Berberis bracteolata (Takeda) Laferrière; B. bracteolata var. zhongdianensis (S. Y. Bao) Laferrière; B. caesia (C. K. Schneider) Laferrière; Mahonia bracteolata var. zhongdianensis S. Y. Bao; M. caesia C. K. Schneider.

Shrubs, 1.5-2 m tall. Leaves abaxially pale grayish green, adaxially dull grayish green, ovate, 14-25 × 8-14 cm; leaflets 3-8 pairs, contiguous, lowest pair 0.7-1.5 cm above base of petiole, oblong-lanceolate, 2.5-12 × 1.5-3 cm, thick, rigid, abaxially slightly pruinose, veins ± obscure, adaxially indistinctly veined, base broadly cuneate, margins of lower leaflets with 2 or 3 teeth, those of upper leaflets with 4-11 teeth, apex acuminate; rachis stout, ca. 2 mm in diam.; internodes 2-3 cm, decreasing apically. Inflorescence 4-9-fascicled panicles, 7-19 cm; bracts of inflorescence ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 10-15 × 7-10 mm. Pedicel 6-11 mm; floral bracts ovate, 2-3 mm, apically acute. Sepals yellow; outer sepals ovate, 2-3 × 1.5-2 mm; median sepals ovate, 4-6 × 3-4 mm, apically obtuse; inner sepals elliptic, 7-8 × 3.5-4 mm. Petals yellow, oblong-elliptic, 6-7.5 × 2.5-3 mm, base with distinct glands, apex slightly retuse. Stamens 3.5-4.5 mm; anther connective prolonged, ca. 1.5 mm, rounded to truncate. Ovary ca. 5 mm; ovules 5 or 6. Berry slightly pruinose, subglobose, 5-7 mm in diam.; style persistent, ca. 1.5 mm. Fl. Aug-Nov, fr. Sep-Jan.

● Thickets, open hillsides; 1900-2500 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.