An evergreen shrub up to 4 or 5 ft high, with gracefully arching branches; devoid of down in all its parts; young shoots yellowish; spines three-parted, up to 5⁄8 in. long. Leaves in clusters of usually three to five, linear-oblong, made apparently narrower by the strongly recurved margins; spine-tipped and with a few teeth; 1 to 2 in. long; leathery, dark dull green above, whitish beneath. Flowers in clusters of three to ten, bright yellow, 1⁄4 in. wide, each on its slender stalk 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 in. long. Fruit oblong, 3⁄8 in. long, red, finally purple-black. Bot. Mag., t. 9076.
Native of S.W. Yunnan, China, in the valley of the Shweli river; discovered and introduced in 1917 by Forrest. This is a very pleasing evergreen in habit, in flower, and in fruit, easily recognised by its narrow leaves with recurved margins and whitish beneath – characters which distinguish it from its nearest ally, B. sanguinea. It appears to be quite hardy. The flowering season seems to be variable; the normal time apparently is April and May, but in a very mild winter and early spring it may bloom as soon as February.
B. taliensis Schneid. – A dense evergreen shrub growing slowly to about 3 ft high. Leaves narrow, dark shining green; flowers greenish yellow in clusters of two to five. Fruits to 1⁄2 in. long, glaucous blue. It is closely allied to the preceding and was also introduced by Forrest.