Cornus oligophlebia Merr.

Cornus oligophlebia appears to be rare in China, with a restricted distribution in Yunnan and adjacent countries. The species is distinct from the rest of the subgenus by a combination of features including leathery leaves, large, short, spreading paniculate inflorescences, punctiform stigma, sometimes subopposite leaves, autumn flowering and winter fruiting. These features suggest an affinity to C. oblonga. The species thus may represent a relatively old lineage in C. subg. Kraniopsis or may actually be a member of C. subg. Yinquania. Both are restricted to SW China. Phylogenetic analyses will help test these hypotheses.

Trees 6–10 m tall. Young branches green, ± pubescent with brown trichomes; old branches dark brown. Leaves opposite, rarely alternate; petiole 1.1–15 cm; leaf blade light green abaxially, broadly elliptic to ovate, 8–11 × 4–4.5 cm, leathery, abaxially not papillate, sparsely pubescent with white short trichomes or nearly glabrous, veins 3(or 4), small veins conspicuous, base broadly cuneate or rounded, sometimes oblique, margin slightly revolute, apex acuminate. Paniculate cymes 8.5–11 cm wide, branches spreading, glabrous or with gray appressed trichomes. Pedicels 1–2 mm. Flowers white, ca. 9 mm in diam. Calyx lobes broadly triangular, slightly longer than disk. Petals lanceolate or ligulate-oblong, ca. 4 × 1.1–1.3 mm. Stamens shorter or longer than petals; anthers narrowly obovoid. Style cylindrical, ca. 3 mm; stigma flat, punctiform. Fruit purplish black or bluish black, subglobose, 3–4 mm in diam.; stones compressed globose, (2.6–)3–4 mm in diam. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Jan–Mar.

SE Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

Forests; 1200–1500 m.