Rodgersia pinnata Franch.

Herbs 25-150 cm tall. Stems glabrous. Leaves subpinnately compound; petiole 3.5-32.5 cm, base brown long pilose. Basal and proximal cauline leaves usually with 6-9 leaflets, among which terminal ones 3-5, verticillate ones 3 or 4; distal cauline leaves with 3 leaflets; leaflets elliptic or oblong to narrowly obovate, 6.5-32 × 2.7-12.5 cm, abaxially brown pilose along veins, adaxially glabrous or strigose, base gradually narrowed, margin doubly serrate, apex acuminate. Pleiochasium paniculate, 12-31 cm, many flowered; branches 3.5-22 cm, paleaceous hairy, sometimes also shortly glandular hairy; pedicels 1.5-3.5 mm. Sepals 5, subovate, 2-2.7 × ca. 2 mm, leathery, abaxially tawny pilose and subsessile glandular hairy, adaxially sparsely subsessile glandular hairy near base, veins 3, arcuate, confluent at apex, apex shortly acuminate. Petals absent. Stamens 10, 2.8-4 mm. Carpels 2, ca. 3 mm, connate at base; ovary subsuperior; styles 2. Capsule purple, ca. 7 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug. 2n = 60*, ca. 75*.

Guizhou, E and S Sichuan, Yunnan.

* Forests, forest margins, scrub, shaded grassy slopes, alpine meadows, rock clefts; 2000-3800 m.