Caprifolium macranthum D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 140. 1825; Lonicera esquirolii H. Léveillé; L. fulvotomentosa P. S. Hsu & S. C. Cheng; L. guillonii H. Léveillé & Vaniot; L. hirtiflora Champion ex Bentham; L. inodora W. W. Smith; L. macrantha var. calvescens Chun & F. C. How; L. macranthoides Handel-Mazzetti; L. strigosiflora C. Y. Wu ex X. W. Li.

For description see under species complex. Distinguishing characters for this species are as follows: Stems with spreading, yellow-brown long stiff hairs and minute glandular hairs or yellow-brown tomentose. Leaves abaxially hirsute mixed with minute glandular hairs. Ovaries glabrous to sparsely hirsute. Berries white to black. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Jul-Aug.

Forests of mountain valleys or slopes, scrub; 300-1800 m. S Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, ?Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, India, Nepal].