陶氏马蓝 tao shi ma lan

Subshrubs, weakly anisophyllous, becoming black when dry. Stems somewhat sulcate, pilose with large-celled trichomes, eventually glabrescent, basally woody. Petiole 0-2 mm, pilose; leaf blade ovate, 4-10 × 2-5 cm, smaller of pair ca. 2/3 size of larger one, abaxially paler, glabrous except for a few trichomes on veins, and densely covered with prominent cystoliths, adaxially green with inconspicuous cystoliths and subglabrous except for a few scattered hispid trichomes and a strigose or scurfy midvein, base slightly asymmetric, rounded to subcordate, and briefly decurrent onto petiole, margin serrate, apex acute to shortly acuminate and commonly falcate. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, spikes, 2-5 cm; rachis straight, pilose; sterile bracts leaflike, apically diminishing in size, subsessile, ovate, 1-4 × 0.7-2.2 cm, apex acuminate; floral bracts oblong-elliptic, 3-6 × 2-4 mm, glabrous, apex acuminate; bracteoles obovate to oblong-lanceolate, 3-5 × 1-2 mm, glabrous. Flowers in opposite pairs but often solitary. Calyx 9-16 × 1-2 mm, subequally 5-lobed to ca. 1 mm from base; lobes almost colorless, linear, glabrous, covered with cystoliths, apex obtuse. Corolla white, 2-2.5 cm, straight, outside glabrous, inside glabrous except for trichomes retaining style; tube basally ca. 2 mm wide then gradually widened to ca. 1.2 cm at mouth; lobes ovate, 4-6 mm, apex rounded. Stamens 4, included; filaments glabrous, shorter pair ca. 2 mm, longer pair ca. 6 mm; anther thecae spherical, ca. 1 mm in diam., glabrous. Ovary glabrous; style ca. 2 cm, glabrous. Capsule not seen. Fl. Jan.

● Limestone hills; ca. 2200 m. Yunnan (Jinghong).