Columbia thorelii Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1: 132. 1910; Colona sinica Hu.

Trees 5-15 m tall, many branched. Branchlets gray-brown stellate tomentose. Stipule hastate; petiole 0.5-1 cm; leaf blade oblong, 8-15 × 4-7 cm, thinly leathery, densely gray stellate tomentose abaxially, adaxially glabrous, smooth or slightly rough, basal veins 5, lateral veins 2-3 pairs, base rounded, margin entire or slightly serrulate near apex, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary at twig tips, 4-9 cm.
Bracts triangular, ovate, or lanceolate, 5-6 mm; bracteoles obovate. Pedicel 3-5 mm. Sepals narrowly lanceolate, 6-7 mm, abaxially gray hairy, adaxially glabrous. Petals 5-6 mm. Stamens as long as petals. Ovary 3-loculed, hairy; style ca. 5 mm; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule 2-2.5 cm in diam., gray tomentose, 3-winged, wing ca. 10 mm wide. Fl. Sep-Oct, fr. Nov-Dec.

Mountains; 200-800 m. S and SE Yunnan [Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand].