Laportea fujianensis C. J. Chen

This species superficially resembles the widespread and rather weedy Laportea aestuans, but lacks the glandular hairs characteristic of that species, has smaller stipules, cystoliths arranged along the veins abaxially, and much shorter inflorescences.

Herbs annual, monoecious. Stems often purplish basally, straight, 20-60 cm tall, upper stem not zigzagged, simple or few branched; upper stems and petioles densely armed with short stinging hairs. Stipules deeply 2-cleft, lobes nearly subulate, ca. 2.5 mm, setulose along rib abaxially; petiole 2-7 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate or subcordate, 3.5-7.5 × 2-6 cm, submembranous, 3-veined, lateral basal pair reaching middle margin, lateral veins 4 or 5 each side of midvein, reaching teeth, abaxial surface with dense, short, stinging hairs on veins, adaxial surface with appressed stinging hairs, base abruptly cuneate, truncate, or cordate, margin denticulate, apex acuminate; cystoliths botuliform, regularly arranged abaxially along veins. Male inflorescences in distal axils, paniculate, 1-2 cm; female inflorescences in proximal axils, 2-5 cm, peduncle 0.1-2.5 cm, densely armed with short stinging hairs. Male flowers pedicellate, in bud ca. 1 mm; perianth lobes (4 or)5(or 6), connate at base, obovate, puberulent, apex corniculate; stamens (4 or)5(or 6); rudimentary ovary obovoid, 0.4 mm. Female flowers pedicel slender, to 2-3 mm, not winged; perianth lobes 4, free, unequal, dorsal lobe far from lateral one, concave, ca. 0.2 mm, 2 lateral lobes largest, enclosing the ovary, broadly ovate, ca. 0.4 mm, ventral lobe smallest, narrowly ovate, ca. 1.5 mm. Ovary asymmetrically triangular-ovoid; stigma reflexed, ligulate, ca. 2 mm. Achene obliquely triangular-obovoid, slightly compressed, ca. 0.8 mm in diam., with triangular ridge enclosing a warty depression; persistent lateral perianth lobes forming a small basal cup. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

S Fujian (Nanjing).

* Disturbed, moist places in forests, streams; ca. 300 m.