(22) 棱果花 (芭茜)
Barthea barthei (Hance ex Benth.) Krass.
野牡丹科 (Melastomaceae)

英文名 (English name): South China Barthea

中國境內現狀：需予關注 (LC)
Status in China: Least Concern (LC)

形態特徵：常綠灌木，高70-150厘米；小枝略具4棱，幼時被微柔毛。葉對生，橢圓形、近圓形或卵狀披針形，長（3.5-）6-11厘米，寬（1.8-）2.5-5.5厘米，先端漸尖，基部楔形，全緣或具細鋸齒，無毛，背面密被糠秕，具5條基出脈；葉柄長5-15毫米。花白色或粉紅色，通常3朵組成頂生聚傘花序。花萼鐘狀，筒部長約6毫米，具4棱，4裂；裂片三角形，長約3毫米；花瓣4，橢圓形或近倒卵形，長11-18毫米。雄蕊8，其中4枚較長。蒴果長圓形，長約1厘米，頂端截平。

地理分布：扯旗山、大帽山、馬鞍山、烏蛟騰、大嶼山。廣東，廣西，湖南，福建，台灣。

生境與生態：生於山坡和山谷疏林中。花期: 1-4月;果期: 10-12月。

本種首次發現的地點為香港島扯旗山的溝谷。棱果花屬僅此一種，特產中國，具有科學研究價值。此外，本種株形和花色均美麗，為一有開發價值的野生花卉。因生長地點多在郊野公園內而已受到保護。可嘗試採種育苗。

Description: Evergreen shrubs, 70-150 cm high;branches more or less 4-angulate, puberulent when young. Leaves opposite, elliptic to suborbicular or ovate-lanceolate, (3.5-) 6-11 cm long and (1.8-)2.5-5.5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate, margin entire or serrulate, glabrous, furfuraceous on abaxial surface, 5-nerved; petiole 5-15 mm long. Flowers white or pink, in terminal cymes. Calyx campanulate; tube ca. 6 mm, 4-angulate, 4-lobed; lobes triangular, ca. 3 mm. Petals 4, elliptic or subobovate, 11-18 mm. Stamens 8, unequal (4 longer). Capsules oblong, ca. 1 cm long, apex truncate.
　　

Distribution: Victoria Peak, Tai Mo Shan, Ma On Shan, Wu Kau Tang, Lantau. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Taiwan.
　　

Habitat and Ecology: In ravines and on top of mountains. Flowering: Jan.-Apr.; fruiting: Oct.-Dec.
　　

The species was first discovered in ravines on the top of Victoria Peak. As the only member of its genus and being endemic to China, the species is of important scientific interest. The attractive white and pink flowers would make the plant a potential ornamental species. In Hong Kong, most of the localities of its occurrence are in Country Parks under protection. Ex-situ conservation measures could be explored.

參考文獻 (References):
陳介，1984：中國植物誌，53（1）：179，圖版38：9-11。科學出版社，北京。
Bentham, G., 1861: Flora Hongkongensis 115. Reeves, London.