大叶鼠刺 da ye shu ci

Itea maesifolia Elmer; I. luzonensis Elmer; I. puberula Craib; Kurrimia macrophylla (Wallich) Wallich ex Meisner.

Trees 8-10 m tall. Branchlets striate, glabrous. Petiole stout, 1-2.5 cm, glabrous; leaf blade elliptic or broadly ovate, 10-20 × 5-12 cm, thinly leathery, both surfaces glabrous, midvein and secondary veins distinctly raised abaxially, midvein impressed adaxially, secondary veins in 7-10 pairs, tertiary veins parallel, fine, reticulate veins slightly prominent abaxially, base rounded-obtuse, margin glandular serrate, apex acute or acuminate. Racemes axillary, usually 2- or 3-clustered, rarely solitary, erect, 10-15(-20) cm; bracts subulate. Calyx cupular; lobes triangular-lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm, puberulous. Petals reflexed at anthesis, white, narrowly lanceolate, 3-4 mm, apex subacute. Stamens ca. 1/2 as long as petals; filaments glabrous; anthers dorsifixed, oblong. Ovary semi-inferior, glabrous. Stigma capitate. Capsule spreading or pendulous, striate, narrowly conical, 7-8 mm, glabrous. Fl. and fr. Apr-Jun. 2n = 22.

Dense or sparse forests, roadsides on mountain slopes; 500-1500 m. Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].

The fibers of the stems and bark are used for making ropes.