Japan Flora: Japanese name: Ō-BENI-UTSUGI.

Shrub with the young branches glabrous or with 2 longitudinal lines of short hairs; leaves ovate-oblong or obovate, 4-10 cm. long, 2-4 cm. wide, acuminate, toothed, glabrous above, densely pubescent on nerves beneath, the petioles 1-3 mm. long; flow- ers solitary in leaf-axils; calyx-tube glabrous or with scattered coarse hairs, the lobes 8-12 mm. long, lanceolate, acuminate, pilose; corolla 3-4 cm. long, soft-puberulent externally, red- dish; style as long as the corolla; capsules 15-22 mm. long.-

Kyushu. Korea, n. China, and Manchuria.

Korea Flora: Deciduous shrub and up to 2-3m high. terminal bud 1, broad-ovate with a pointed tip and 6-10 scales. lateral buds opposite and shorter than terminal buds, 4-5mm long. young branches with two rows of hairs. Leaf scar short T-shape or a triangle, vascular bundles 3. Leaves opposite, elliptical, or oval with a pointed tip, 4-10cm × 2-4cm. glabrous above, densely white pubescent on nerved beneath and serrated edges. petiole 1-3mm long. flowers arranged singly in the axils of the leaves. calyx five lobes and 6-13mm long and split almost to the middle. corolla 3-4cm long, reddish, gradually narrowing below the center with fine hairs. Flower petals are slightly bent backwards, and hairs in the ovary. Fruit capsules, 12-20mm long.

Flowering season: late April to mid-May (mid to late June in subalpine region of Gangwon-do)

Fruiting season: mid-September to mid-October

Distribution: Mt. Koshozan in Kyushu, Japan; Distributed throughout the country,

Ecological characteristics: It grows very fast in its early stages, and mainly grows near mountain tops.

Taxonomic notes: W. praecox (Lemoine) L.H. Bailey refers to plants with thick leaves and a hairy leaf surface that are primarily distributed in the north, including Hamgyeong and Pyeongan provinces. However, it is considered a variation of the northern distribution of W. florida. Although it is generally known to bloom early, there are no documented reports on exactly how early it blooms. In reality, the flowering period of the W. florida varies significantly among individuals and regions, making it difficult to consider early flowering as a characteristic of the species. W. toensis Nakai has been described as having hairy leaves and a different type of hairy flower receptacle that runs all the way to the tip when compared to W. florida. However, this is considered a variation of W. florida. Similarly, W. praecox var. pilosa Nakai and other forms listed under W. florida are all considered to be variations of W. florida.