Stems climbing to 6 m, with broad-based, paired, recurved infrastipular prickles, when young densely pubescent and covered with stiff stipitate glands; stipules lanceolate, adnate only at base; petioles 1 cm or less; lvs evergreen; lfls 5-9, shining above, tomentose beneath, elliptic to obovate, scarcely serrate; fls solitary, subtended by large bracts; sep ovate, long-acuminate, densely tomentose without and at base within; pet white, 2-3 cm; styles connate, exserted; 2n=14. Native of China, cult. in the South and established from Va. and Tenn. to Fla. and Tex.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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