毛白前 mao bai qian

Vincetoxicum chinense S. Moore, J. Bot. 13: 228. 1875, (not Cynanchum chinense R. Brown 1810); Cynanchum affine Hemsley; Vincetoxicum affine (Hemsley) Kuntze.

Plants slender climbers. Stems twining, to 2 m, densely pubescent. Leaves opposite; petiole 1-2 cm, pubescent; leaf-blade ovate-cordate to ovate-oblong, 2-8 × 1.5-3 cm, smaller in the inflorescence, pubescent, base cordate or truncate, apex acute; lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs. Inflorescences umbel-like, to 9-flowered; peduncle 0-1.5(-4) cm, pubescent. Pedicel 5-13 mm. Sepals ovate, ca. 2.5 mm, pubescent; basal glands minute. Corolla purple, rotate, glabrous, deeply divided; lobes oblong-lanceolate, 6.5-8(-10) × 2-2.5 mm. Corona cupular, 5-lobed; lobes ovate to ± square, obtuse to truncate, shorter than gynostegium, adnate at base to corresponding anther. Anther appendages broadly ovate; pollinia ovate-oblong. Stigma head depressed. Follicles lanceolate in outline, 7-9 × ca. 1 cm. Seeds brown, oblong, comose. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Aug-Dec.

* Thickets, open woods; 200-800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.

After publication of the family treatment for the Flora of China, this species was newly recorded from Taiwan (Chao, C. T., Y. J. Hung & Y. H. Tseng. 2010. Taiwania 55(3): 324-327).