Maesa indica (Roxburgh) A. de Candolle var. retusa Handel-Mazzetti.

Shrubs 1-3 m tall. Branchlets and leaves densely brown scaly, glabrescent. Branchlets subterete, 2-3 mm in diam.; pith solid. Petiole canaliculate, 2-3.5 cm; leaf blade broadly obovate, 6-16 × 5-12.5 cm, leathery, rugose, base broadly obtuse to acute, margin serrulate, apex cuspidate-acuminate, acumen 4-6 mm; lateral veins 8-12 on each side of midrib, ending in subapiculate teeth, submarginal vein absent. Inflorescences axillary, paniculate, 3-4 cm, glabrous or puberulent; bracteoles triangular ovate, acute. Flowers creamy yellow, 2-3 mm. Pedicel ca. 1 mm. Calyx lobes broadly ovate, ca. 0.7 mm, orange punctate-lineate, margin entire and ciliate, apex acute or obtuse. Corolla campanulate; lobes as long as tube, ovate or suborbicular, subentire, obtuse or rounded at apex, orange punctate-lineate. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube; filaments very short; anthers ovoid. Pistil included. Style cylindric; stigma lobed. Fruit ovoid, ca. 3 mm in diam., somewhat succulent, pellucid punctate-lineate, slightly longer than persistent calyx lobes. Fl. Jul, fr. Oct.

Leaf apex in var. retusa was said to be obtuse, truncate, or slightly retuse, and the taxon probably merits recognition.

Mixed forests, scrubs, stream banks, shady places; 2000-2800 m. SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [India]