Syringa yunnanensis var. pubicalyx Jien ex P. Y. Bai; S. yunnanensis f. pubicalyx (Jien ex P. Y. Bai) M. C. Chang.

Shrubs 2-5 m. Branchlets terete or slightly 4-angled, usually glabrous. Petiole 0.5-2 cm, glabrous; leaf blade elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate, to oblanceolate, 2-8(-13) × 1-3.5(-5.5) cm, glabrous or abaxially rarely pubescent along veins, base cuneate or rarely subrounded, apex acute or short acuminate. Panicles erect, terminal, 5-18 × 3-12 cm; rachis and pedicel puberulent or rarely lanose. Pedicel 0.5-1.5 mm. Calyx 1-2.5 mm, glabrous or rarely lanose. Corolla white to lilac-red, 0.7-1.2(-1.7) cm; tube funnelform, 5-8(-13) mm; lobes oblong, spreading. Anthers yellow, usually inserted up to 2 mm from mouth of corolla tube. Capsule oblong, 1.2-1.7 cm, slightly lenticellate. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Sep. 2n = 48.

Plants with glabrous calyces and puberulent inflorescence rachis have been recognized as f. yunnanensis, whereas those with lanate calyces and rachis as f. pubicalyx.

The combination Syringa tomentella subsp. yunnanensis (Franchet) Jin Y. Chen & D. Y. Hong (Novon 18: 316. 2008) was made after publication of the family treatment for the Flora of China.

* Thickets, woods on slopes, gullies; 2000-3900 m. SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan.