Cephalotaxus fortunei var. alpina

Cephalotaxus fortunei var. alpina was first described in 1953 by Hui Lin Li (1911–2002).

It differs from the typical variety, C. fortunei var. fortunei in the following ways:

Pollen cones. In C. fortunei var. fortunei they are distinctly pedunculate with peduncle 0.08 to 0.2 inch (2 -5 mm) long. In C. fortunei var. alpina, they are sessile or subsessile with a nonexistent to 0.08 inch (0 - 2 mm) peduncle.

Leaves. In C. fortunei var. fortunei, leaves are 0.14 to 0.2 inch (3.5 - 5 mm) wide. In C. fortunei var. alpina, they are narrower 0.06 to 0.13 inch (1.5 - 3.2 mm) wide.

Arils. In C. fortunei var. fortunei, arils have numerous indistinct striations. In C. fortunei var. alpina, they have prominent longitudinal ridges.

Distribution. This variety is confined to the Chinese mountains of Kham — western Sichuan and northwestern Yunnan)