平贝母 ping bei mu

Fritillaria ussuriensis f. lutosa C. F. Fang.

Bulb of 2 scales, 1--1.5 cm in diam., usually with a few bulbels around it. Stem 50--60(--100) cm. Leaves 14--17, basal ones usually in a whorl of 3, middle and distal ones whorled or opposite, sometimes also alternate; leaf blade linear to lanceolate, 7--14 × 3--6.5 cm, apex sometimes slightly cirrose. Inflorescence 1(--3)-flowered; bracts 2 per flower (often with 4 or 5 extra bracts on extension of stem above flower), apex strongly cirrose. Flower nodding, tubular-campanulate; pedicel 2.5--3.5 cm. Tepals purple adaxially, brownish violet abaxially, tessellated with yellow, oblong-obovate to subelliptic, ca. 3.5 × 1.5 cm; nectaries projecting at a right angle abaxially. Filaments papillose, longer than anthers. Style 3-lobed, ± papillose; lobes ca. 5 mm. Capsule wingless. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jul. 2 n = 24*.

Forests, thickets, meadows, streamsides, shady and moist places; near sea level to 500 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning [Korea, Russia (Far East)].

Fritillaria ussuriensis is cultivated in China for its bulbs, which are used medicinally. It is a vulnerable species in China.