Anneslea alpina H. L. Li; A. fragrans var. alpina (H. L. Li) Kobuski; A. fragrans var. hainanensis Kobuski; A. fragrans var. lanceolata Hayata; A. fragrans var. rubriflora (Hu & Hung T. Chang) L. K. Ling; A. hainanensis (Kobuski) Hu; A. lanceolata (Hayata) Kanehira; A. rubriflora Hu & Hung T. Chang; Callosmia fragrans (Wallich) C. Presl; Mountnorrisia fragrans (Wallich) Szyszyłowicz.

Shrubs or trees, 3-15 m tall. Bark dark brown. Young branches grayish brown; current year branchlets reddish brown, glabrous; terminal buds ovate, glabrous. Petiole 2-3.5 cm; leaf blade ovate, elliptic, obovate-elliptic, oblong, or oblong-lanceolate, (4-)6-16 × (2.5-)3-7.3 cm, leathery to thinly leathery, abaxially pale green or glaucescent green and reddish brown glandular punctate, adaxially dark green and shiny, midvein abaxially elevated and adaxially impressed or rarely raised, secondary veins 10-12 on each side of midvein and slightly raised to obscure on both surfaces, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, margin entire or apically sparsely serrate, apex obtuse,
rounded, or rarely obtusely acute. Flowers axillary, several to more than 10 in a corymb. Pedicel (2-)3-6(-7) cm; bracteoles 2, broadly ovate to triangular-ovate, ca. 4 × 3-3.5 mm, margin sparsely glandular. Sepals reddish, broadly ovate, 1-1.5 cm, basally slightly connate, margin glandular. Petals pale yellow, broadly ovate, ca. 1.5 cm, basally connate for ca. 5 mm, apex acute. Stamens 30-40, 1.2-1.5 cm; filaments basally connate for ca. 5 mm; anthers linear, glabrous, connective exserted. Ovary half inferior, glabrous, 2- or 3(-5)-loculed; style 1.5-2 cm, apically 2- or 3(-5)-lobed. Fruit globose to ellipsoid, (1-)2-3.5 cm in diam., 2- or 3(-5)-loculed with 2 or 3 seeds per locule, dehiscent between between persistent enlarged sepals. Seeds long obovate, 7-12 × 4.5-7 mm, with a fleshy red outer layer. Fl. Oct-Mar, fr. Jul-Sep.

Anneslea fragrans is a widespread and somewhat variable species with several varieties having been recognized primarily on leaf character differences. Further study is needed to confirm whether these differences justify taxonomic recognition.

Forests or thickets on mountain slopes or in valleys; 300-2700 m. S Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, SE Guizhou, Hainan, S Hunan, S Jiangxi, S Taiwan, S and W Yunnan [Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].