Elatostema balansae Gagnep.

Herbs perennial, dioecious, 20-40(-80) cm tall. Stems ascending or erect, simple or branched, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves alternate; nanophylls absent; stipules lanceolate, 5-14 × 3-4 mm, strigillose, without cystoliths; petiole 0-2 mm; leaf blade obliquely elliptic to oblong, 6-17 × 3-6 cm, herbaceous, major basal lateral veins both arising at base of leaf blade or 1 arising above base, abaxial surface sparsely puberulent or glabrous, adaxial surface sparsely strigillose, cystoliths conspicuous, dense; base with broader half broadly cuneate or rounded, margin dentate, apex cuspidate or acuminate. Male inflorescences solitary, simple, 8-9 × 4-7 mm; peduncle 1-2 mm; receptacle 6-7 mm in diam.; bracts connate, 2.5-3 mm; bracteoles linear. Female inflorescences solitary or in pairs, 5-10 mm in diam.; peduncle 0-2 mm; receptacle 3-9 mm in diam.; bracts triangular; bracteoles spatulate-linear. Achenes ellipsoid, 8-ribbed. Fl. Apr-Jun.

N Guangdong, NW Guangxi, S Guizhou, NW Hunan, SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, SE Yunnan [Malaysia, Thailand, N Vietnam].

Valley forests, shaded wet places along streamsides; 300-2400 m.

Elatostema platyphyllum var. balansae (Gagnepain) Yahara.

Elatostema balansae là loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Tầm ma. Loài này được Gagnep. mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1929.

华南楼梯草（学名：Elatostema balansae）是荨麻科楼梯草属的植物。分布在泰国、越南以及中国大陆的湖南、广东、广西、四川、西藏、贵州、云南等地，生长于海拔300米至2,100米的地区，一般生长在山谷林中和沟边阴湿地，目前尚未由人工引种栽培。