Dysosma pleiantha (Hance) Woodson
Characteristics: Upright herbaceous plant, height 20-40 cm, with creeping subterranean stems, haplocaulous, often with 2 leaves. Leaves are peltate round, 6-8 incised blades, with diameter up to 30 cm. Flowers are dark, purplish red, 5-8 axils produced from 2 leaves, 6 sepals, 6-9 petals. Fruit is juicy, oblong oval and pillar shaped.
Distribution: Central and southeastern China and Taiwan. In Taiwan, it is found in low and medium elevation hills and mountains in the central and northern parts of the island.
Current status: As this is a folk medicinal plant and its leaves are beautiful in color and shape, it is used in landscaping or sold potted. Rarely found in the wild.
Specimen introduction: S. Yano specimen no. 285. Collection site is described as Mt. Chitsshinton (Qixingdun), which is today's Qixing Mountain area of Taipei. Collection date is March 28, 1897. This specimen has only been referred to in the collection databases of LE and TNM.
