平滑八角 ping hua ba jiao

Shrubs to 4 m tall. Perules ovate, to 5 mm. Leaves in clusters of 3-5 at distal nodes; petiole 0.8-1.7 cm; leaf blade oblong-elliptic, (6-)8-13 × (2-)2.5-4 cm, leathery, midvein adaxially conspicuously impressed, secondary veins 6-9 on each side of midvein and on both surfaces inconspicuous or slightly prominent, base attenuate and decurrent along petiole, apex acuminate. Flowers axillary or subterminal. Flower peduncle short. Tepals 21-23, suborbicular-triangular (outer), 4-5 × 4-5 mm (outer), papery with membranous margin (outer) to fleshy (inner). Stamens 29 or 30, length unknown; connectives obtuse to slightly emarginate; anthers 0.8-1 mm; pollen grains trisyncolpate. Carpels 11 or 12, length unknown; style nearly as long as ovary. Fruit peduncle 2-2.5 cm. Fruit with 11 or 12 follicles; follicles 11-19 × 5-7 × 3-4 mm. Seed size unknown.

● Rock crevices. Hong Kong.