Andromeda japonica Thunberg in Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14, 407. 1784; Lyonia polita (W. W. Smith & Jeffrey) Chun; L. popowii (Palibin) Chun; Pieris japonica var. taiwanensis (Hayata) Kitamura; P. polita W. W. Smith & Jeffrey; P. popowii Palibin; P. taiwanensis Hayata.

Shrubs or small trees, (1–)4(–10) m tall. Twigs glabrous or puberulous. Leaves scattered or clustered towards shoot apices; petiole 3–8 mm; leaf blade oblanceolate or obovate to lanceolate-oblong, 3–10 × 1–2.5 cm, leathery, glabrous, midvein strongly raised or obscure on both surfaces, secondary and fine veins inconspicuous, base cuneate-attenuate, margin entire except for few apical teeth to 1/2 margin or crenulate except near base, apex acuminate. Inflorescences paniculate or racemose; rachis 6–15 cm, puberulous. Pedicel 1.5–6 mm. Calyx lobes triangular-ovate, 3–4 mm. Corolla urceolate, ca. 8 mm; lobes suborbicular. Filaments straight, 2.5–4.5 mm, villous. Ovary subglobose, glabrous; style slightly sunken into apex. Capsule ovoid to depressed-globose, 3–5 mm in diam., glabrous. Seeds spindle-shaped, 2–3 mm. Fl. Feb–May, fr. Jul–Oct.

Thickets; 800–1200(–1900) m. Anhui, Fujian, Hubei, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan].