Epimedium macranthum H. Léveillé, Fl. Kouy-Tchéou, 48. 1914-1915, not Morren & Decaisne (1834).

Herbs, 12-30 cm tall. Rhizome long creeping, 1-2 mm in diam.; internodes sometimes to 20 cm. Leaves basal and cauline, trifoliolate; petiole reddish pubescent; leaflets adaxially dark green, narrowly ovate or ovate, 3-10 × 2-5 cm, leathery, abaxially often glaucous, papillose and reddish pubescent on midvein and lateral veins, especially dense at insertion of petiolules, adaxially glabrous, base deeply cordate with usually rounded lobes nearly touching, those of lateral leaflets unequal, margin closely spinose-serrate, apex long acuminate. Flowering stem with 1 trifoliolate leaf, or occasionally 2 opposite leaves. Inflorescence simple, racemose, 4-12-flowered, 12-25 cm, glandular. Pedicel 1-2.5 cm, glandular. Flowers white, tinged with rose or deep rose, large, 3.5-4 cm in diam. Outer sepals ovate-oblong, 3-4 mm, apex obtuse; inner sepals white, narrowly elliptic, 11-20 × 4-7 mm, apex acute. Petals longer than inner sepals, horn-shaped, to 2 cm, tapering from swollen but lamina-less base. Stamens ca. 4 mm; anthers ca. 3 mm, valved, revolute. Capsules oblong, 1.5-2 cm; style rostriform. Fl. Mar-Apr, fr. Apr-May.

● Forests, thickets; 400-1500 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan.