Loropetalum R. Brown ex Reichenbach 1829: 87

Averyanov, Leonid V., Endress, Peter K., Nguyen, Khang Sinh, Thai, Tran Huy, Maisak, Tatiana V., Averyanova, Anna L. & Diep, Le Ngoc, 2018, Loropetalum flavum (Hamamelidaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam, Phytotaxa 385 (2), pp. 94-100 : 95

Loropetalum R. Brown ex Reichenbach 1829: 87 .

Type: — L. chinense (R. Brown) Oliver 1862: 459 .

≡ Hamamelis chinensis R. Brown 1818: 375 .

4 species. NE. India, S. China, N. Vietnam, S. Japan.

Key for species identification

1. Branchlets almost glabrous; at least some leaves in apical half sparsely irregularly dentate; petioles 10–15 mm long; leaf blade at the base rounded or subcordate; sterile bracts of peduncle pectinate, glandular fimbriate; inflorescence 14–25-flowered; sepals 1.5 mm long; petals bidentate at apex; styles about 2 mm long; plant growing 100–200 m a.s.l.................................1. L. subcordatum

–. Branchlets stellately pubescent; all leaves with entire margin; petioles 1.5–6 mm long; leaf blade at the base acute or cuneate; sterile bracts of peduncle entire, without glandular hairs; inflorescence 4–16-flowered; sepals 1.8–3 mm long; petals entire at apex; styles less than 0.5 mm long; plant growing 1000–1250 m a.s.l.......................................................................................................2.

2. Leaves almost glabrous; inflorescence with 4–5 flowers; flowers 4-merous, white.....................................................2. L. lanceum

–. Leaves stellately pubescent; inflorescence with 4–16 flowers; flowers 4–6-merous, white, yellow or red.....................................3.

3. Shrub 1–3 m tall; flowers pedicellate, white or red (rarely pale yellow); peduncle 8–10 mm long; stipules triangular-lanceolate to obovate; leaf blade ovate, 2–6.5 cm long, acute to shortly acuminate, membranaceous, densely pubescent abaxially; inflorescence terminal or axillary ........................................................................................................................................................ 3. L. chinense

–. Tree 5–10 m tall; flowers sessile, yellow; peduncle 2–7 mm long; stipules narrowly lanceolate; leaf blade lanceolate elliptic to narrowly ovate, 5–12 cm long, attenuate, rigid, leathery, sparsely pubescent abaxially; inflorescence axillary..............4. L. flavum