(65) 大葉金牛
Polygala latouchei Franch.
遠志科 (Polygalaceae)
Status in China: Endangered (EN)
Description: Subshrubs. Stem 10-20 cm tall, pubescent. Leaves conferted on the upper part of stem and branches; petiole 5-7 mm long; leaf blade obovate- or elliptic-lanceolate, 3.5-8 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm wide, apex acute, base obtuse or subrounded, adaxial surface covered with brown minute stiff hairs, abaxial surface pink or dark purple, glabrous. Racemes terminal or axillary. Flowers zygomorphous. Sepals 5, deciduous after anthesis. Petals 3, pink to purple, ca. 8 mm long, the lateral 2 elliptic, ca. 3/4 connate with the keel, which with cristate appendages at apex. Stamens 8. Ovary obovoid, with narrow wings. Capsule subglobose, ca. 4 mm in diameter, winged.
Distribution: Pat Sin Leng. Guangdong, Guangxi, S Jiangxi and Fujian.
Habitat and Ecology: On wet places under forest and on rocks by streams. Flowering: Mar.-Apr.; fruiting: Apr.-May.
The plant is used as a precious folk-medicine. Outside Hong Kong, the species could be threatened by over-collections for herbal use and habitat destruction. In Hong Kong, the localities of its occurrence are in Country Parks under protection.
References:
陳書坤，
1997: 中國植物誌
43（3）：164，圖版
37：1-9。科學出版社，北京。