34. Bupleurum hamiltonii N. P. Balakrishnan, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 63: 328. 1967.
小柴胡 xiao chai hu
Herbs 10–100 cm, annual, or short-lived perennial. Root grayish-yellow, thin, woody, branched. Stem tinged purple, much branched throughout, branches slender, ascending, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate or linear, 3–8 × 0.4–0.8 cm, 7–9-nerved, base slightly narrow, sometimes punctate with oil glands along veins and margin. Inflorescence profusely branched, umbels numerous, small, 1–2 cm across, lax; bracts 2–4, lanceolate or elliptic, 3–6 × 1–2 mm, unequal, 5–7-nerved; rays 2–5(–7), 0.5–2 cm, unequal, very slender; bracteoles 5, lanceolate or elliptic, 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm, equal, 3-nerved, apex apiculate, equaling or slightly longer than flowers; umbellules 1–1.3 mm across, 5–11-flowered; pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm. Petals yellow-green, suborbicular, midvein dark. Stylopodium low-conic, dark yellow. Fruit broad-ovoid or ellipsoid, brown, 2–2.5 × ca. 1.5 mm; ribs pale yellow, prominent; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Sep–Oct.
Forest margins, mountain slopes, grasslands, sunny slopes, shady wet places, dry stony areas; 600–2900 m. Hubei, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, S Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].
All three varieties have reputed medicinal value.