Wikstroemia delavayi Lecomte

The calyx color can be strongly influenced by the environment: the type gathering of Wikstroemia mekongensis was described in the field as having deep purple-crimson flowers, whereas plants propagated in Europe from the same gathering had greenish yellow flowers, tipped with purple in bud.

Shrubs erect, 1-2 m tall, much branched. Young branches pale green, turning purplish or brownish, subterete, glabrous. Leaves opposite, larger toward stem apex; petiole ca. 2 mm; leaf blade pale green adaxially, paler abaxially, lanceolate-obovate, obovate, or oblanceolate, 3-5.5 × 1.6-2.5 cm, both surfaces glabrous, base broadly cuneate, rounded, or slightly cordate, apex rounded, shortly apiculate, or acuminate; lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs, dark, slender, very oblique. Inflorescences terminal, paniculate, 3-4(-12) cm, to 9 cm wide, axes elongating considerably in fruit; peduncle stout, soon glabrous. Pedicel short, ca. 1 mm, articulate. Calyx carmine-purple to yellowish green with purple at apex; tube tubular, 8-10 × ca. 1 mm, exterior scattered puberulous; lobes 4, oblong, (1-)2 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens 8, lower whorl inserted at middle of calyx tube, upper whorl at throat; filaments short; anthers oblong, ca. 1 mm. Disk annular, extended on one side into 1(-3) scale(s), scales obovate, apex 2-lobed. Ovary cylindric-obovoid, 2.5-3 mm, stipitate, apex pubescent; style obscure; stigma capitate. Drupe dry or semidry, cylindric, ca. 4 × 1.2 mm, enclosed by persistent calyx. Fl. and fr. autumn.

Sichuan, Yunnan.

● Valley forests, shrubby or limestone areas; 2000-2700 m.

Daphne delavayi (Lecomte) Halda; D. scytophylla (Diels) Halda subsp. mekongensis (W. W. Smith) Halda; Wikstroemia mekongensis W. W. Smith.