平卧山芝麻 ping wo shan zhi ma

Subshrub, ca. 0.45 m tall, stems many-branched, prostrate. Branchlets brown stellate pilose, glabrescent. Stipules linear, 3-4 mm, stellate pilose; petiole 2-4 mm, stellate pilose; leaf blade oblong or ovate-oblong, rarely circular, 2-3.5 × 1.1-3.5 cm, abaxially grayish white, densely brown stellate pilose, adaxially dark green, glabrous, basal veins 5, abaxially prominent, adaxially flat or slightly concave, base rounded or almost cordate, margin denticulate along apical half, ciliate, apex obtuse. Inflorescences 1 or 2 per axil, 2-5-flowered; bracts and epicalyx lobes linear. Calyx 5-7 mm, 5-lobed, densely stellate pilose, lobes triangular. Petals 5, purplish, slightly unequal, ca. 1 cm, fan-shaped with narrow claw, margin often 1- or 2-toothed at apex of claw, abaxially pilose, adaxially densely villous. Androgynophore ca. 5 mm, villous at base. Staminodes broadly lanceolate, scalelike. Ovary ovoid-globose, densely pilose; style ca. 1 mm. Capsule not seen. Fl. Jun-Jul.

● Guangxi (Tiandong).