TETRACTINUM Fröderström, 1931

Distribution : China (Anhui, Guangdong, Guizhou, Jiangxi); among rocks near streams, 500 - 1000 m.

Description (according to IHSP, 2003) :

Perennial herbs.

Leaves altemate or in whorls of 3, ovate to orbicular, rounded, mamillate at the tip, long petiolate, 15 - 25 mm.

Flowering branches erect, stout, usually solitary, 9 - 15 cm.

Inflorescences lax corymbs, long pedunculate, bracts orbicular or broader than long, shortly petiolate, mamillate in the upper part, 4 - 5 mm.

Flowers 4-merous, (sub-) sessile, sepals broadly sessile, triangular, subacute, ± 0.5 mm, petals free, lanceolate to oblong, 3.5 - 5 mm.

Merely differing from S. triactina by its 4-merous flowers and broader leaves and bracts.

A cultivar with dark red leaves is called S. tetractinum 'Coral Reef'.