Leptopus cordifolius - Heart-Leaf Maiden-Bush

Heart-Leaf Maiden-Bush is a small shrub, 1-1.5 m, occasionally up to 2.5 m tall. Leaf-stalks are 0.5-2.5 cm. Leaves are triangular-ovate to elliptic-ovate, 2-5 x 1-2 cm, rounded to notched at the tip, flat or shallowly heart-shaped at the base. Leaves are thinly membranous, lateral nerves 3-8 pairs, medium green above, paler beneath. Male flowers are borne in pairs or in few-flowered fascicles, on slender stalks 0.5-1 cm long. Sepals are elliptic-obovate, 2.5-3 mm long, fused at the base, pale greenish-yellow. Petals are obovate-spoon-shaped, 2 mm long, rounded or notched, yellow. Stamens are fused at base, filaments about 1 mm long. Female flowers occur singly, or sometimes accompanied by a male flower in the same axil. Flower-stalks are 3-4 cm long, slender. Sepals are nearly circular to ovate, 2 x 1.5 mm, enlarging to 3-4 x 2.5 in fruit, fused at the base, 3-5-ribbed. Petals are minute, disc annular, 2-3 mm diameter. Fruits are roundly trilobate, 3-5 mm long, 6-7 mm diameter, smooth. Heart-Leaf Maiden-Bush is found in the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Nepal, Tibet, Burma and S. China, at altitudes of 1200-2100 m. Flowering: June-October.