Pternopetalum delavayi (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz.

Flowering from June to July; fruiting from August to September.

Pternopetalum delavayi is close relative of Pternopetalum cardiocarpum, but differs from the latter in its white (vs. purplish) petals, elongate (vs. as long as the stylopodium) styles, oblong-ovode (vs. ovoid) fruit.

Pternopetalum delavayi is occurring in W Sichuan, E Xizang, NW Yunnan of China.

Phenetic analysis was conducted for the taxa of Pternopetalum Franchet by using UPGMA algorithm implemented in DELTA packages, based on morphological characters (Wang, 2007). The results shown that the Pternopetalum was divided into two distinct phenetic groups, corresponding to sections Denterioideae H. Wolff and Pteridophyllae H. Wolff (Shan and Pu, 1978).

Plants 30-120 cm. Stems erect, sparsely pubescent, 3-7-branched. Basal and lower leaves petiolate, petioles 4-15 cm, glabrous; blade triangular-ovate, 3-7 cm long, 2.5-6 cm wide, 2-ternate; ultimate segments rhomboidal or flabelliform, 1-5 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, veins and margins pubescent. Upper leaves 1-2-ternate; ultimate segments elongate-linear, 4-10 cm long, 0.3-0.8 cm wide. Inflorescence branching, umbels 2-4 cm across in flower, to 8 cm in fruit, terminal on stem and branches; bracts absent; rays 13-18, 0.5-5 cm; bracteoles 2-4, 0.5-1.2 mm; umbellules 3-4-flowered; pedicels 0.2-2.5 mm. Calyx teeth subulate, ca. 0.3 mm. Petals white, sometimes tinged pink, ca. 1.1 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm wide. Stylopodium conic; styles elongate; stylopodium and style ca. 0.9 mm. Fruit oblong-ovoid, 2-4 mm long, 1.2-2 mm wide, sometimes 1 mericarp aborted in fruit; ribs filiform; vittae 1-3 in each furrow, 4 on commissure.

Growing in forests, forest margins, alpine scrub and meadow; 2300-4500 m.

Pternopetalum delavayi is used medicinally.