz) Pobedimova; Antitoxicum inamoenum (Maximowicz) Pobedimova; Vincetoxicum macrophyllum Siebold & Zuccarini var. nikoense Maximowicz.

Stems simple, erect, to 70 cm, hollow, pubescent along 1 line, apical part densely pubescent. Leaves opposite; petiole 0-6 mm; leaf blade broadly ovate, 3-7 × 1.5-5 cm, puberulent along veins, glabrescent, base rounded to subcordate, apex acute to acuminate; lateral veins ca. 5 pairs. Inflorescences umbel-like, (3-)8-10-flowered; peduncle 0.4-2.5 cm, pubescent. Pedicel 3-8 mm, pubescent. Sepals lanceolate, 2-2.5 × 0.7-0.9 mm, sparsely pubescent to glabrescent. Corolla yellow, glabrous except sometimes for a few hairs inside tube; tube 1-1.3 mm; lobes rotate, ovate-oblong, 2.5-4 × 1-2 mm. Corona lobes thick, ± triangular, acute, longer than gynostegium, basally attached to anthers, tip sometimes inflexed. Anther appendages rounded; pollinia oblong. Stigma head convex. Follicles linear-lanceolate in outline, 4-6 cm × 5-10 mm, glabrous, mostly solitary, divergent when paired. Fl. May-Jul. 2n = 44.

The roots are used for the treatment of scrofula, rupture, scabies, and internal fever.

Open woodland, thickets, grassy mountain slopes; 100-3500 m. Anhui, Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Russia]