Chirita sclerophylla W. T. Wang

Perennials, stemless. Rhizome internodes inconspicuous. Leaves basal, opposite; petiole 1.2-5.5 cm X 5-8 mm; leaf blade slightly oblique, elliptic to ovate, 7.5-10 X 4.2-5.2 cm, leathery to papery, adaxially densely strigose (hairs mixed 0.15-1.2 mm), eglandular, abaxially appressed puberulent, base cuneate to rounded, margin crenate to subentire, apex acute to obtuse; lateral veins 4 or 5 on each side of midrib, inconspicuous. Cymes 5-10-flowered; peduncle 8-26 cm, villous; bracts 2, free, linear-lanceolate, ca. 1.4 cm X 1 mm, puberulent, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate. Pedicel 0.7-2 cm, puberulent and glandular puberulent. Calyx 5-sect from base; segments equal, lanceolate to narrowly triangular, 4-8 X 1-2 mm, outside puberulent to pilose, inside glabrous, margin entire, apex acuminate. Corolla pink to purplish with a purple spot, 3.7-4.6 cm, outside sparsely glandular puberulent, inside sparsely pubescent basally and on purple spot; tube nearly tubular, 2.2-2.5 X 0.9-1.3 cm; adaxial lip 0.8-1 cm; abaxial lip 1.2-2 cm. Filaments ca. 1.3 cm, glandular puberulent; anthers fused by entire adaxial surfaces, ca. 3.8 mm, pubescent; staminodes 2, ca. 4 mm. Pistil ca. 2.5 cm, puberulent and glandular puberulent; ovary ca. 1.8 cm. Stigma trapezoid, ca. 1.2 mm, 2-lobed. Fruit and seeds unknown. Fl. Apr-May.

Guangxi (Du'an Xian, Yishan Xian).

* Shaded, stony cliffs of limestone hills; ca. 200 m.