Pergularia japonica Thunberg, Fl. Jap. 1: 11. 1784; Metaplexis chinensis Decaisne; M. stauntonii Schultes; Urostelma chinensis Bunge.

Lianas to 8 m. Young stems densely pubescent, glabrescent. Petiole 3-6 cm; leaf blade deep green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, ovate-cordate, basal lobes rounded, re-curved and sometimes overlapping, sinus 1-2 cm deep and often very narrow, glabrous or puberulent when young; lateral veins 10-12 pairs. Inflorescences usually 13-20-flowered; peduncle 6-12 cm; bracteoles membranous, lan-ceolate, ca. 3 mm. Pedicel ca. 8 mm, puberulent. Flower buds conical, apex acute. Sepals lanceolate, 5-7 × ca. 2 mm, pu-berulent. Corolla white, sometimes with purplish stripes; tube short; lobes lanceolate, slightly longer than sepals, spreading, reflexed at apex, conspicuously pilose inside. Stigma head conspicuously exserted, long and slender with 2-fid apex. Follicles fusiform, 8-9 × ca. 2 cm, smooth, gla-brous. Seeds ca. 5 × 3 mm, flat, margin membranous; coma silky white, ca. 1.5 cm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Sep-Dec. 2n = 22, 24*.

The stems and roots are used as medicine for traumatic injury, snake bites, impotence, and infantile malnutrition due to intestinal parasites.

Thickets, forest edges, stream banks. Throughout China except for Hainan and Xinjiang [Japan, Korea, adjacent Russia]