Loropetalum lanceum Hand.-Mazz.

Trees, 9–13 m tall; young branches pubescent; buds naked, stellately pubescent. Leaf blade lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 5–8.5 × 2.5–3.5 cm, abaxially glabrescent, adaxially olive, glabrous, base cuneate or obtuse, somewhat asymmetrical, apex caudate-acuminate and ca. 1 cm; lateral veins 5 on each side, abaxially somewhat prominent. Inflorescence a short spike, terminal, mostly on short lateral branches, 4- or 5-flowered; peduncle 0.3–0.5 cm. Flowers nearly sessile. Sepals ovate, 2–2.5 mm. Petals white, 1–1.3 cm. Stamens short, filament as long as anthers, connective produced into a long mucro. Ovary tomentose, styles very short. Fruiting pedicel ca. 1.5 mm; capsules compressed-globose, 12–14 × 10–12 mm, stellately tomentose, hairs yellow-brown, adnate to floral cup for 2/3–3/4 of their length. Seeds ellipsoid, 7–8 mm. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Jun–Aug.

S Guangxi (Shiwan Dashan), Guizhou.

Evergreen forests on mountain slopes; ca. 1000 m.