北刺蕊草 bei ci rui cao

Herbs or subshrubs 1.5-2 m tall. Stems finely strigose, slightly dilated at nodes. Petiole 0.5-3(-4) cm; leaf blade ovate to rhombic-ovate, 4-10(-11) × 2-5(-7) cm, herbaceous, finely strigose, base cuneate to cuneate-attenuate, margin irregularly double dentate, apex short acuminate; lateral veins ca. 4-paired, conspicuously elevated abaxially. Spikes 1-5(-7) cm, densely strigose, cymes sessile or short pedunculate, unbranched or in panicles; peduncle 0.5-1.5(-2) cm; bracteoles lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, to ovate-lanceolate, slightly shorter to as long as calyx. Calyx narrowly campanulate, 3.5-4 mm, pubescent outside, sometimes only on veins, glandular, pubescent on teeth inside; teeth equal, triangular, apex acute, ca. 1/2 as long as calyx tube, ciliate. Corolla purple, nearly as long to slightly longer than calyx, 4-5 mm. Stamens slightly exserted, bearded at middle. Nutlets subglobose.

* Guangdong, Jiangxi.