Coptis quinquesecta W. T. Wang

Petiole 13--25 cm, glabrous; leaf blade ovate, 7--15.5 × 5.5--14 cm, 5-sect, subleathery, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely puberulous on veins, base cordate; lateral segments similar to central one but smaller, unequally 2-lobed or parted; central segment petiolulate, rhombic-lanceolate, 5.5--14 cm, pinnately divided; segments 4 pairs, margin acute serrate, apex attenuate. Scapes 23--28 cm tall, glabrous. Inflorescences ca. 6-flowered; bracts oblong to lanceolate, 3-lobed or acutely serrate. Flowers unknown. Follicles 3--6 mm, stipe nearly as long as follicle. Fr. May.

SE Yunnan (Jinping Xian).

* Dense forests; 1700--2500 m.

Coptis quinquesecta is a species of goldthread native to Jinping County, Yunnan, China and locally in northern Vietnam. China has it as a national key thread species in order to conserve it. Its chloroplasts have 79 protein coding genes, 30 RNA transferring genes, as well as four ribosomal RNA genes adding up to a total of 113 genes.

Coptis quinquesecta is used as a medicinal herb in folk medicine. It contains berberine and coptisine, which purportedly treats bacterial infections, the effects of diabetes, and high blood pressure.