Epimedium acuminatum

Epimedium acuminatum Franch.

Epimedium acuminatum, a member of the Berberidaceae family, is native to south-central and southeast China. It is a herbaceous plant with basal and cauline leaves that are typically trifoliolate or occasionally unifoliolate. The species has leathery leaves with spinous-serrate margins and compound inflorescences bearing yellow, rose-purple, pale violet, or white flowers. It has been recognized with the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Description

Epimedium acuminatum is a herb growing 25–80 cm tall, with a compact or long-creeping rhizome. Leaves are basal and cauline, usually trifoliolate, with narrowly ovate to lanceolate leaflets. Unifoliolate leaves are ovate or broadly ovate. The plant has leathery, spinous-serrate leaves with deep green, glossy upper surfaces and glaucous, papillose lower surfaces. The flowering stem typically bears two opposite trifoliolate leaves and has a loose, compound inflorescence with 2–5 flowers per peduncle. Flowers are 3–5 cm in diameter, with inner sepals ovate-elliptic and petals longer than the sepals, often horn-shaped. The species is native to south-central and southeast China.