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)
