Gaultheria cuneata (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) Bean

Shrubs prostrate or erect, 10–60 cm tall, many branched. Twigs terete, densely pubescent. Leaves dense; petiole 1–2 mm, pubescent; leaf blade obovate or narrowly obovate, 1.2–3.5 × 0.4–1.2 cm, leathery, glabrous, abaxially sparsely glandular punctate, secondary veins 2–4 pairs, fine veins slightly raised abaxially, slightly impressed adaxially, base narrowed, rarely obtuse, margin crenulate-mucronate, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal and from upper foliate axil, racemose, 1.5–4.5 cm, puberulous; bracts broadly ovate, 2–3 mm, glabrous. Pedicel 2–4 mm, puberulous; bracteoles 2, subapical, ovate or ovate-triangular, 1.5–2 mm. Calyx whitish, glabrous; lobes triangular-ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, margin ciliolate. Corolla white, urceolate, 4–5 mm, abaxially glabrous; lobes recurved, very small. Filaments swollen towards base, puberulous; thecae 2-awned. Ovary sericeous. Calyx at fruiting white, fleshy; capsule 4–6 mm in diam., sericeous. Fl. Jul, fr. Aug. 2n = 22*.

NE Guizhou, W Sichuan, N Yunnan.

Rhododendron forests, Abies forest margins, thickets, rocks; 2000–3900 m.

Gaultheria cuneata is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to western China. It is a densely branched, dwarf, evergreen shrub growing to 30 cm (12 in) tall by 100 cm (39 in) wide, with narrow glossy green leaves and white flowers in spring followed by white berries 1 cm in diameter in autumn. Like others of its family, it is a calcifuge, preferring an acid peaty soil. In cultivation it is used as groundcover for underplanting larger shrubs.