Pollia miranda (H. Lév.) H. Hara

Pollia miranda has been misidentified by many authors as P. zollingeri (Hasskarl) C. B. Clarke (from Indonesia), to which it is similar in habit. However, P. zollingeri has only 3 fertile stamens and 3 smaller staminodes.

Herbs perennial. Stems ascending, 20--50 cm × less than 3 mm, glabrous or subglabrous. Leaves with petiole nearly absent or to 1.5 cm; leaf sheath 1--2 cm, puberulent; leaf blade elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 5--15 × ca. 2.5 cm, granulate-scabrous adaxially, sparsely hispidulous or glabrous abaxially. Inflorescence nearly as long as distal leaves; peduncle 2--6 cm, hirsutulous; cincinni 2 to several, 1--3.5 cm, alternate, not in whorls, hirsutulous; proximal involucral bracts 5--8 mm, distal ones much smaller, sheathlike and enveloping cincinnus axis, hirsutulous; bracts membranous; pedicels short, ca. 4 mm in fruit. Sepals ovate-orbicular, boat-shaped, ca. 2.5 mm, glabrous, persistent. Petals white, pink spotted, ovate-orbicular, ca. 4 mm. Stamens 6, all fertile. Fruit globose, ca. 5 mm in diam. Fl. Jun--Aug.

Guangxi, EC and S Guizhou, Sichuan, Taiwan, SE Yunnan (Malipo Xian, Xichou Xian) [Japan].

Ravine forests; near sea level to 1600 m.

Tovaria miranda H. Léveillé, Mem. Pontif. Accad. Romana Nuovi Lincei 23: 361. 1905; Pollia japonica Thunberg var. minor (Honda) E. H. Walker; P. japonica var. miranda (H. Léveillé) Kitamura; P. minor Honda; P. omeiensis D. Y. Hong.