Plagiopteron suaveolens Griff.

For Plagiopteron suaveolens Griffith as the correct name for the species, see Daniel (Taxon 40(4): 619-620. 1991).

This species is endangered in China; the few extant plants are in need of protection.

Branchlets brown stellate tomentose. Petiole ca. 1 cm, densely tomentose; leaf blade elliptic, ovate-elliptic, or ovate-oblong, 8-15 × 4-9 cm, papery, abaxially densely brown stellate tomentose, adaxially finally pubescent on veins only, midvein strongly prominent abaxially, raised adaxially, lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, base rounded or slightly cordate, less often acute to obtusely cuneate, or apparently finely crenate in dried material, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence paniculate, axillary, toward twig apices, usually shorter than leaf blade; peduncle densely brown stellate tomentose, lower unbranched part of peduncle 4-6 cm. Pedicel ca. 6 mm, tomentose; bracteoles lanceolate, 2-3 mm. Sepals (2-)4(or 5), spreading or re-flexed, unequal in size, lanceolate, 1-1.5 mm, tomentose. Petals 3 or 4, sepal-like, narrowly ovate, 3-4 mm, outside tomentose, inside with sparser weak hairs. Stamens ca. 50; filaments filiform, 2-5 mm, glabrous; anthers globose or pyriform, minute, glabrous, dehiscent by apical pores. Ovary densely brown pubescent, 3-loculed; ovules 2 per locule; style ca. 2 mm, slender, tapering to apex, nearly as long as filaments, tomentose at base; stigma minute. Capsule woody, reportedly ca. 4 cm (Baas et al., loc. cit.), with 3 long obovate wings at apex, wings 2.5-3 cm, longitudinally veined, sparsely stellate hairy. Seeds unknown.

SW Guangxi [Myanmar, Thailand].

Scrub, evergreen forests; ca. 200 m.

Plagiopteron chinense X. X. Chen; P. fragrans Griffith.