白丝草 bai si cao

Chionographis merrilliana H. Hara; Siraitos chinensis (K. Krause) F. T. Wang & T. Tang.

Leaves several to more than 10; petiole 1--6 cm; leaf blade spatulate to ellipitic, 1--6 × 1--3.5 cm, glabrous, margin slightly undulate, apex subacute. Scape 14--40 cm; bractlike leaves 4 or 5, lanceolate-ovate, 2--5 mm. Spike 3--14 cm, usually elongate after anthesis, rather densely many flowered. Flowers fragrant. Tepals white to pale yellow; upper 3 or 4 tepals 3--8 mm, 0.2--0.5 mm wide in distal part; lower 2 or 3 tepals 0.5--1.5 mm, sometimes absent. Stamens 1--1.5 mm, 3 longer than others; anthers subcordate-ovate, with locules confluent. Capsule subobovoid, ca. 4 × 2 mm, dehiscent distally. Seeds 1.8--2.8 × 0.6--0.9 mm. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Jun.

* Shady and damp places on slopes or hillsides; near sea level to 700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, NE Guangxi, Hunan.