Elatostema ebracteatum W. T. Wang; E. edule C. B. Robinson; E. platyphylloides B. L. Shih & Yuen P. Yang; E. platyphyllum var. polycephalum Hara.

Subshrubs dioecious, 100-150 cm tall, glabrous. Stems erect, branched. Leaves alternate; nanophylls absent; stipules lanceolate, 2-4 × 0.2-0.8 cm, with cystoliths; petiole 2-6 mm; leaf blade obliquely elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 14-25 × 6-10 cm, herbaceous, major basal lateral veins both arising at base of leaf blade or 1 arising above base, sometimes not extending beyond middle of leaf blade, cystoliths conspicuous or obscure, dense; base with broader half auriculate (auricle 1-1.4 cm), margin denticulate, apex acuminate or caudate-acuminate. Male inflorescences solitary or in pairs, simple, 10-25 × 7-18 mm; peduncle 0.5-1 mm; receptacle nearly papilionaceous, 10-25 × 7-18 mm; bracts connate, narrowly ovate, obscure; bracteoles spatulate-oblong. Female inflorescences solitary, nearly oblong, 6-7 × 2-5 mm; peduncle ca. 5 mm; receptacle 6-7 × 2-5 mm; bracts narrowly ovate; bracteoles spatulate. Male flowers 4-merous. Fl. Mar-Oct.

Valley forests, shaded areas along streamsides; 700-1900 m. Hainan, S Sichuan, Taiwan, SE Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, S Japan, N India, Nepal, Philippines, Sikkim].