Ligustrum mairei H. Léveillé, Cat. Pl. Yun-Nan 181. 1916; Syringa chuanxiensis S. Z. Qa & X. L. Chen; S. rugulosa McKelvey.

Shrubs or small trees ca. 2 m. Branchlets terete, usually densely pubescent. Petiole 3-7 mm; leaf blade ovate, broadly elliptic to suborbicular or obovate, 2-9 × 2-5 cm, leathery, adaxially rugose and pubescent, abaxially densely villous, base cuneate to subrounded, apex acute to obtuse; midrib and veins conspicuously impressed. Panicles lateral, rarely terminal, 6-14 cm; rachis pubescent. Flowers subsessile. Calyx purplish red, ca. 2 mm, puberulent. Corolla purplish red, white when expanded, 0.9-1.5 cm; tube slender, subcylindric, 6-11 mm; lobes ovate to oblong-elliptic, spreading. Anthers yellow, inserted near or slightly below mouth of corolla tube. Capsule oblong-lanceolate, 1-2 cm, nearly smooth. Fl. Jul, fr. Jul-Nov.

* Thickets on slopes or along roadsides; 1900-2600 m. W Sichuan, SE Xizang, N Yunnan