少花腰骨藤 shao hua yao gu teng

Micrechites jacquetii Pierre in Spire, Contr. Apocyn. 48. 1905; Ichnocarpus oliganthus Tsiang.

Lianas to 20 m, rust colored tomentose. Petiole ca. 1 cm; leaf blade narrowly elliptic, 4-8 X 1.5-4 cm, thinly leathery; lateral veins 5-9 pairs. Cymes 2-forked, ca. 2 cm, 3-9-flowered, lower part bracteate; bracts many, ovate, ca. 2 mm, persistent. Calyx glands 20. Corolla red, ca. 4 X 6.5 mm, villous inside at throat and facing stamens; tube ca. 3 mm, dilated at middle; lobes long falcate, ca. 3 X 1.2 mm. Stamens inserted near base of corolla tube; anthers triangular; disc 5-lobed, slightly united at base, shorter than ovary. Ovary glabrous. Follicles linear-cylindric, 12-18 cm X ca. 5 mm, densely brown tomentose. Seeds dark brown, linear, 1-2 cm X ca. 1 mm, coma creamy white, to 3 cm. Fl. Aug, fr. Aug-Oct.

Montane sparse woods, brushwoods; 300-500 m. S Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan [Laos, Vietnam]

The bark is used to treat rheumatism.