CUCURBITACEAE [Draft: 8 Feb 2007]

葫芦科  hu lu ke

Lu Anmin (路安民 Lu An-ming)[1], Huang Luqi (黄璐琪)[2], Chen Shukun (陈书坤)[3]; Charles Jeffrey[4]

Herbs or weakly woody shrubs with watery sap, scandent or prostrate, annual or perennial. Roots fibrous or tuberous. Stem often angular. Leaves alternate, undivided or variously palmately or pedately divided, often cordate; tendrils lateral, solitary, simple or branched, spirally twisted, rarely absent; stipules absent. Flowers unisexual, very rarely bisexual, monoecious or dioecious, paniculate, racemose or subumbellate, rarely solitary. Calyx-tube (hypanthium) adnate to the ovary; tube rotate, campanulate or saucer-shaped, usually 5-lobed, lobes imbricate, corolla usually sympetalous, inserted on the calyx-tube, lobes valvate or involute. Stamens inserted at the base or mouth of calyx-tube, usually 5 or 3, of which one often 1-locular and the other 2-locular; filaments separate or variously united into a column; anthers separate or coherent into a head, locules straight to conduplicate, extrorse; rudimentary ovary often present in the male, staminodes often in the female flowers. Ovary inferior or nearly completely so, mostly composed of 3 carpels, 3-locular, rarely 1-2 or spuriously 4–6-locular; placentas parietal, fleshy, often confluent in the middle of the ovary; style terminal, simple or branched at the apex or styles free; stigma enlarged or 2-fid; ovules usually numerous, rarely few or solitary, horizontal, pendulous or ascending, often immersed in pulp. Fruit usually a fleshy berry or corky, indehiscent or rarely opening by valves or by an operculum, rarely fibrous. Seeds often numerous, rarely few or solitary, horizontal, pendulous or ascending, often compressed, rarely winged; endosperm absent; embryo with foliaceous cotyledons and short radicle.

About 123 genera and over 800 species, most in tropics and subtropics, very rare in temperate regions. 36 genera, 150 species, 9 subspecies and 47 varieties in China, mainly in southwestern and southern China, very rare in northern China.

Lu An-ming & Chen Shu-kun, eds. 1986. Cucurbitaceae. Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 73(1): 84–280.

1a.       Petals not fimbriate.

2a.       Stamens 5, anther-locule ovate and straight.

3a.       Leaves simple.

4a.       Flowers with corolla lobes less than 10 mm long; fruit dehiscent, operculate or 3-valved.

5a.       Leaf blade divided; fruit 1–3.5 cm long, operculate; seed not winged or with membranous wing at the apex.

6a.       Flowers monoecious; leaf blade cordate-hastate, eglandular at the base; fruit operculate, dehiscent near middle; seeds not winged .........................................................  7. Actinostemma

6b.       Flowers dioecious; leaf blade with 1–2 pairs of glands at the base; fruit operculate, dehiscent near apex; seeds with membranous wing at the apex
.........................................................................................................  6. Bolbostemma

5b.       Leaf blade entire; fruit 6–10 cm long, truncate at the apex, 3-valved; seeds surrounded by a membranous wing .......................................................................................  5. Zanonia

4b.       Flowers with corolla lobes ca. 2 cm long or if smaller then calyx longer than corolla; fruit baccate, indehiscent; seed not winged.

7a.       Flowers with calyx longer than corolla; anthers reniform, fruit more than 10 cm long  8. Indofevillea

7b.       Flowers with corolla longer than calyx; anthers oblong; fruit less than 10 cm long.

8a.       Plants without glandular scales.

9a.       Tendrils spiraling only above the point of branching; anther-locules straight  11. Thladiantha

9b.       Tendrils spiraling also below the point of branching, anther-locules reniform-curved  10. Sinobaijiania

8b.       Plants with black glandular scales ................................................................  9. Siraitia

3b.       Leaves palmately compound, rarely simple.

10a.     Plants woody, scandent; leaflets almost entire, with 2 glands at the base; seeds with membranous wing at the apex ................................................................................................  4. Neoalsomitra

10b.     Plants herbaceous, scandent; leaflets distinctly denticulate, eglandular at the base; seeds without wing or rarely winged.

11a.     Fruits 3-valved, dehiscent at the apex or rarely not dehiscent but then smaller in size; seeds pendulous.

12a.     Corolla-lobes more than 5 mm long; fruits clavate-cylindric, obovate or globose; seeds more than 6 in each fruit ................................................................................................  1. Hemsleya

12b.     Corolla-lobes less than 3 mm long; fruits turbinate or globose, 1–3-seeded.

13a.     Flowers monoecious; fruits turbinate, 3-valved, dehiscent at the apex
.......................................................................................................  2. Gomphogyne

13b.     Flowers dioecious; fruits globose, indehiscent ..................................  3. Gynostemma

11b.     Fruits indehiscent; seeds horizontal ......................................................  11. Thladiantha

2b.       Stamens 3 or 1, anther-locules horizontal when only one stamen, or rarely 5 but then anther-locules conduplicate.

14a.     Stamens 3, or rarely 5 but then anther-locules conduplicate; leaves not pedately compound.

15a.     Flowers less than 10 mm in diam.

16a.     Flowers usually monoecious, rarely dioecious; fruits indehiscent; seeds often horizontal.

17a.     Male flowers with globose or subuliform pistillode; anther-locules straight, curved or conduplicate.

18a.     Anther-locules straight.

19a.     Male flowers in pedunculate cymes, racemes or umbels, or solitary; ovary glabrous or with fine hairs.

20a.     Filaments as long as or longer than the anthers, 1 mm or more long.

21a.     Corolla yellow; filaments and staminodes glabrous except at very base; seeds scrobiculate                                                                                                    29. Scopellaria

21b.     Corolla white or pale yellow; filaments and staminodes hairy above the base; seeds smooth                                                                                                        25. Zehneria

20b.     Filaments shorter than the anthers, 0.5–1 mm long.

22a.     Anther connective not produced beyond the thecae; stigmas glabrous, apically shortly 2-lobed; fruit black when ripe ....................................................................  24. Melothria

22b.     Anther connective usually shortly produced beyond the thecae; stigmas papillose, rounded; fruit white or red when ripe
                                                                                            28. Neoachmandra

19b.     Male flowers in sessile or subsessile fascicles; ovary hispid .....................  27. Mukia

18b.     Anther-locules incurved or reflexed .........................................................  34. Solena

17b.     Male flowers without pistillode; anther-locules conduplicate, male and female flowers fasciculate in leaf axil ..............................................................................................  30. Diplocyclos

16b.     Flowers dioecious or rarely bisexual; fruits 3-valved from the apex to base when mature; seeds 1–3, pendulous ...........................................................................................  14. Schizopepon

15b.     Flowers more than 10 mm in diam.

23a.     Anther-locules straight; calyx tube narrowly funnelform ...............................  17. Edgaria

23b.     Anther-locules conduplicate.

24a.     Tendrils absent ....................................................................................  13. Ecballium

24b.     Tendrils present.

25a.     Corolla rotate or rarely campanulate but then lobes almost free.

26a.     Calyx rotate.

27a.     Flowers with foliaceous bract on pedicel; fruits usually muriculate, often 3-valved when mature ...................................................................................................  12. Momordica

27b.     Flowers without bract on pedicel.

28a.     Male inflorescence racemose or subumbellate.

29a.     Annual herbs; fruits many-seeded .....................................................  18. Luffa

29b.     Perennial climber; fruits one-seeded; seed large ...........................  23. Sechium

28b.     Flowers solitary or fascicled.

30a.     Sepals subfoliaceous, dentate, reflexed .....................................  35. Benincasa

30b.     Sepals subulate, entire, not reflexed.

31a.     Tendril 2–3-fid; connective not produced .................................  33. Citrullus

31b.     Tendril simple; connective produced beyond the anther locules
                                                                                                  26. Cucumis

26b.     Calyx-tube in male flower elongate, tubular or funnelform.

32a.     Flowers yellow; leaf blade eglandular at the base.

33a.     Corolla campanulate; leaf blade over 10 cm long.

34a.     Leaf blade deeply lobed; seeds many, horizontal ........................  15. Biswarea

34b.     Leaf blade undivided; seeds few, pendulous ..................  16. Herpetospermum

33b.     Corolla rotate; lamina less than 10 cm long .........................  19. Gymnopetalum

32b.     Flowers white; petiole apex 2-glandular ........................................  32. Lagenaria

25b.     Corolla campanulate.

35a.     Leaf blade hirsute, eglandular at the base; flowers yellow; fruit large
                                                                                                          36. Cucurbita

35b.     Leaf blade glabrous, with a few glands at the base; flowers white; fruit ca. 5 cm long  31. Coccinia

14b.     Stamens united into a central column and pollen sac fusing into ring; leaf blade pedatipartite  22. Cyclanthera

1b.       Petals fimbriate at their margins.

36a.     Ovules and seeds numerous; calyx tube less than 7 cm long ......................  21. Trichosanthes

36b.     Ovules 12, seeds usually 6, each with one abortive seed attached to its side; calyx tube 7–10 cm long  20. Hodgsonia

1. HEMSLEYA Cogniaux ex Forbes & Hemsley, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 23: 490. 1888.

雪胆属  xue dan shu

Lu Anmin (路安民 Lu An-ming); Charles Jeffrey

Perennial scandent herbs. Roots enlarged, oblate or rarely cylindric. Stem and branches slender or moderately robust. Tendrils filiform, 2-fid. Leaves pedately (3–)5–9(–11)-foliolate; leaflets narrowly oblong-lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, membranous or papery. Flowers dioecious. Inflorescence cymose-racemose to paniculate, axillary. Male flowers: calyx-tube short, segments ovate to ovate-lanceolate, ascending, spreading, rotate, recurved or reflexed; corolla rotate, discoid, turbinate, bowl-shaped, inverted bowl-shaped, Chinese lantern-like, umbelliform, pale yellow, yellow-green or orange-red, segments herbaceous or subsucculent, ovate-lanceolate to broadly ovoid; stamens 5, filaments exserted. Female flowers: calyx and corolla usually as in the male, sometimes slightly larger; ovary subglobose or conical, smooth or muriculate, styles 3, stigmas 2-lobed. Fruit globose, cylindric or tubular-cylindric, longitudinally 9–10-striate or 9–10-angular, almost smooth or verrucose. Seeds elliptic or broadly ovate, usually with woody wings, sometimes wings membranous or absent.

About 24 species, subtropical or tropical in Asia, all in China, mainly in SW and S China.

1a.       Roots without tuber; seeds with broadly membranous wing ..........................  1. H. graciliflora

1b.       Roots with tuber; seeds without wing or with thin woody wing.

2a.       Infructescence larger; fruit walls thin; corolla 5–7 cm in diam. .........................  2. H. delavayi

2b.       Infructescence with 1–3-fruits; fruit walls thick; seeds with or without wing; corolla-segments spreading or reflexed to involute; corolla 8–15 mm in diam.

3a.       Corolla-segments spreading explanate or ascending, bowl-shaped or rotate.

4a.       Seeds convexo-convex, almost without wing, margin slightly broad, 1–1.3(–2) cm; fruit conical to terete-elliptic.

5a.       Corolla 10–13 cm, green or pale green, segments strap-shaped; fruit conical or terete-conical.

6a.       Corolla segments ascending, flower-buds apex obtuse ....................  3. H. macrocarpa

6b.       Corolla segments spreading or reflexed; flower-buds apex acute ............  4. H. mitrata

5b.       Corolla 15–20 cm, yellow-green, segments broadly ovate ....................  5. H. panlongqi

4b.       Seeds square, glandular or convexo-convex, margin narrower, less than 1 cm in diam.; fruits globose, long-elliptic or long-conical.

7a.       Seeds square, with thin corky wing; fruit long-elliptic to long-conical
                                                                                                              6. H. dipterygia

7b.       Seeds convexo-convex [=??], without wing; fruit globose or conical.

8a.       Seeds ovate-globose, corolla rotate.

9a.       Fruit globose, pedicel with an articulation ...........................................  7. H. amabilis

9b.       Fruit conical or cylindric, pedicel without an articulation.

10a.     Fruit apex with distinct style; corolla-segments lanceolate
                                                                                                 8. H. heterosperma

10b.     Fruit apex without distinct style; corolla-segments ovate-rounded
                                                                                                     9. H. lijiangensis

8b.       Seeds convexo-convex [=??]; corolla bowl-shaped ...................  10. H. sphaerocarpa

3b.       Corolla-segments reflexed or revolute, corolla umbelliform or sparsely globose.

11a.     Seed margin smooth; corolla pale yellow or yellow-green.

12a.     Fruit globose or subglobose,.

13a.     Corolla umbelliform, 10–12 cm in diam.; fruit-pedicel with an articulation  11. H. panacis-scandens

13b.     Corolla Chinese lantern-like or bowl-shaped, ca. 3 mm in diam.

14a.     Corolla Chinese lantern-like; fruit smaller, 2–2.5 cm in diam.
......................................................................................................  12. H. omeiensis

14b.     Corolla bowl-shaped; fruit larger, 3–3.5 cm in diam. ...............  13. H. pengxianensis

12b.     Fruit conical, elliptic to claviform-elliptic.

15a.     Fruit conical to elliptic, 3.5–5 cm long.

16a.     Corolla Chinese lantern-like, segments thinner.

17a.     Fruit conical, base cuneate; corolla-segments 14–17 mm long
                                                                                                      14. H. turbinata

17b.     Fruit elliptic; base obtuse; corolla-segments 10–15 mm long
                                                                                                    15. H. ellipsoidea

16b.     Corolla bowl-shaped; segments carnose, 8–9 mm long; fruit elliptic to ovoid  16. H. carnosiflora

15b.     Fruit elliptic or claviform, over 7 cm.

18a.     Fruit claviform-long-elliptic, distinctly longitudinally costate, 7–8 cm long, pedicel with indistinct articulation ................................................................................  17. H. chengyihana

18b.     Fruit broadly elliptic to long-elliptic, costae obscure, (6–)11–17 cm long, pedicel with distinct articulation ...............................................................................  18. H. zhejiangensis

11b.     Seeds margin narrower, corolla red-brown or pale red-brown, base often dark red-brown.

19a.     Leaflets 5–9.

20a.     Corolla Chinese lantern-like.

21a.     Fruit elliptic; corolla 10–15 mm in diam. ..........................................  19. H. chinensis

21b.     Fruit ovoid to rounded-globose; corolla 20–25 mm in diam. ............  20. H. gigantha

20b.     Corolla bowl-shaped (H. dulongjiangensis corolla unknown).

22a.     Fruit elliptic, 5–8 cm; seed margin erose .......................................  21. H. longicarpa

22b.     Fruit ovoid to globose, 3–4 cm.

23a.     Seed margin smooth; fruiting pedicel with an articulation; leaflets 5–7, elliptic-lanceolate    22. H. macrosperma

23b.     Seeds margin erose; fruiting pedicel without an articulation; leaflets 3–5, rhombic  23. H. dulongjiangensis

19b.     Leaflets 9–11, corolla bowl-shaped, 8–10 mm in diam. .................  24. H. endecaphylla

1. Hemsleya graciliflora (Harms) Cogniaux, Engl., Pflanzenr. 66(IV. 275. 1): 24. f. 7A–H. 1916.

马铜铃  ma tun ling

Alsomitra graciliflora Harms, Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 29: 602. 1901; Hemsleya longgangensis X. X. Chen & D. R. Liang.

Perennial plants. Root fibrous, tuber absent. Leaves pedately 7-foliolate, petiole 1.8–3 cm; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, 5–10 Χ 2–3.5 cm; petiolule 4–7 mm. Inflorescence largely cymose; peduncle 5–20 cm, densely pubescent. Male flowers: pedicel filiform, 1–2 mm; calyx-segments triangular, 2 Χ 1 mm, spreading; corolla rotate, yellowish to pale yellow-green, 5–6 mm, spreading, segments obovate, thinly membranous, 3–4 Χ 2 mm; stamens 5, filaments short, ca. 1 mm. Female flowers: calyx and corolla as in the male; ovary narrowly cylindric, base attenuate. Fruit conical, 2.5–3.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam., fruit-pedicel curved, 5–6 mm. Seeds oblong, 12–14 Χ 5–6 mm, compressed, with membranous wing, wing 3–4 mm long at both ends of seed, seed-body obovate. Fl. Jun–Sep, fr. Aug–Nov. 2n = 28.

* Mountain slopes; 500–2400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.

Fruits used as a medicine.

2. Hemsleya delavayi (Gagnepain) C. Jeffrey ex C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 134. 1985.

短柄雪胆  duan bing xue dan

Gomphogyne delavayi Gagnepain, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 24: 373. 1918; Hemsleya brevipetiolata Handel-Mazzetti.

Tuber oblate to conical. Stem and branchlets slender. Tendrils glabrous, 2-fid. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 2–5 mm; leaflets lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, median 3–10 Χ 8–15 mm, petiolule 2–3 mm long. Flowers dioecious. Inflorescence dichotomous, to 30 cm long; pedicels filiform, 2–5 mm long. Male flowers: calyx-segments ovate-lanceolate, 2–4 mm, apex acute, glabrous; corolla bowl-shaped, orange-yellow to pale yellow, 5–7 mm in diam., segments ovate, revolute, 5–6 mm long; stamens 5, filaments short, 0.5–1 mm. Female flowers: slightly larger than the male; ovary cylindric to conical, 4–5 mm long, 2–2.5 mm in diam. Fruits conical to cylindric, base attenuate, slightly curved, 2.4–3.5 cm long, 8–10 mm in diam.; fruit-pedicel 4–7 mm long. Seeds dark brown, long-elliptic, 10–12 Χ 4–6 mm, compressed, with corky wing; wing 3–4 mm long at apex, 1 mm wide on both sides; seed-body shortly elliptic to ovate. Fl. Jul–Sep, fl. Aug–Oct.

* Forest and valley; 1800–2000 m. SW Sichuan, C and W Yunnan.

1a. Leaves subglabrous; corolla-segments in the male acute at apex ..........................  2a. var. delavayi

1b. Leaves densely pubescent; corolla-segments in the male rounded-obtuse at apex  2b. var. yalungensis

2a. Hemsleya delavayi var. delavayi

短柄雪胆  duan bing xue dan

Gomphogyne delavayi Gagnepain, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Par. 24: 373. 1918. H. brevipetiolata Handel-Mazzetti.

Leaves subglabrous; corolla-segments in the male acute at the apex.

* Forest and valley; 1800–2000 m. SW Sichuan, C and W Yunnan.

2b. Hemsleya delavayi var. yalungensis (Handel-Mazzetti) C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta. Phytotax Sin. 23(2): 134. 1985.

雅砻雪胆  ya long xue dan

Hemsleya brevipetiolata Handel-Mazzetti var. yalungensis Handel-Mazzetti, Symb. Sin. 7: 1059. 1936.

Leaves densely pubescent; corolla-segments in the male rounded-obtuse at the apex.

* Mountain slopes; 1600–2200 m. SW Sichuan.

3. Hemsleya macrocarpa (Cogniaux) C. Y. Wu ex C. Jeffrey, Kew Bull. 36(4): 739. 1982.

圆锥果雪胆  yung zhui guo xue dan

Gomphogyne macrocarpa Cogniaux, Engl., Pflanzenr. 66(IV. 275, 1): 40. 1916; Hemsleya obconica C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen; H. changningensis C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen.

Tuber oblate or ovoid. Stem sometimes slightly thickened at the nodes. Leaves pedately 7–9-foliolate, petiole sparsely puberulent or subglabrous, 3–7 cm long; leaflets obovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, median 6–10 Χ 2.5–4 cm, petiolule 2–6 mm. Inflorescence dichotomously cymose, 4–12 cm long, peduncle and branches slightly reflexed. Male flowers: bud obtuse at the apex, calyx-segments ovate-lanceolate, 4–5 Χ 2–3 mm, spreading; corolla rotate, green to pale yellow-green, 7–15 mm in diam., segments fleshy, strap-shaped, 6–7 Χ 2–3, base with a pair of glands; stamens 5, filaments less than 1 mm. Female flowers: calyx and corolla as in the male; ovary conical, 5–7 mm long, 3–4 mm in diam. Fruits campanulate to conical, (3–)4–7 cm long, 3–4 cm in diam., with distinct ribs, fruit-pedicel 8–10 mm long. Seeds dark brown, irregularly orbicular, 12–15 Χ 8–12 mm, 3–4 mm thick, with very narrow wing. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Sep–Nov. 2n = 28.

Evergreen forest; 1000–2200 m. SW Yunnan [NE India].

1a. Fruit 4.5(3–6) cm long, 1.6(1.3–1.85) times as long as broad .......................  3a. var. macrocarpa

1b. Fruit 6.2(4–6.5) cm long, 2.5(1.5–3) times as long as broad.

2a. Corolla 7–9 mm in diam. ...............................................................................  3b. var. clavata

2b. Corolla 12–15 mm in diam. .....................................................................  3c. var. grandiflora

3a. Hemsleya macrocarpa var. macrocarpa

圆锥果雪胆  yuan zhui guo xue dan

Hemsleya obconica C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen; H. changningensis C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen.

Fruit 4.5(3–6) cm long, 1.6(1.3–1.85) times as long as broad.

Evergreen forest; 1000–2200 m. SW Yunnan [NE India].

3b. Hemsleya macrocarpa var. clavata (C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen) D. Z. Li, Sys. Evol. Hems. 76. 1993.

棒果雪胆  bang gua xue dan

Hemsleya clavata C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 124. 1985.

Fruit 6.2(4–6.5) cm long, 2.5(1.5–3) times as long as broad; corolla 7–9 mm in diam.

* Broad-leaved forest; 1400–1500 m. SW Yunnan.

3c. Hemsleya macrocarpa var. grandiflora (C. Y. Wu) D. Z. Li, Syst. Evol. Hemsl. 76. 1993.

大花雪胆  da hua xue dan

Fruit 6.2(4–6.5) cm long, 2.5(1.5–3) times as long as broad; corolla 12–15 mm in diam.

* Thickets on mountain slopes; 2300 m; NW Yunnan.

4. Hemsleya mitrata C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 128. pl. 1: 8–9. 1985.

帽果雪胆  mao gua xue dan

Tuber enlarged. Stem and branchlets stout, sparsely puberulent, ultimately glabrous; stem-nodes thickened, densely pubescent. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate; petioles 5–8 cm long; leaflets lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, margin serrate, median 5–11 Χ 2.5–4 cm, petiolule 2–5 mm. Flowers dioecious. Inflorescence-peduncle slightly reflexed, 5–11 cm long. Male flowers: buds apex acute, calyx-segments lanceolate, 6 mm Χ 3 mm; corolla fleshy, rotate, pale yellow-green, 10–11 mm, segments more or less strap-shaped, base with 2 distinct glands. Female unknown. Fruit cap-like, 4–5 cm long, 3–3.6 cm in diam. Seeds dark brown, broad-ovate, 12–13 Χ 9–10 mm, 3–3.5 mm thick, almost unwinged. Fl. Jul–Oct, fr. Sep–Dec.

* Thickets on mountain slopes; 2400–2700 m. SW Yunnan.

5. Hemsleya panlongqi Lu & W. J. Chang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(2): 183. pl. 1: 6–7. 1983.

盘龙七  pang long qi

Tuber oblate-spheroid. branches slender, sulcate-angular, densely pubescent at the nodes. Tendrils 2-fid. Leaves pedately 7-foliolate, petiole 2–4 cm; leaflets elliptic-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, median 8–12 Χ 2–3.5 cm, lateral smaller, base cuneate, apex acuminate, margin serrate, petiolule 3–6 mm long, densely pubescent. Inflorescence-peduncle filiform; pedicel linear, 12–15 mm long. Male flower unknown. Female flowers: bracts very small, subuliform; calyx-segments 5, ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, 10 Χ 3 mm; corolla rotate, 15–20 cm in diam., pale yellow to yellow-green; segments spreading, broadly ovate, 12 Χ 8 mm; ovary ovate-rounded to long-ovate, 8–11 mm long, 4–6 mm in diam. Fl. Sep.

* Broad-leaved forest; 1800 m. S Sichuan.

6. Hemsleya dipterygia Kuang & A. M. Lu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 20(1): 88. pl. 1: 9–14. 1982.

翼蛇莲  yi she lian

Hemsleya cissiformis C. Y. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 125. 1985.

Tuber enlarged. Stem usually thickened at the nodes, densely pubescent, ultimately glabrous. Tendrils glabrous. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 2–6 cm; leaflets broadly lanceolate to rhomboid, margin serrate or crenate, median 7–11 Χ 2.5 cm, lateral smaller, petiolule 2–4 mm. Inflorescence-peduncle and branches filiform. Male flowers: pedicel 5–10 mm long; calyx-segments ovate, 7 mm long; corolla rotate to bowl-shaped, pale yellow to pale yellow-green, 12–13 mm in diam.; corolla-segments broadly obovate, apex obtuse, 8 Χ 7.5 mm, spreading; stamens 5, filaments less than 1 mm. Female flower unknown. Fruit oblong-claviform or claviform, 4–5.5 cm long, 0.6–1.7 cm in diam., densely pubescent when immature, glabrous when mature, with indistinct ribs. Seeds oblong, dark brown, 14 Χ 15 mm, 3–4 mm thick; seed ovate. Fl. Jun–Oct; fr. Aug–Nov.

Broad-leaved forest, 150–1500 m. N Guangxi, S Guizhou, C to S Yunnan [N Vietnam].

7. Hemsleya amabilis Diels, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 5: 106. 1912.

曲莲  qu lian

Tuber oblate-spheroid. Stem and branchlets very slender. Tendrils 8–12 cm. Leaves pedately 5–9-foliolate, petiole 2–4 cm; leaflets lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, median 4–5 Χ 1–1.5 cm. Male flowers dichotomously cymose, peduncle slightly flexuous, 5–15 cm long; calyx-segments 5, ovate-triangular, 4–5 Χ 2 mm; corolla rotate, pale yellow to pale yellow-green, 10–12 mm in diam., segments broadly obovate, spreading, 5–6 Χ 4–5 mm; stamens 5, filaments 2 mm long, exserted. Female flowers in simple dichotomously cymose inflorescence, larger than the male, 11–12(–15) cm in diam.; ovary subglobose, 4–5 mm. Fruits spheroid, 12–20 mm long; fruit-pedicel filiform, 2–3 mm long. Seeds dark brown, broadly ovate-globose, 6–8 Χ 5–7 mm, 3–4 thick, unwinged. Fl. Jun–Oct, fr. Aug–Nov. 2n = 28.

* Forests; 1800–3000 m. SW Sichuan, C and W Yunnan.

8. Hemsleya heterosperma (Wallich) C. Jeffrey, Kew Bull. 36(4): 739.1982.

异子雪胆  y z xue dan

Zanonia heterosperma Wallich, Pl. As. Rar. 2: 29. 1831; Gomphogyne heterosperma (Wallich) Kurtz; Alsomitra heterosperma Roemer.

Tuber unknown. Stem slender, glabrous. Leaves pedately 3–5-foliolate; petiole 3–4 cm long, glabrous; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, base attenuate, apex short-acuminate, median 5–7 Χ 1.5 cm; petiolule 3–6 mm. Flowers dioecious. Inflorescence complex or simple, peduncle slender, slightly flexuous, glabrous, 5–15 cm long. Male flowers: calyx segments subulate, apex apiculate, 1 mm long; corolla rotate, 3–4 cm in diam., pale yellow to pale yellow-green; segments ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, glabrous, 3 Χ 1 mm; stamens 5, filaments free, 1 mm long. Female flowers similar to male, peduncle 5–11 cm; ovary conical. Fruit narrowly campanulate or claviform, pale yellow-green, glabrous, with distinct ribs, 12–35 mm long, 6–12 mm wide, dehiscent at apex, 3-seeded in each locule. Seeds small, irregularly ovate, 3 Χ 2 mm, 1 mm thick. Fl. Sep–Oct, fl. Oct–Nov. 2n = 28.

Rainforest or evergreen broad-leaved forest; 150–2300 m. Yunnan [Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand].

9. Hemsleya lijiangensis Lu ex C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 129. pl. 2: 4–6. 1985.

丽江雪胆  li jiang xue dan

Tuber enlarged. Stem and branchlets filiform, sparsely pubescent, ultimately subglabrous. Tendrils, apex 2-fid. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 2–4 cm; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, median 6–12 Χ 2–2.2 cm, petiolule 2–4 mm. Male flowers: inflorescence peduncle and branchlets flexuous, densely pubescent, 4–5 cm; pedicel filiform; calyx-segments 5, ovate-triangular, apex acuminate, 4 Χ 2 mm, spreading; corolla rotate, pale yellow, 8–10 mm, segments spreading, obovate, 5 Χ 4 mm; stamens 5, filaments 2 mm. Female flowers solitary or few dichotomously cymose in the leaf axils; pedicel 5–30 mm; ovary long-campanulate or conical, 3 mm long, 2 mm in diam., densely white-punctate. Fruits campanulate to conical, 2.2–4 cm long, 13–18 mm in diam. Seeds dark brown, irregularly rounded, compressed, 4–6 Χ 4–5 mm, 2–3 mm thick. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Aug–Oct.

* Forests; 2000–3000 m. NW Yunnan.

10. Hemsleya sphaerocarpa Kuang & A. M. Lu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 20(1): 87. pl. 1: 1–8. 1982.

蛇莲  she lian

Tuber oblate-spheroid. Stem and branchlets slender, nodes densely pubescent. Tendrils 8–24 cm. Leaves pedately 5–9-foliolate, petiole 1.6–4 cm; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, median 7–16 Χ 2.5–4 cm. Male flowers in a large dichotomous cyme, 5–25(–45) cm long (varying in different subspecies); calyx segments ovate-triangular, ca. 4 Χ 3 mm; corolla bowl-shaped, pale yellow-green, 7–15 mm in diam., segments broadly ovate, apex acuminate. Female flowers usually in a short inflorescence; ovary spheroid to ovoid, 3–5 mm. Fruits spheroid to ovoid, 2–3 cm in diam., fruit-pedicel 4–5 mm, with distinct articulation. Seeds lenticular, 8–9 mm in diam., unwinged. Fl. May–Sep, fr. Jul–Nov. 2n = 28.

* Broad-leaved forest; 400–1600 m. SE and S Guizhou; E and NE Guangxi; S Hunan; S, C, SW and SE Yunnan.

1a. Male inflorescence 20(14–44) cm long ...................................................  10b. subsp. megathyrsa

1b. Male inflorescence 9(5–15) cm long.

2a. Corolla 8(7–9) mm in diam.; fruit-pedicel 1–2 mm long ..................  10c. subsp. wenshanensis

2b. Corolla 12(9–15) mm in diam.; fruit-pedicel 8–9 mm long ..............  10a. subsp. sphaerocarpa

10a. Hemsleya sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa

蛇莲  she lian

Inflorescence 9(5–15) cm long; corolla 12(9–15) cm in diam.; fruit-pedicel 8–9 mm long.

* Broad-leaved forests; 400–1600 m. SE and S Guizhou; E and NE Guangxi; S Hunan; SW and SE Yunnan.

10b. Hemsleya sphaerocarpa Kuang & A. M. Lu subsp. megathyrsa (C. Y. Wu) D. Z. Li, Syst. Evol. Hemsl. 84. 1993.

大序雪胆  da xu xue dan

Hemsleya megathyrsa C. Y. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 131. Pl. 34: 1–3. 1985.

Male inflorescence 20(14–44) cm long; corolla 8–12 mm in diam.

* Evergreen broad-forests; 2200–2400 m. SW Yunnan.

10c. Hemsleya sphaerocarpa Kuang & A. M. Lu subsp. wenshanensis (C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen) D. Z. Li, Syst. Evol. Hemsl. 85. 1993.

文山雪胆  wen shan xue dan

Hemsleya wenshanensis Lu ex C. W. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 130. 1985.

Inflorescence 9(5–15) cm long; corolla 12(9–15); fruit-pedicel 8–9 mm long.

* Evergreen forests; 1800–2300 m. S and C (Jingdong) and SE (Wenshan) Yunnan.

11. Hemsleya panacis-scandens C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 135. 1985.

藤三七雪胆  teng san qi xue dan

Tuber oblate-spheroid. Stem and branchlets robust, stem-nodes stout, sparsely pubescent. Tendrils 8–15 cm. Leaves pedately 7–9-foliolate, petiole 5–8 cm, leaflets obovate-lanceolate, petiolule 4–8 mm, median 6–10 Χ 2–3 cm. Male flowers dichotomously cymose or paniculate, peduncle usually filiform, 3–7 cm; calyx-segments ovate-lanceolate, 9 Χ 4 mm, apex reflexed; corolla umbelliform, pale yellow to yellow-green, 10–12 mm in diam., segments fleshy, obovate to ovate-oblong, apex obtuse, base thickened; stamens 5, filaments 1 mm. Female flowers: corolla 12–15 mm in diam., ovary subglobose, 5–8 mm long, 4–7 mm in diam. Fruit globose, 25–45 mm in diam., fruit-pedicel 4–8 mm long, with articulation. Seeds dark brown, ovate-spheroid, 15 mm long, 12–13 mm broad, almost unwinged, margin 3 mm wide. Fl. Aug–Oct, fr. Oct–Dec. 2n = 42.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1700–2400 m. SE Yunnan.

1a. Corolla pale yellow, segments involute (not reflexed), margin sinuate
..........................................................................................................  11a. var. panacis-scandens

1b. Corolla deep yellow, umbelliform, margin entire .......................................  11b. var. pingbianensis

11a. Hemsleya panacis-scandens var. panacis-scandens

藤三七雪胆  teng san qi xue dan

Corolla spheroid, 10–12 mm in diam., pale yellow, segments margin sinuate; fruit smooth, 10-angular.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1700–2400 m. SE Yunnan.

11b. Hemsleya panacis-scandens var. pingbianensis C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 137. 1985.

屏边藤三七雪胆  peng bian tena san qi xue dan

Corolla deep yellow, umbelliform, ca. 15 mm in diam., segments entire; ovary and fruit densely white-verrucose.

* Broad-leaved forest; 1700 m. SE Yunnan (Pingbian).

12. Hemsleya omeiensis L. D. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(2): 103. 1980.

峨眉雪胆  e mei xue dan

Hemsleya emeiensis L. D. Shen & W. J. Chang.

Tuber enlarged, pale brown-yellow. Branchlets slender, sparsely pubescent when young. Leaves pedately 7–9-foliolate, petiole 4–6 cm long; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate; median 9–14 Χ 2–4.5 cm. Male flowers dichotomously cymose, peduncle 3–8 cm long; calyx-segments 5, lanceolate, 4 Χ 2 mm apex reflexed; corolla Chinese lantern-like, yellow-green, 8 mm in diam.; corolla segments 5, obovate-lanceolate, 8 Χ 5 mm; stamens 5, filaments 1 mm long. Female inflorescence simple; ovary subglobose, 3–6 mm. Fruit globose, 20–25 mm in diam. Seeds ovoid, 10 Χ 8 mm, 3 mm thick, unwinged. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Sep–Nov. 2n = 28.

* Broad-leaved forest;1800-2000 m. Sichuan (Emei Shan).

13. Hemsleya pengxianensis W. J. Chang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 17(4): 97. 1979.

彭县雪胆  peng xian xue dan

Tuber oblate-spheroid. Stem and branchlets slender. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 4.5–7 cm, glabrous or pubescent, leaflets obovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate; median 8–17 Χ 2–4 cm; petiolule 3–5 mm. Male flowers dichotomously cymose, peduncle 4–10 cm, slightly flexuous; calyx-segments lanceolate, 4 Χ 2–3 mm; corolla bowl-shaped or Chinese lantern-like, yellow-green, 6–12 mm in diam.; corolla segments ovoid, 6 Χ 4 mm, apex reflexed. Female inflorescence reduced; ovary ovoid or subglobose, 3 mm in diam. Fruit ovoid or elliptic, 3–4 cm long, 3–3.5 cm in diam. Seeds almost circular, compressed, 10–13 cm long and broad, almost unwinged, margin 2–3 mm wide. Fl. Jun–Sep, fr. Aug–Nov.

* Broad-leaved forest; 750–2100 m. C Sichuan.

1a. Fruit ovate to ovoid, corolla bowl-shaped, 8 mm.

2a. Ovary ovate; petiole, rachis and corolla pubescent ................................  13b. var. junlianensis

2b. Ovary subglobose; petiole and corolla glabrous .................................  13a. var. pengxianensis

1b. Fruit elliptic; corolla Chinese lantern-like, 10–12 mm ......................................  13c. var. gulinensis

13a. Hemsleya pengxianensis var. pengxianensis

彭县雪胆  peng xian xue dan

Hemsleya multifructus L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(2): 104.1980; H. pengxianensis W. J. Chang var. polycarpa L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang; H. jinfushanensis L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang; H. pengxianensis var. jinfushanensis L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang.

Petiole glabrous; corolla glabrous, pubescent, 8 mm in diam.

* Broad-leaved forest; 750–2100 m. C Sichuan.

13b. Hemsleya pengxianensis var. junlianensis (L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang) L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(2): 188, pl. 3: 6–8. 1983.

筠连雪胆  jun lian xue dan

Hemsleya. junlianensis L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(2): 102. 1980 [“yunlianensis”].

Petiole, peduncle and corolla pubescent, corolla bowl-shaped, 8 mm in diam.; ovary ovate; fruit ovate to ovoid.

* Forest sides; 1500 m. SW Sichuan.

13c. Hemsleya pengxianensis var. gulinensis (L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang) L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(2): 188, pl. 3: 6–8. 1983.

古蔺雪胆  gu lin xue dan

Hemsleya gulinensis L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(2): 103. f. 12a–12b. 1980.

Corolla Chinese lantern-like, 10–12 mm in diam.; fruit elliptic.

* Broad-leaved forest. Sichuan.

14. Hemsleya turbinata C. Y. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 140. pl. 4: 7–8. 1985.

陀罗果雪胆  tuo luo gu xue dan

Tuber oblate-spheroid. Stem and branchlets robust. Tendrils 12–20 cm. Leaves 5–7-foliolate, petiole 3–5 cm; leaflets obovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, petiolule 2–5 mm, margin dentate, median leaflet 6–12 cm long. Male flowers unknown. Female flowers 2–more in a dichotomous cyme, peduncle 3–10 cm; calyx-segments lanceolate, 11–13 Χ 4 mm, apex reflexed; corolla Chinese lantern-like, pale yellow-green, 10–12 cm, corolla-segments oblong-lanceolate, 14–17 Χ 6–8 mm, base with 2 glands, apex acute, revolute; ovary conical, 9 mm long, 3–4 mm diam. Fruit conical, 3.5–5 cm long, 2–2.5 cm in diam., base attenuate, fruit-pedicel only 3 mm long. Seeds dark brown, broadly ovate, compressed, 9–11 Χ 8–10 mm, 2–3 mm thick, unwinged, margin ca. 2 mm wide. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Sep–Nov.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forest; 1600–2350 m. SW Yunnan.

15. Hemsleya ellipsoidea L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(1): 16. f. 3a–c. 1980 & Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(2): 185. pl. 2: 4–7. 1983.

椭圆果雪胆  tuo yuan guo xue dan

Tuber enlarged. Stem and branchlets slender, sulcate. Leaves pedately 3–5-foliolate, petiole 2–5 cm; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, petiolule 3–5 cm; median leaflet 9–15 Χ 4–5 cm. Male flowers sparsely dichotomously cymose, peduncle 10–12 cm; calyx-segments lanceolate, 10 Χ 3 mm, apex reflexed; corolla lantern-shaped, pale yellow-green, 9–11 cm, segments broadly ovate-lanceolate, 10–15 Χ 6–10 mm, apex reflexed; filaments 1 mm long. Female flowers: corolla larger than the male, 12–15 mm in diam.; ovary ovoid, 10 mm long, 5 mm in diam. Fruit elliptic, base obtuse-rounded, 3.5–4 cm long, 2.5 cm in diam.; fruit wall leathery. Seeds almost round, compressed, 15 mm in diam. 3 mm thick, unwinged, margin 3–4 mm wide. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Sep–Nov.

* Broad-leaved forests; ca. 2000 m. Sichuan (Emei).

16. Hemsleya carnosiflora C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 133. pl. 3: 1–5. 1985.

肉花雪胆  ruo hua xei dan

Tuber oblate-spheroid. Stem and branchlets rather robust, thickened at the nodes, densely pubescent. Tendrils 7–16 cm long. Leaves pedately 7–9-foliolate, petiole 5–8 cm long; leaflets obovate-lanceolate, petiolule 4–8 mm, margin dentate; median 8–12 Χ 3–4 cm. Male flowers dichotomously cymose or paniculate; peduncle indistinctly flexuous, 3–7 cm long; calyx-segments ovate-lanceolate, 7 Χ 4 mm, apex reflexed; corolla bowl-shaped, pale yellow-green, 8–10 mm. Female inflorescence simple, peduncle 2.5–5 cm; corolla larger than the male, 11–12 cm in diam.; ovary elliptic, 10 cm long 6–7 mm in diam. Fruit elliptic to ovoid, 4–5 cm long, 2.5–3 cm in diam.; fruit-pedicel 9–12 cm. Seeds obovate-elliptic to almost circular, compressed, 13–16 Χ 12–14 mm, 3–4 mm thick, almost unwinged, margin 4 mm wide. Fl. Jun–Oct, fr. Aug–Nov. 2n = 42.

* Forests; 1800–1900 m. SE Yunnan.

17. Hemsleya chengyihana D. Z. Li, Syst. Evol. Hemsl. 91. 1993.

征镒雪胆  zheng yi xue dan

Hemsleya macrocarpa C. Y. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 134. 1985, nom. illeg., non (Cogniaux) C. Y. Wu ex C. Jeffrey, Kew Bull. 36(4): 739. 1982.

Tuber oblate-ovoid. Stem and branchlets slightly stout, distinctly sulcate. Tendrils 12–25 cm long. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 3–6 cm; leaflets lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, margin crenate, petiolule 5–10 mm long; median leaflet 14 Χ 1.5–4 cm. Male inflorescence dichotomously cymose; peduncle flexuous, 5–12 cm long, densely pubescent; calyx-segments ovate-triangular, 5 Χ 3 mm, apex flexuous; corolla bowl-like, pale yellow-green, 10 mm in diam., segments oblong, 7–8 Χ 3–4 mm; filaments 1 mm long. Female flowers unknown. Fruit clavate or clavate-elliptic, 7–8 cm long, 2–2.5 cm in diam., distinctly costate; fruit-pedicel 10–15 mm. Seeds elliptic, dark brown, 12 mm long, 7 mm wide, almost unwinged, margin 1–3 mm wide. Fl. Jul–Oct, fr. Sep–Nov.

* Broad-leaved forest or forest sides. SW Yunnan.

18. Hemsleya zhejiangensis C. Z. Zheng, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(1): 67. f. 1–8. 1985.

浙江雪胆  zhe jiang xue dan

Tuber enlarged. Stem and branchlets slender, sulcate, nodes densely pubescent. Leaves pedately 5–9-foliolate, petiole 2.5–5 cm; leaflets elliptic-lanceolate, margin sparsely dentate; median 6–11 Χ 2–3.5 cm. Male inflorescence dichotomously cymose, peduncle flexuous, 13–17 cm; calyx-segments ovate-lanceolate, 4–5 Χ 3–4 mm, apex reflexed; corolla bowl-like, pale yellow-green, 8–10 mm; corolla-segments obovate, fleshy, 7–8 Χ 4–5 mm, apex reflexed; filaments ca. 1 mm. Female flower unknown. Fruit broadly elliptic to long-elliptic, (6–)11–17 cm long, 2–3 cm in diam., indistinctly costate; fruit-pedicel with distinct articulation, 1–2 cm long. Seeds dark brown, oblong, almost unwinged, margin 2–4 mm. Fl. 6–9, fr. Aug–Nov.

* Broad-leaved forest or bamboo forest; 800–1000 m. Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.

19. Hemsleya chinensis Cogniaux, Hooker’s Icon. Pl. t. 1822. 1889, p.p. quoad fl. masc.

雪胆  xue dan

Hemsleya szechuanensis Kuang & Lu, Ic. Corm. Sin. 4: 345. t. 6103. 1975. nom. seminud. quoad fr. & sem.; H. xueden L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(1): 17. f. 4a–d. 1980.

Tuber ovoid or oblate. Stem and branchlets slender. Tendrils 8–14 cm. Leaves pedately 5–9-foliolate, petiole 4–8 cm long; leaflets ovate-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate or broadly lanceolate, margin crenate, petiolule 5–10 mm; median leaflet 5–12 Χ 2–2.5 cm. Male inflorescence dichotomously cymose or paniculate; peduncle filiform, flexuous, 5–12 cm; calyx-segments ovate; 7 Χ 4–5 mm, apex acute, reflexed; corolla Chinese lantern-shaped or sparsely rounded-globose, orange-red, 8–15 cm in diam., segments oblong, 10–13 Χ 8–9 mm, subglabrous; filaments 1 mm long. Female inflorescence simple, peduncle 2–4 cm long; female flowers: calyx and corolla as in the male, corolla 15 mm in diam.; ovary cylindric, 5–10 mm long, 2–3 mm in diam. Fruit elliptic, 3–7 cm long, 2 cm in diam., base attenuate; fruit-pedicel slightly curved, with or without articulation, 8–10 mm long. Seeds brown, suborbicular, 10–12 Χ 10 mm, 3 mm thick, unwinged, margin 1 mm wide. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Sep–Nov. 2n = 28.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forest or forest sides; 400–2800 m. Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan.

1a. Fruit without spiculiform hairs along longitudinal ribs; branchlets and petiole without spiculiform hairs.

2a. Corolla usually glabrous, 12–15 mm in diam.; fruit elliptic, 3–7 cm long
.................................................................................................................  19a. var. chinensis

2b. Corolla densely white-pubescent, 8–12 cm in diam.

3a. Corolla 10–12 mm; fruit obovate, pedicel with a distinct articulation
.....................................................................................................  19b. var. ningnanensis

3b. Corolla 8 mm in diam.; fruit ovoid, pedicel without articulation .........  19c. var. longivillosa

1b. Fruit with white spiculiform hairs along longitudinal ribs; branchlets and petiole with dense spiculiform hairs .....................................................................................................................  19d. var. polytricha

19a. Hemsleya chinensis var. chinensis

雪胆  xue dan

Hemsleya szechuanensis Kuang & Lu, Ic. Corm. Sin. 4: 345. t. 6103. 1975. nom. seminud. quoad fr. & sem.; H. xuedan L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(1): 17. f. 4a–d. 1980.

Branchlets, petiole and fruit without spiculiform hairs; corolla usually glabrous, 12–15 mm in diam.; fruit elliptic, 3–7 cm long.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forests or forest sides; 400–2800 m. Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan.

19b. Hemsleya chinensis var. ningnanensis (L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang) L. T. Shen & W. J. Chang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(2): 185. 1983.

宁南雪胆  ning nan xue dan

Hemsleya ningnanensis L. T. Shan & W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(1): 19. f. 6a–c. 1980; H. villosipetala C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 138. 1985.

Branchlets, petiole and fruit without spiculiform hairs; corolla usually with dense white hairs, 10–12 mm in diam.; fruit obovate, pedicel with articulation.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forest. SW Sichuan. NE Yunnan.

19c. Hemsleya chinensis var. longivillosa (C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen) D. Z. Li, Syst. Evol. Hemsl. 95. 1993.

长毛雪胆  chang mao xue dan

Hemsleya longivillosa C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 140. pl. 4: 4–6. 1985.

Branchlets, petiole and fruit without spiculiform hairs; corolla usually with dense white hairs, 8 mm in diam.; fruit ovoid, pedicel without articulation.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forest; 1900–2100 m. Yunnan (Fuyuan).

19d. Hemsleya chinensis var. polytricha Kuang & A. M. Lu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 20(1): 90. 1982.

毛雪胆  mao xue dan

Branchlets and petiole with dense spiculiform hairs; fruit with dense spiculiform hairs along longitudinal ribs.

* Broad-leaved forest; 1300–1500 m. W Hubei.

20. Hemsleya gigantha W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(1): 18. f. 5a–d. 1980.

巨花雪胆  ju hua xue dan

Tuber yellow-brown. Leaves pedately 7–9-foliolate; petiole 5–9 cm; leaflets broadly elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, base cuneate, margin crenate; median 7–12 Χ 3–5 cm. Male inflorescence dichotomously cymose, rachis 7–11 cm long; calyx-segments lanceolate, 15 Χ 7 mm, apex reflexed; corolla Chinese lantern-like, orange-red, 1.5–2(–2.5)cm in diam., segments broadly ovoid, 20–25 Χ 15–18 mm, apex obtuse-rounded and apiculate, revolute; filaments 1 mm. Female inflorescence simple; ovary elliptic, 10–15 mm long, 6–10 cm in diam. Fruit subspheroid to ovoid, 2–3.5 cm in diam., fruit wall leathery. Seeds broadly ovoid, dark brown, 10–12 Χ 8–10 mm, 2–3 mm thick, almost unwinged; margin narrow, 2 mm wide, slightly erose. Fl. Jun–Sep, fr. Aug–Nov.

* Broad-leaved or pine forest and forest sides. SW Sichuan.

21. Hemsleya longicarpa W. J. Chang, Acta Acad. Med. Sichuan 11(2): 101. f. 8a–d. 1980.

长果雪胆  chang guo xue dan

Tuber enlarged, yellow-brown. Stem and branchlets slender. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 3.5–6.5 cm long; leaflets obovate-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, margin crenate; median 7–15 Χ 4–7 cm. Male inflorescence dichotomously cymose, rachis 3–8 cm; calyx-segments lanceolate, 6–8 Χ 4–6 mm, apex apiculate, flexuous; filaments 1 mm long. Female inflorescence simple; ovary cylindric, 6 mm long, 3 mm in diam. Fruit elliptic, 5–8 cm long, 2–3.5 cm in diam. Seeds broadly ovate to suborbicular, compressed 13–14 Χ 11 mm, 2–3 mm thick, unwinged; margin 1 mm wide, erose. Fl. Jun–Sep, fr. Aug–Nov.

* Broad-leaved forest; 1400–1800 m. C and SW Sichuan.

22. Hemsleya macrosperma C. Y. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 139. 1985.

罗锅底  luo guo di

Tuber enlarged, oblate. Stem and branchlets slender. Tendrils 6–10 cm long. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 4–5 cm; leaflets oblong-lanceolate to obovate-lanceolate, margin crenate; petiolule 2–4 mm, median 4–9 Χ 1.5–3 cm. Male inflorescence dichotomously cymose, peduncle 2–8 cm long; calyx-segments ovate, 4–5 Χ 3 mm, apex acute, reflexed; corolla bowl-like, orange-red, 8–10 mm in diam.; corolla-segments oblong, 8 Χ 4 mm, sparsely white-villous; filaments 2 mm long; Female peduncle 1–5 cm long; ovary elliptic or subglobose, 5–7 mm long, 4–5 mm in diam. Fruit ovoid, 3.5–5 cm in diam. Seeds ovoid, dark brown, 9–11 Χ 8–9 mm, unwinged; margin smooth, 1 mm wide. Fl. Jul–Sep, fr. Sep–Nov.

* Evergreen broad-leaved or pine forest; 1800–3200 m. SW Sichuan, C and NE Yunnan.

1a. Fruit ovoid, 3.5–4 cm long ......................................................................  22a. var. macrosperma

1b. Fruit elliptic, to 5 cm long .........................................................................  22b. var. oblongicarpa

22a. Hemsleya macrosperma var. macrosperma

罗锅底  luo guo di

Fruit ovoid, 3.5–4 cm long.

* Evergreen broad-leaved or pine forests; 1800–3200 m. SW Sichuan, C and NE Yunnan.

22b. Hemsleya macrosperma var. oblongicarpa C. Y. Wu & C. L. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 140. 1985.

长果罗锅底  chang guo luo guo di

Fruit elliptic, to 5 cm long.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1900–2000 m. SW Sichuan, NE Yunnan.

23. Hemsleya dulongjiangensis C. Y. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 134. 1985.

独龙江雪胆  du long jiang xue dan

Tuber enlarged. Stem and branchlets slender, longitudinally sulcate, densely pubescent. Tendrils 6–9 cm, densely pubescent. Leaves pedately 3–7-foliolate, petiole 2–3 cm long; leaflets broadly ovate-lanceolate to rhombic, margin sparsely serrate; median 3–6 Χ 3–3.5 cm. Flowers unknown. Fruit ovoid, 3.5–4.5 cm long, 3–3.5 in diam.; fruit-pedicel curved, 5–8 cm. Seeds (inmature) broadly ovoid, yellow-brown, 13 mm in diam., unwinged; margin 1–2 mm wide, erose. Fr. Sep.

* Open forest in valleys; 1400–2700. NW Yunnan.

24. Hemsleya endecaphylla C. Y. Wu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 23(2): 142. 1985.

十一叶雪胆  shi yi ye xue dan

Tuber enlarged. Stem slightly robust. Tendrils 8–12 cm long. Leaves pedately 9–11-foliolate; petiole stout, 5–7 cm; leaflets obovate-lanceolate, margin irregularly crenate, petiolule 3–5 mm; median 5–7 Χ 2–2.5 cm. Male inflorescence paniculate; rachis indistinctly reflexed, 5–8 cm long; calyx-segments pale yellow-green, ovate-triangular, 5 Χ 4 mm, apex reflexed; corolla bowl-like, orange-yellow, 8–10 mm in diam., segments oblong, with dense squamose hairs, apex reflexed; filaments very short, 0.5 mm long. Female flower and fruit unknown. Fl. Jun–Jul.

* Broad-leaved forest; 2400 m. NW Yunnan.

2. GOMPHOGYNE Griffith, Pl. Cantor. 26, adnot., tab. 4. 1841.

锥形果属  zhui xing guo shu

Lu Anmin (路安民 Lu An-ming); Charles Jeffrey

Climbing herbs; stems slender, angular. Leaves petiolate, pedately 7-foliolate, leaflet blade lanceolate or oblong, dentate. Tendrils 2-fid. Flowers small, monoecious, pale green. Male racemose or paniculate; calyx rotate, 5-partite, segments oblong-lanceolate, margins erose; corolla rotate, 5-partite, segments oblong-lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, erose; stamens 5, filaments short, united at the base, anthers subglobose, 1-locular, erect, dehiscence longitudinal; rudimentary ovary absent. Female flowers paniculate or fasciculate in the axils of leaves. Calyx and corolla as in male; ovary clavate, 1-locular, styles 3, apices 2-lobed; ovules 3, pendulous from the apex of locules; staminodes absent. Fruits capsular, turbinate, venose and ribbed, truncate at the apex, 3-valved, crowned by the persistent styles; seeds 3, oblong, black, testa thick, margin thickened, erose.

1 species, principally an Indo-Malayan genus; 1 species in China.

1. Gomphogyne cissiformis Griffith, Pl. Cantor. 26, in adnot., tab. 4. 1841.

锥形果  zhui xing guo

Slender herbs; stem glabrous or slightly puberulent. Leaves membranous, pedately 7–9-foliolate; petiole 3–6 cm, glabrous; leaflets obovate-oblong, glabrous, median 4–6 Χ 1.5–2 cm, lateral shorter, apex acuminate or acute, base acuminate, margin crenate-dentate, petiolules 3–9 cm. Tendrils slender, 2-fid. Dioecious. Male flowers racemose or paniculate, rachis slender, flexuous, 10–30 cm, glabrous; pedicels capillary, often fasciculate, 1–3 mm, with bracteoles at the base; calyx-segments narrowly ovate, 1–1.5 mm, acute; corolla-segments ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–3 Χ 1 mm, 3-nerved, entire or indistinctly dentate; stamens 5, filaments shorter, united at the base, anthers erect. Female flowers paniculate, 5–12 cm, or fasciculate in the axils of leaves; pedicels filiform, reflexed, bracteoles subulate; ovary funnelform, 1-locular; styles 3, with 2-lobe stigma. Fruits turbinate, 12–16 mm, apex truncate, 8–11 mm in diam., pale green, 3-longitudinally dehiscent, 1–3-seeded. Seeds oblong, 7(–12) Χ 3–4 mm, 1–2 mm thick, dark brown, apex truncate, base acute, verrucose, margin dentate.

Forest on mountain sides; 2100–2800 m. S & SW Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].

1a. Fruits glabrous ...............................................................................................  1a. var. cissiformis

1b. Fruits tomentose ...................................................................................................  1b. var. villosa

1a. Gomphogyne cissiformis var. cissiformis

锥形果  zhui xing guo

Fruits glabrous

Forest on mountain sides; 2100–2800 m. S & SW Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].

1b. Gomphogyne cissiformis var. villosa Cogniaux in A. & C. DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 925. 1881.

毛锥形果  mao zhui xing guo

Fruits tomentose.

* Forest on mountain sides; ca. 2300 m. S & SW Yunnan (Menghai, Yongde).

3. GYNOSTEMMA Blume, Bijdr. 23. 1825.

绞股蓝属  jiao gu lan shu

Chen Shukun (陈书坤), Lu Anmin (路安民 Lu An-ming); Charles Jeffrey

Trirostellum Z. P. Wang & Q. Z. Zie, Acta Phytot. Sin. 19(4): 483. 1981.

Perennial scandent herbs, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves alternate, pedate, with 3–9-leaflets, rarely simple, leaflet blade ovate-lanceolate. Tendrils bifurcate, rarely simple. Flowers unisexual, dioecious, rarely monoecious, in racemes or panicles, axillary or terminal, pedicel articulated, bracteole basal. Male flower: calyx tube short, 5-lobed, lobes narrowly-lanceolate; corolla rotate, greenish or white, deeply 5-lobed, lobes lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, involute in bud; stamens 5, inserted at base of perianth tube, filaments short, connate, anthers ovate, erect, 2-locular, dehiscence longitudinal, connective narrow, but not extended; pollen grains globose or elliptic, longitudinally striate or smooth, dehiscent by pores. Rudimentary pistil absent. Female flowers: calyx and corolla as in male flower; staminodes present; ovary globose, 3–2-locular, styles 3, rarely 2, free, stigmas 2 or land crescent-shaped and irregularly incised-dentate; ovules 2, pendulous in each locule. Berry globose, in form and size like a pea, or capsule, 3-lobed from top, top umbonulate or with 3 persistent long styles 3; seeds 2–3, broad-ovate, compressed, with papillae or spiniform papillae.

About 17 species and 2 varieties. Distributed in tropical Asia to east Asia, from the Himalaya regions to Japan, Malaysia and New Guinea. Fifteen species and 2 varieties in China.

1a.       Capsule campanulate, persistent styles 3, long-rostriform, dehiscent when mature along ventral suture, 3-lobed.

2a.       Female flowers solitary or paired, axillary, pedicel 3–4 cm; ovary 5-locular, styles 5  1. G. pentagynum

2b.       Female flowers numerous, in racemes or panicles, axillary terminal, pedicel shorter than 5 mm; ovary 3-locular, styles 3.

3a.       Female flowers in spiciform racemes, fruit stalk shorter than 5 mm.

4a.       Stigma crescent-shaped and irregularly incised-dentate; styles 2.5–3 mm long, or thick and short, 0.5 mm.

5a.       Style thin and long, 2.5–3 mm; persistent style up to 5 mm long; side of seed not sulcate and without wing ...................................................................................................  2. G. yixingense

5b.       Style short and thick; persistent style short-rostriform; seed broad-cordate, margin sulcate and with narrow wing ...............................................................................  3. G. cardiospermum

4b.       Stigma 2-lobed, forked, never crescent-shaped, style shorter than 0.5 mm.

6a.       Fruit small, ca. 3 mm in diam.; glabrous, dark-punctate; leaves with 5-leaflets, leaflets elliptic    4. G. microspermum

6b.       Fruit large, 5–6 mm in diam., white-villous, without dark spots; leaves with 5–7-leaflets, leaflets obovate-elliptic ................................................................................  5. G. aggregatum

3b.       Female flowers in lax panicle; fruit stalk 8–10 mm ....................................  6. G. laxiflorum

1b.       Berry globose, depressed-globose, persistent style short, umbonate, never rostate, not dehiscent.

7a.       Leaves simple ......................................................................................  7. G. simplicifolium

7b.       Leaves compound, pedate.

8a.       Stem cylindrical, with longitudinal striae, but without wings.

9a.       Leaves with 3–5-leaflets.

10a.     Leaf smooth, glabrous on both surfaces, or with hairs only along midrib; stem with only sparse hairs at nodes; corolla lobes narrow-lanceolate, 2–3 mm long .................................  8. G. laxum

10b.     Leaf blade and stem all densely pubescent; lobes of corolla oblong-elliptic, ca. 2 mm long        9. G. burmanicum

9b.       Leaves with (3–)5–7(–9)-leaflets.

11a.     Fruit densely hirsute-pubescent; stem stout
                                                                         11b. G. pentaphyllum var. dasycarpum

11b.     Fruit glabrous, stem slender.

12a.     Fruit stalk shorter than 5 mm; leaves sparsely to densely pubescent
..................................................................  11a. G. pentaphyllum var. pentaphyllum

12b.     Fruit stalk 7–25 mm long.

13a.     Flower monoecious; fruit 3-angled-obovoid or 3-angled-oblate
.................................................................................................  12. G. guangxiense

13b.     Flower dioecious; fruit globose or obtriangular.

14a.     Fruit obtriangular, compressed; leaflets 5–7, elliptic or elliptic-ovate
                                                                                                 13. G. compressum

14b.     Fruit globose, leaflets 7–9, rhombic-elliptic or obovate-lanceolate
                                                                                                        14. G. longipes

8b.       Stem 3-angled, with narrow wings ......................................................  15. G. caulopterum

1. Gynostemma pentagynum Z. P. Wang, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 11(2): 165. fig. 1. 1989.

五柱绞股蓝  wu zhu jiao gu lan

Herbs perennial, scandent, with short and succulent rootstocks. Stem 2 m or more, ca. 4 mm in diam., angular, white-villous. Tendrils filiform, villous, below gradually glabrescent above, apex bifid. Leaves pedate, with (5–)7 leaflets; petioles 9–13 cm, villous; leaflet blades elliptic, central 10 cm long, apex short-acuminate, margin irregularly serrate, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, densely villous along veins, petiolule 3–5 mm, lateral leaflet blades gradually smaller and asymmetrical, petiolule shorter, outer most leaflet without petiolule. Flowers dioecious. Male flowers numerous in panicle, 3–4 cm, villous; calyx 5-lobed, lobes long-elliptic, ca. 0.9 Χ 0.5 mm, apex obtuse, both surfaces glabrous; corolla rotate, 5-parted, lobes ovate, 4 Χ 0.6 mm, apex filiform-acuminate, glabrous outside, glandular-hair inside, with obscure midrib; stamen 5, filaments 0.2 mm, connective cylindrical. Female flower solitary or 2(–3) flowers in very short raceme; peduncles 2–3 mm; pedicels up to 4 cm; calyx and corolla as in male flowers; staminodes absent; gynoecium with 5(4)-carpels; ovary densely pubescent and glandular-pubescent, 5(4)-locular, each locule with one ovule, styles 5(4), divaricate, stigmas 2, explanate. Fruit not mature. Fl. Jul.

* Evergreen broad-leaved forests, on moist mountain. Hunan (Dayong).

2. Gynostemma yixingense (Z. P. Wang & Q. Z. Xie) C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(4): 364. 1983.

喙果绞股蓝  hui guo jiao lan

Trirostellum yixingense Z. P. Wang & Q. Z. Xie, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 19(4): 483. 1981; T. yixingense var. trichocarpum J. N. Ding, Bull. Bot. Res. NE For. Inst. 10(3): 71. 1990.

Perennial scandent herbs, to over 10 m. Stem slender, angular-sulcate, villous only at the nodes. Leaves membranous, pedately 5–7-foliolate; petiole 3–6 cm long; leaflets elliptic, median 4–8 cm long, lateral leaflets smaller, apex acuminate, margin crenate, base cuneate, pubescent on the nerves; petiolule ca. 5 mm. Tendrils filiform, simple. Male flowers in panicle, rachis 9–12 cm, sparsely pubescent; calyx-segments elliptic-lanceolate, 1–1.5 Χ 0.5 mm, apex obtuse; corolla pale green, segments ovate-lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm, caudate-acuminate; stamens 5, filaments connected, anthers 0.2 mm long. Female flowers fasciculate in the axil of leaves; calyx and corolla as in the male; ovary subglobose, 1.5–2 mm in diam., sparsely puberulent, styles 3, 2.5–3 mm long, stigma half-moon-shaped, margin dentate; staminodes 5, subulate. Capsule campanulate, 8 mm in diam., glabrous, apex truncate, 5 mm long. Seeds broadly cordate, 3 Χ 4 mm. Fl. Aug–Sep, fr. Sep–Oct.

* Forest and thickets; 60–100 m. Anhui, S Jiangsu, Zhejiang.

The junior author (C. J.) would treat species 6 as a synonym of this species.

3. Gynostemma cardiospermum Cogniaux ex Oliver, Hook., Ic. Pl. 23. tab. 2225. 1892.

心籽绞股蓝  xin zi jiao lan

Scandent herbs. Stem slender, angular-sulcate, glabrous. Leaves pedately 3–7-foliolate, petiole 2.5–5 cm; leaflets lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, median 4–10 cm long, lateral shorter, apex acuminate, base attenuate, margin irregularly crenate, glabrous or setose only on nerves. Tendrils slender, 2-fid. Male flowers in a panicle, rachis slender; calyx-segments oblong-lanceolate, acute; corolla-segments lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, 1-nerved; anthers ovate, 1-locular. Female flowers in a raceme; calyx and corolla as in the male; ovary globose, villous, styles 3, 0.5 mm long, stigmas half-moon-shaped, margin dentate; ovules 2. Capsule globose or subcampanulate, 8 mm in diam., apex truncate. Seeds broadly cordate, 4.2–5 mm broad, slightly compressed, rugose-verrucose on the both surfaces, margin narrowly winged. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Aug–Oct.

* Forest and thickets on mountain slopes; (1400)1900–2300 m. W Hubei, S Shaanxi, Sichuan.

4. Gynostemma microspermum C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(4)364, Fig. 4. 1983.

小籽绞股蓝  xiao zi jiao gu lan

Scandent herbs. Stem slender, angular-sulcate, glabrous or pubescent at the nodes. Leaves pedately 5-foliolate; petioles ca. 2 cm long, glabrous; leaflets thinly papery, elliptic, median 3–4 Χ 1.5–2 cm, lateral smaller, apex obtuse, cuspidate, base obtuse, margin irregularly crenate, adaxially pubescent. Tendrils filiform, 2-fid, glabrous. Flowers unknown. Infructescence racemose, dense. Capsule yellow-green, dark punctate, globose, ca. 3 mm in diam., glabrous, apex truncate, dehiscent, 1–2-seeded. Seeds broadly cordate, compressed, brown, 2.5 Χ 2 mm, less than 1 mm thick, papillose. Fr. Dec.

* Dense forest; 850–1350. S Yunnan.

5. Gynostemma aggregatum C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(4): 365. Fig. 5. 1983.

聚果绞股蓝  ju guo jiao gu lan

Scandent herbs. Stem slender, angular-sulcate, glabrous or pubescent at the nodes. Leaves pedately 5–7-foliolate, petiole 2–2.5 cm, glabrous; leaflets membranous, obovate-elliptic, median 3–3.5 Χ 1.5 cm, lateral smaller, apex obtuse-rounded, cuspidate, base obtuse, margin crenate, adaxially sparsely pubescent, abaxially glabrous; lateral veins 6–9 pairs, petiolule 2–5 mm long, glabrous. Tendrils filiform, 2-fid. Male flowers unknown. Female flowers in a small 3–4-flowered panicle; bracts capillary; calyx-segments very small, subulate; corolla-segments lanceolate, 1 mm long, apex shortly acuminate; ovary globose, ca. 1 mm in diam., villous, styles 3, free, 0.75 mm, stigma 2-lobed. Capsules aggregated in a dense 1.5–2 cm long spike; fruit broadly campanulate, 5 mm in diam., white-pubescent, apex truncate. Seeds ovate, gray-brown, 3 Χ 2 mm, 1 mm thick, verruculose, margin dentate. Fl. Jul–Aug, fr. Sep–Oct.

* Pine forests or mixed forests; 2300–2700 m. NW Yunnan.

6. Gynostemma laxiflorum C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(4): 366. Fig. 6. 1983.

疏花绞股蓝  shu hua jiao lan

Scandent herbs. Stem slender, angular-sulcate, glabrous or puberulent at the nodes. Leaves pedately 5-foliolate; petiole 3 cm long; leaflets membranous, oblong-lanceolate, median 4 Χ 1.5 cm, lateral smaller, apex acuminate, base obtuse, margin dentate, adaxially sparsely puberulent, adaxially glabrous. Tendrils simple, glabrous. Male flowers unknown. Female flowers: inflorescence a sparse panicle, axillary or terminal, 2–5 Χ 1.5–2.5 cm, rachis and branches glabrous, pedicel filiform, 4–5 mm long; bracts linear; calyx-segments oblong-lanceolate, ca. 1.75 Χ 0.5 mm, apex shortly acuminate, glabrous; corolla-segments ovate-lanceolate, 2.5 Χ 1 mm, apex caudate-acuminate, puberulent or glabrescent; staminodes 5, terete; ovary globose, ca. 2 mm in diam., pubescent, styles 3, 1.5 mm long, base puberulent, stigma luniform, irregularly 3–5-dentate. Fruit-pedicel 8–10 mm long, glabrous; capsule campanulate, 6–7 mm, glabrous, apex truncate, 3-rostrate, beaks 2–3 mm long, dehiscent, 2–3-seeded. Seeds broadly cordate, 2 Χ 2.5 mm, 1.5 mm thick, brown, papillate. Fl. and fr. Nov–Dec.

* Mountain slopes; 250 m. S Anhui.

The junior author (C. J.) would treat this taxon as a synonym of Gynostemma yixingense (Z. P. Wang & Q. Z. Xie) C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen.

7. Gynostemma simplicifolium Blume, Bijdr. 23. 1825.

单叶绞股蓝  dan ye jiao gu lan

Scandent herbs. Stem slender, branched, angular-sulcate, pubescent. Leaves simple, leaf-blade papery, ovate, 10–15 Χ 8–9 cm, apex acuminate, base rounded to slightly cordate, margin crenate, adaxially puberulent only on the nerves, abaxially glabrous, basal nerves 7–9; petiole 4–6 cm long, pubescent. Tendrils 2-fid. Male flowers: inflorescence paniculate, peduncle filiform, 10–25 cm long, pubescent; pedicels filiform, 0.5–2 mm long; calyx-segments oblong-lanceolate, 0.5–1 mm long, apex obtuse, puberulent; corolla pale green-white or pale green-yellow, segments 5, oblong, 3 Χ 0.7–1 mm, 1-nerved, apex obtuse. Fruit globose, 7–8 mm in diam., pale yellow-green, black when mature. Seeds broadly ovate, 4 Χ 3.5 mm, compressed, apex acute, base rounded, verrucose.

Forest; 1300–1320 m. Hainan, S Yunnan [Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines].

The junior author (C. J.) would treat this taxon as a synonym of Gynostemma pertaphyllum (Thunberg) Makino.

8. Gynostemma laxum (Wallich) Cogniaux in A. & C. , DC., Mon. Phan. 3: 914. 1881.

光叶绞股蓝  guang ye jiao gu lan

Zanonia laxa Wallich, List. n 3727. 1824, nom. nud.; Pl. As. Rar. 2: 29. 1831.

Climbing herbs. Stem slender, much-branched, glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Leaves papery, pedately 3-foliolate, petiole 1.5–4 cm long, glabrous; median leaflet oblong-lanceolate, sometimes rhomboid, 5–10 Χ 2–3 cm, apex acute or shortly acuminate, base broadly cuneate, lateral leaflets ovate, 4–7 Χ 2–3.5 cm, margin undulate-crenate, glabrous; petiolule (2–)5–7 mm long. Male flowers: inflorescence paniculate, terminal or axillary, (5–)10–30 cm long, pubescent; bracts subulate-lanceolate, 1 mm long; pedicels filiform, 3–7 mm long, bracteole subulate, smaller; calyx-segments 5, narrowly triangular ovate, ca. 0.5 mm; corolla yellow-green, segments narrowly ovate-lanceolate, 1.5 Χ 0.5 mm, glabrous, apex acuminate, entire, 1-nerved. Female inflorescence as male; corolla-segments narrowly triangular; ovary globose, 1 mm in diam., styles 3, free, apex 2-fid. Fruit globose, 8–10 mm, yellow-green, glabrous, indehiscent. Seeds broadly-ovate, ca. 4 mm in diam., pale gray, compressed, apex acute, base rounded, papillate on both surfaces. Fl. Aug, fr. Aug–Sep.

Dense forest in valleys. Guangxi, Hainan, SE Yunnan; [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam].

The junior author (C. J.) would treat this taxon as a synonym of Gynostemma pertaphyllum (Thunberg) Makino.

9. Gynostemma burmanicum King ex Chakravarty, Ind. Journ. Agric. Sc. 16(1): 85. 1946, nom. non rite public.

缅甸绞股蓝  mian din jiao gu lan

Scandent herbs. Stem angular-sulcate, densely pubescent at nodes. Leaves papery, 3-foliolate, hispidulous on both surfaces, petiole 3–6.5 cm long, densely pubescent, median leaflet rhomboid, (6–)8–12 Χ 3–5.5 cm, apex shortly acuminate, base broadly cuneate, margin crenate, lateral leaflets 4–9 Χ 4 cm, outer side semiovate, base rounded, inner side semilanceolate or oblanceolate, base attenuate, lateral veins 8–9, median petiolule 5–6 mm long, lateral leaflets subsessile. Tendrils 2-fid. Male flowers in panicle; calyx-segments oblong, 0.75 Χ 0.3 mm, apex obtuse; corolla green, segments more or less elliptic, apex acute or shortly acuminate; stamens 1 mm long, glabrous. Female flowers unknown. Fruit baccate, globose, 5–10 mm in diam., green, glabrous, 3-seeded. Seeds broadly ovate, 3(–5) Χ 3 mm, 2 mm thick, pale brown, compressed, base subrounded, edges with furrow, papillate on both surfaces.

Open forest or thickets; 630–1300 m. S and SE Yunnan [Myanmar, Thailand].

1a. Fruit 5–6 mm in diam.; seeds 3(–3.5) mm long ............................................  9a. var. burmanicum

1b. Fruit 8–10 mm in diam.; seeds 5 mm long ...............................................................  9b. var. molle

9a. Gynostemma burmanicum var. burmanicum nom. non rite publicat.

缅甸绞股蓝  mian dian jiao gu lan

Fruits 5–6 mm in diam.; seeds 3(3.5) mm long.

Open forest and thickets; 800–1200 m. S Yunnan [Myanmar, Thailand].

9b. Gynostemma burmanicum var. molle C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21(4): 360. 1983, nom. non rite publicat.

大果绞股蓝  da guo jiao gu lan

Fruits 8–10 cm in diam.; seeds 5 mm long.

* Forest in mountain valleys or open forest; 630–1300 m. S and SE Yunnan.

The junior author considers this species and it, varieties, the names of which have never been validly published, to represent densely hairy variants of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunberg) Makino.

11. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunberg) Makino, Bot. Mag. Tokyo 16: 179. 1902.

绞股蓝  jiao gu lan

Vitis pentaphylla Thunberg in Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14, 244. 1784; Gynostemma pedatum Blume; G. pedatum var. hupehensis Pampanini; G. pedatum Blume var. pubescens Gagnepain; G. pubescens (Gagnepain) C. Y. Wu ex C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen; G. pallidinerve Z. Zhang.

Climbing herbs. Stem and branches slender, angular-sulcate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Leaves membranous or papery, pedately 3–9-foliolate, usually 5–7-foliolate, pubescent or glabrous; leaflets ovate-oblong or lanceolate, median 3–12 Χ 1.5–4 cm, lateral smaller, apex acute or shortly acuminate, base attenuate, margin crenate, hispid on both surfaces, lateral veins 6–8 pairs; petiolule 1–5 mm. Tendril filiform, 2-fid. Male flowers in panicle, peduncle filiform, many-branched, 10–15(–30) cm long; pedicels filiform, 1–4 mm, bracteole subulate; calyx-tube very short, segments triangular, 0.7 mm long, apex acute; corolla pale green or white, segments ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–3 Χ 1 cm, apex long-acuminate, 1-nerved; stamens 5. Female flowers: panicle shorter than that of male; calyx and corolla as in the male; ovary globose, 2–3-celled, styles 3, stigmas 2-lobed; staminode 5, short. Fruits indehiscent, globose, 5–6 mm in diam., black when mature, 2-seeded. Seeds ovate-cordate, 4 mm in diam., brown, apex obtuse, base cordate, compressed, papillose on both surfaces. Fl. Mar–Nov, fr. Apr–Dec.

Forest, thickets or road sides on mountain slopes; 300–3200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, S Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, S Japan, S Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam].

1a. Fruit glabrous ..........................................................................................  11a. var. pentaphyllum

1b. Fruit densely hispid and pubescent .............................................................  11b. var. dasycarpum

11a. Gynostemma pentaphyllum var. pentaphyllum

绞股蓝  jiao gu lan

Fruit glabrous.

Forest, thickets or road sides on mountain slopes; 300–3200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, S Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, S Japan, S Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam].

The junior author (C. J.) would treat species 8 and 14 as synonyms of this taxon.

11b. Gynostemma pentaphyllum var. dasycarpum C. Y. Wu ex C. Y. Wu & S. K. Chen, Acta. Phytotax. Sin. 21: 362. 1983.

毛果绞股蓝  mao guo jiang gu lan

Fruits densely hispid and pubescent.

* Forest; 1400–1650 m. S Yunnan.

12. Gynostemma guangxiense X. X. Chen & D. H. Qin Acta Bot. Yunnan. 10(4): 495. fig. 1. 1988.

广西绞股蓝  guang xi jiang gu lan

Liana, herbaceous, scandent. Stems slender, glabrous, striate and sulcate. Tendrils filiform, apex bifid. Leaves alternate, pedate, with (3–)5–7-leaflets, petiole 4–8 cm, glabrous; leaflet blade membranous, ovate-elliptic or obovate, central 3–4.5 Χ 1.5–2.5 cm, lateral smaller, slightly oblique, apex short-acuminate or obtuse, base cuneate, margin serrate, glabrous or with sparse pubescence along midrib and lateral veins on both surfaces; petiolule 3–5 mm. Flowers monoecious. Male flowers: greenish, ca. 2 m in diam., in axillary panicles, 3–5 cm; peduncle filiform, 8–15 mm, glabrous; bracteoles subulate, ca. 1.5 mm long; pedicels filiform, 2–3 mm; calyx 5-lobed, lobes deltoid, ca. 0.5 Χ 0.4 mm; corolla 5-lobed, lobes lanceolate, 1–1.5 Χ 0.5 mm; stamens 5, filaments very short, anthers ovate. Female flowers: few cymose, peduncle slender, 6–14 mm, glabrous, pedicels 7–15 mm; calyx 5-lobed, lobes lanceolate, ca. 1 Χ 0.3 mm; corolla 5-lobed, lobes lanceolate, ca. 2.5 Χ 0.5 mm, apex caudate-acuminate; ovary 2–3-locular, each locule with 1 ovule, styles 2–3, slightly connate at base, stigmas slightly bifid. Fruits obovate-triangular or 3-angled-oblate, 4–5 mm long, 5–6 mm in diam., apex truncate, with persistent perianth and style, glabrous, greenish, fruit stalk filiform, 7–18 mm. Seeds 2–3, oblong or subglobose, ca. 2.5 mm long, ca. 2.2 mm in diam., cream, verruculose, Fl. Oct, fr. Nov–Dec.

* Forests on limestone mountains. Guangxi (Longzhou, Daxin).

13. Gynostemma compressum X. X. Chen & D. R. Liang in Guihaia 11(1): 13. 1991.

扁果绞股蓝  bian guo jiao gu lan