天南星科 tian nan xing ke
Li Heng (李恒)[1]; Zhu Guanghua (朱光华)[2]
Perennial herbs if diverse habit incl. climbers, floating aquatics, pachycaul shrubs and geophytes. Underground stems absent, rhizomatous or tuberous, aerial stems variously produced or not, often evergreen; bulbils for vegetative reproduction sometimes produced e.g. on leaf or on special shoots. Leaves alternate or apparently basal, usually petiolate with sheathing bases, often subtended by cataphylls, blades various e.g. linear, simple (base often cordate to sagittate), sometimes peltate or variously compound (e.g. pinnate, radiate, pedate). Inflorescences (sometimes precocious) subtended by membranous cataphylls, consisting of a spadix subtended by a spathe. Spathe commonly with tubelike base (margins fused or not) and deciduous blade. Spadix bearing bisexual or unisexual flowers, in latter case plants dioecious or monoecious (spadix female below and male above). Bisexual flowers; tepals 0, 4 or 6; stamens 46, filaments free, anthers bilocular; ovary usually 3-loculed. Unisexual flowers: male represented by single stamens or synandria of 20 fused stamens, anthers often subsessile, usually dehiscing apically by pores or slits (straight or horseshoe-shaped); female flowers consisting of single ovaries (sometimes associated with a sterile staminode), commonly unilocular (sometimes with 3 or 4 locules), ovules 1many per locule, commonly parietal, basal or apical. Neuter flowers derived from male of female flowers sometimes present at apex of female and or male section. Spadix sometimes with a sterile, terminal appendix. Fruit usually a head of 1several seeded berries, commonly red.
A family of 105 genera, about 3000 species, distributed in all parts of the world, chiefly in tropical and subtropical regions. 202 species of 27 genera present in China, 100 species, nearly 50 are endemic to China. There is an abundance of aroids in the southwestern and southern provinces of China: Yunnan 102 species (excluding cultivated species), Sichuan 54 species, Guangxi 52 species, Guangdong 51 species. The northeastem and northwestern regions are poorer in aroids: Neimongol (Inner Mongolia) and Heilong-jiang each have four species, Qinghai 3 species, Xinjiang only two species. 50% of aroid species are medicinal plants, for example: chang pu (Acorus calamus), tian nan xing (Arisaema heterophyllum), ban xia (Pinellia ternata), hu zhang (Pinallia pedatisecta), qian nian jian (Homalomena occulta) have been used since ancient times; tuber of yu shu (Colocasia), mo yu shu (Amorphophallus) are used for food or vegetables or used in industry for starch. Da piao (Pistia) is very valuable as a food for pigs and sometimes is cultivated as an ornamental in aquatic gardens.
Li Heng . 1979. Araceae. Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 13(2): 1210.
1a. Flowers bisexual; spadix without appendix.
2a. Flowers with perianth.
3a. Plants erect or procumbent, herbaceous; petioles not flattened nor leaflike.
4a. Spathe arching forward, covering spadix; leaf cordate, entire ............................................ 8. Symplocarpus
4b. Spathe not arching forward, acuminate; leaf sagittate-hastate.
5a. Ovules 2, rarely 1, or many, lateral on parietal placentas; seeds with crested ridges ... 10. Cyrtosperma
5b. ovules 1 ............................. Ovules 1,
hanging in cell from apical placenta; seeds without crested ridges
11.
Lasia
3b. Plants climbing; petiole flattened, leaflike.
6a. Ovary 3-celled ......................................................................................................................................... 1. Pothos
6b. Ovary 1-celled ................................................................................................................................. 2. Pothoidium
2b. Flowers without perianth.
7a. Plants aquatic; spathe persistent ............................................................................................................... 9. Calla
7b. Plants climbing, not aquatic; spathe deciduous.
8a. Spadix with stipe.
9a. Ovules 2, borne on lower part of the lateral placenta ............................................................... 4. Amydrium
9b. Ovule 1, borne at center of basal placentas .......................................................................... 3. Anadendrum
8b. Spadix sessile.
10a. Berries free; ovary l-celled or partially 2-celled.
11a. Ovules 2 or more per cell ....................................................................................................... 6. Epipremnum
11b. Ovule 1 per cell ......................................................................................................................... 7. Scindapsus
10b. Berries connate; ovary 2-celled, ovules numerous ........................................................ 5. Rhaphidophora
1b. Flowers unisexual, male & female flowers on same plant or not; perianth absent or only ringlike.
12a. Spadix without appendix.
13a. Spadix free from or partially adnate to spathe; plants terrestrial. herbs erect or suberect, rarely suffrutescent.
14a. Stamens free.
15a. Ovule 1; spathe withered at fruiting; female flowers
without staminodes
14.
Aglaonema
15b. Ovules numerous; spathe [not] entirely deciduous at fruiting, fruits covered by accrescent lower spathe; female flowers often with staminodes
16a. Upper spathe withering, lower spathe persistent;
spathe free from spadix
................................................................................................................................................ 12.
Homalomena
16b. Upper spathe blade deciduous quickly; female part of spadix adnate to spathe 13. Schismatoglottis
14b. Stamens connate into synandria with 45.
17a. Placentation parietal; ovules numerous.
18a. Spathe ovate or ovate lanceolate, not differentiated into blade and tube, spreading from base; female flowers with staminodes; stem repent or suberect .................................................................................... 15. Steudnera
18b. Spathe tube convolute, tumid; spathe blade spreading; tuber globose........................... 16. Remusatia
17b. Placentation basal.
19a. Spathe blade convolute, spathe tube with a constriction at middle; spadix free from spathe; ovary with few ovules .......................................................................................................................... 16. Romusatia (gonatanthus)
19b. Spathe blade spreading, reflexed, spathe tube not constricted; female part of spadix adnate to spathe, flowering on one side ....................................................................................................................................... 17. Hapaline
13b. Spadix back 2/3 adnate to spathe; aquatic plants ................................................................................. 27. Pistia
12b. Spadix with terminal appendix.
20a. Ovules anatropous; flowers and leaves not appearing
at the same time
20.
Amorphophallus
20b. Ovules erect (orthotropous).
21a. Stamens free.
22a. Throat of spathe tube open.
23a. Spathe margins, convolute, not united.
24a. Male and female flowers on same plant.
25a. Ovules numerous, parietal; leaves sagittate ........................................................................... 21. Arum
25b. Ovules 12, basal .............................................................................................................. 22. Typhonium
24b. Male & female flowers on different plants, rarely on same plant; ovules 12(9), basal 24. Arisaema
23b. Spathe margins united, tubelike, without gape ............................................................... 25. Sauromatum
22b. Throat of spathe tube closed; male & female flowers on the same plant.
26a. Spadix entirely included by spathe; ovaries in a single series (ring), connate; fruit a dehiscent syncarp 26. Cryptocoryne
26b. Part of male spadix extended beyond spathe; ovaries free; female part of spadix adnate to spathe 25. Pinellia
21b. Stamens connate into synandria.
27a. Ovary incompletely 2-celled; ovules numerous; placentae parietal .................................... 18. Colocasia
27b. Ovary l-celled; ovules few; placenta basal ................................................................................. 19. Alocasia
石柑属 shi gan shu
Li Heng (李恒); Peter Boyce[3]
Climbing against trees with the aid of adhesive roots, or creeping over rocks. Stems branched, the branches rooting. Leaves simple, distichous, wide apart, with basal nerves; articulation distinct; petiole conspicuously winged or wingless; petiolar sheath minute or well-developed, amplexicaul. Inflorescences in axils of leaves or seemingly extra-axillary, sometimes pseudo-terminal, usually several along the stem; peduncle partly or entirely enveloped by sheathlike organs (cataphylls); stalk of spadix present or absent; spathe small, cymbiform or elongate, not constricted, at last entirely spreading, and either patent or recurved; spadix sessile or stipitate, varying in shape, bearing reduced flowers at the very base, otherwise fertile; flowers many, bisexual, sometimes reduced; tepals 6, with vaulted-truncate apex; stamens 6; filaments strap-shaped; anthers ova, longitudinally dehiscent; ovary 3-celled; 1 ovule in each cell, subbasal; stigma sessile, initially umbilicate; berry 13-seeded; seeds large, without endosperm.
About 75 species, tropical Asia, Australia, Madagascar, Polynesia; 8 species in China.
1a. Leaf petiole 1315 cm, much longer than leaf blade; blade 34 cm long; spadix cylindric, 56 Χ 0.150.2 cm 8. P. repens
1b. Leaf petiole as long as or shorter than leaf blade; spadix elliptic, globose.
2a. Petiole nearly as long as blade.
3a. Peduncle at anthesis reflexed or recurved; leaf blade length and width almost the same as petiole, 48 cm long, 13 cm wide; spadix globose, small, 56 cm long ...................................................................................... 1. P. scandens
3b. Peduncle erect; spadix larger, oblong.
4a. Spathe dark purple; leaf smaller, petiole 48 cm long, 510mm wide .................................... 2. P. cathcartii
4b. Spathe yellow-green; leaf larger, petiole 2/3 to = blade length, 79 cm long, 1.52.5 cm wide; blade 8.512.5 cm long ........................................................................................................................................................... 3. P. balansae
2b. Petiole much shorter than blade.
5a. Petiole short, small, obovate, length and width only 1/61/8 of blade; veins conspicuously branched; branchlets 4-anguled.
6a. Peduncle and stipe small and short, together 1.32 cm long .................................................... 4. P. pilulifer
6b. Peduncle and stipe thin amd long, together 7.58 cm. long ......................................................... 5.. P. kerrii
5b. Petiole narrower & long, obovate-oblong or cuneate; veins inconspicuous; branchlets not 4-anguled.
7a. Blade lanceolate, 68 Χ 1.52.2 cm; petiole cuneate, 612 Χ 34 mm ................................... 6. P. warburgii
7b. Blade obovate-lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 68 Χ 2.53.5 cm; petiole obovate-oblong to long-cuneate, 14 Χ 0.51.2 cm ........................................................................................................................................ 7. P. chinensis
螳螂跌打 tang lang die da
Epiphytic creeping liana. Stem 46 m and more, branched; branches cylindric, 1.52 mm diam. Leaves petiolate, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate 48 cm long, 13 cm wide, acuminate at apex, obtuse at base, sometimes reduced into a small apex (only 12 mm long), 3-nerved on each side; petioles cuneate, truncate at apex, auriculate, many nerved. Inflorescence small, axillary, single. Peduncle short, ca. 58 mm long, with 68 cataphylls at base; cataphylls green, imbricate, ovate, small, upper ones ca. 4 mm long. Spathe very small, cymbiform, purple, 56 mm long; spadix yellow-green, yellow, subglobose or ellipsoid, 56 mm long, 45 mm diam., on a short stipe ( stalk); stipe 45 mm long, erect in bud, recurved at 180 to 270. Berry oblong-ovate, yellow or red, less than 10 mm long, 56 mm diam. Fl. & fr. all seasons.
Rain forests, monsoon rainforest, in mountains or river terraces, bottoms, creeping on trees or on rocks; 2001000 m; South and Southeast Yunnan, Xizang (Medog) [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Comoros, Madagascar].
Used in Yunnan as medicine for traumatic injury and rheumatic arthralgia; leaves are used as tea for drinking by Tai people.
紫苞石柑 zi bao shi gan
Scandent suffruticose. Stems cylindric, angulate, more than 5 m long; internodes 12 cm long. Leaves oblong or ovate-oblong, 5.59 cm long, 22.5 cm wide, apex caudate, base obtuse or rounded, 3-nerved on each side; petioles oblong-cuneate, apex rounded or truncate, auriculate or not, almost as long as leaves, 48 cm long, 0.51 cm wide, lateral veins 23 pairs. Inflorescences in axils of leaves, cataphylls 45, ovate, imbricate, 515 mm long. Peduncle 24 cm long; Spathe purple brown, broadly ovate, apex acute, 2 Χ 2.3 cm, spreading, reflexed; spadix erect, oblong, ellipsoid, ca 10 mm long, 78 mm diam., on a short stipe; stipe ca. 5 mm long. Fl. Apr.
Dense forests, on tree; 5001600 m; Xizang (Medog), Southwest, south and southeast Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, N Myanmar, Thailand, Sikkim, N Vietnam].
龙州石柑 long zhou shi gan
Epiphytic liana. Stems branched; branches green, internodes 12 cm. Leaves ovate, oblong or lanceolate-oblong, (2)8.512. 5 cm, 34 cm wide, apex acuminate; petioles broad-cuneate, as long as leaves. leaves or shorter, apex truncate; Inflorescences in axils of leaves. Peduncle ca. 4 cm long, 3 mm in diam.; cataphylls many, imbricate, ovate, 2 Χ 2 cm; spathe ovate yellow large, 2.5 Χ 3 cm; spadix stipe 5 mm long, spadix oblong, 2.5 Χ 2 cm, flowers large, 34 mm in diam. Berry yellow. Fl. Jun.
SW Guangxi (Longzhou co. Daquinshan) [N Vietnam ].
地柑 di gan
Scandent liana. Stems 23 m long, branched. Branches green, tetra-angulate, internodes 23 cm long. Leaves leathery, elliptic, 79 Χ 2.54.5 cm, apex acute, aristate, veins conspicuous, 1 pair basal, 3 pairs lateral; petioles short, 0.52.5 cm long, 0.71.5 cm wide, obovate, apex truncate, auriculate. Inflorescences axillary, peduncle and stipe together 12 cm long, cataphylls 45, small, 26 mm long; spathe ovate, reflexed, 5 mm long. Spadix yellow-green, globose, 56 mm in diam. Fl. DecJul.
Dense forest, on rocks, 2001000 m. SW Guangxi, SE Yunnan [N Vietnam].
All parts of plant are used as medicine for epilepsy.
长梗石柑 chang geng shi gan
Creeping liana. Stems branched. Branches cylindric, 4-angulate, internodes 1.53 cm long. Leaves subleathery, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, caudate, 611 Χ 2.54 cm, 2 pairs basal and 1 pair lateral veins; petioles obovate, 12.2 Χ 0.50.9 cm, apex obtuse, not auriculate. Inflorescences axillary peduncle purple-brown, 3.54 cm long; cataphylls 35, 15 mm long, imbricate. Spathe purple brown, ovate-cymbiform, 5 mm long, apex acute. Spadix globose, 45 mm in diam., yellow-green; stipe 35 cm long. Fl. Aug.
Dense forests, on rocks; SE Guangxi: Longzhou co [Laos].
The plant is used medicinally to treat traumatic injury.
Pothos kerrii is quite similar to P. pilulifer, but it is different from latter by the elongated peduncle and stipe (7. 58 cm long both together), peduncle and stipe of P. pilulifer 1.32 cm long.
台湾石柑 tai wan shi gan
Epiphytic liana. Branches 4-angulate, internodes more than 1 cm long. Leaves oblong or oblong-lanceolate, apex acute, (2)68 cm long, 12 cm wide; petioles widely cuneate, shorter than blade, 612 Χ 3 4 mm. Peduncle longer than petiole, cataphylls 5. Spathe short ovate, apex acute, ca. 5 mm long. Spadix on a short stipe, ovoid, 4 mm long, 3 mm in diam., flowers small. Fl. MarOct.
· Taiwan.
石柑子 shi gan zi
Tapanava chinensis Rafinesque-Schmaltz, Fl. Tellur. 4: 14. 1838; Pothos seemannii Schott; P. yunnanensis Engler.
Epiphytic liana. Stems suffruticose, brownish, subcylindric, striate, 2 cm diam., internodes 14 cm long, rooting, branched. Leaves papery, elliptic, lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate-oblong, 613 Χ 1.55.6 cm, apex acuminate or long acuminate, cristate, base obtuse, veins conspicuous, 1 pair basal, 3 pairs lateral; petiole obovate-oblong or cuneate, ca. 1/6 Χ as large as blade, 14 Χ 0.51.2 cm. Inflorescences axillary, cataphylls 45(6), ovate, 5 cm long; peduncle 818(20) mm long. Spathe green, ovate, apex acute, 8 mm long, 1015 mm wide. Spadix short, elliptic to subglobose, yellow green, yellowish, 78(11) mm long, 56(10) mm in diam.; stipe 35(8) mm. Berry yellow green to red, ovoid, or oblong, ca. 1 cm long. Fl. and fr. all seasons.
Moist dense forests, climbing against on trees or creeping over rocks, below 2400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang (Medog), Yunnan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam ].
1a. Peduncle 818 mm long ............................................................................................................................. 7a. var. chinensis
1b. Peduncle up to 25 mm long .................................................................................................................... 7b. var. lotienensis
石柑子(原变种) shi gan zi (yuan bian zhong)
Peduncles 818(20) mm long.
Moist dense forests, climbing on trees or creeping over rooks; below 2400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
All plant is used medicinally to treat rheumatic arthralgia, traumatic injury, fractures, cough, infantile malnutrition caused by intestinal parasites.
长柄石柑 chang bing shi gan
Peduncles up to 25 mm long. Fl. AprJun.
· Moist mountain valleys, on rocks; 5201100 m. S. Guizhou.
百足藤 bai zu teng
Flagellaria repens Laureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 212. 1970; Pothos loureiri W. J. Hooker & G. A. W. Arnott in Bot. Beech. Voy.: 220. 1841.
Epiphytic liana. Stems 120 m. long; branches slender, usually angulate, flexuous, rooting, internodes 1015 mm; flowering branches cylindric, striate, not rooting, pendulous. Leaves lanceolate, apex acuminate, 34 cm. Χ 57 mm, veins parallel, inconspicuous; leaves in young branches much small, 1020 Χ 34 mm; petioles long cuneate, apex retuse, 1315 cm long, 11.5 cm wide. Inflorescences terminal and axillary main peduncles ca. 23 cm long; cataphylls 35, lanceolate, imbricate or lax; peduncle in axil of cataphyll, slender, 1113 cm long, at base bearing a linear bract; bract 12 cm long. Spathe green, linear lanceolate, apex acute, long aristate, 46 cm long, 58 mm wide Spadix yellow-green, slender, cylindric, 56 cm long, in fruit time, up to 10 cm. long and 1.52 mm in diam.; stipe 56 mm long. Berry ovate, puniceous, ca. 1 cm long. Fl. MarApr, fr. MayJul.
Moist forests, epiphytic on trees or creeping over rocks; below 900 m. S. Guangdong, S Guangxi, Hongkong, Hainan, S Yunnan [N Vietnam].
Plant is used for the treatment of traumatic injury, fractures and abscesses.
假石柑属 jia shi gan shu
Climbing, Scandent shrub. Branches extra-axillary. Leaves simple, distichous, petiolate; leaf blades short, triangular-lanceolate with parallel veins; petioles elongated, leaflike, wide apart, veins parallel. Inflorescences in axil of leaves, bractlike cataphylls 12. Spathe short, deciduous; spadix cylindric; flowers bisexual; tepals 6, with vaulted-truncate apex; stamens 6; anthers oval, longitudinally dehiscent; ovary obovoid, unilocular; ovule solitary, subbasal; stigma sessile; berry ovoid, acute; seed oblong, without endosperm.
A monotypic genus, China (Taiwan), Malaysia, Philippines.
Pothoidium is similar to Pothos repens, but differs from the latter by its unilocular ovary and solitary ovule.
假石柑 jia shi gan
Climbers. Branches elongated, striate, internodes 7.510 mm long. Leaves leathery, blades triangular-lanceolate, 2.54 Χ 7.5 mm, much smaller and shorter than petiole; petiole 7.510 Χ 1 cm, apex truncate, base angustate. Spathe breviovate, acute, 57.5 mm long. Spadix 1.52. 5 cm long. Berry 1.2 cm long, 6 mm in diam. Seed solitary, ovoid. Fl. FebMay, fr. JulOct.
Taiwan (Taitung: Botel Tobago) [Malesia and Philippines].
上树南星属 shan shu nan xing shu
Creeping against trees or over boulders by mean of adhesive roots. Leaves distichous, petiolate, undivided, pinnately nerved; the upper nodes with usually 2 normal leaves with distinct sheaths, and (mostly) several strongly to entirely reduced leaves with strongly developed sheaths; the petioles of the other leaves only at base moderately sheathing, pulvinus distinct; rachides and laticiferous vessels absent. Inflorescences axillary, several, approximate along uppermost stem-parts, together with the sheaths of the (usually) upper, normally developed leaves and those of the partly or entirely reduced ones combined into an (often distinct) rhipidium; spathe oblong-ovate, cymbiform, white, initially tubular-inrolled, at last entirely spreading, early caducous; stalk (stipe) of the spadix well developed; spadix cylindric; flowers many, bisexual, perianth annular, truncate; stamens 4; filaments strap-shaped; anthers longitudinally dehiscent; ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled; ovule central-basal; stigma sessile, transversely inserted; berry thin-walled; seed large.
9 species; tropical Asia: from India to Malaysia, two species in China.
1a. Leaf sheath 10 mm. wide; blade oblong-lanceolate, 1520 Χ 58 cm; inflorescence with 7 m long linear bracts; spadix stipe 58 mm long ................................................................................................................................................... 1. A. montanum
1b. Leaf sheath narrower, 57 mm wide; blade ovate-oblong, (14)30 Χ (5.5) 9 cm; inflorescence without linear bracts, spadix stipe 2 cm long ........................................................................................................................................ 2. A. latifolium
上树南星 shang shu nan xing
Calla montana Blume in Flora 8: 147. 1825.
Stem 45 mm in diam., internodes elongated, 2.5 cm long, upper one much shorter, rooting. Leaf blade papery, oblong-lanceolate, entire, oblique, apex acuminate, base obtuse or subcordate, 1520 Χ 58 cm, lateral veins 78 each side, inter them secondary veins 23, reticulate; petioles 1015 cm long, from base to pulvinus sheathing, developed sheaths 914 cm long, 10 mm wide mostly early caducous. Inflorescences axillary and terminal from bractlike reduced leaves; bractlike linear leaves ca. 7 cm long, apex acuminate with 57 mm long tail. Peduncle 1015 cm long. Spathe initially tubular-inrolled, at last entirely spreading, ovate lanceolate, apex with a 1015 mm long rostrum. Spadix pale green, ellipsoid, 33.5 cm long, stipe 58 mm long; flowers dense, perianth annular, ca. 1/2 Χ as high as ovary; filaments 4, anthers ovate; ovary obovoid, apex 3 mm in diam.; stigma transversely oblong. Berry ovoid, 8 mm long, apex truncate. Fl. and fr. JunOct.
Forests, on trees or over rocks, below 500 m, Hainan, SE Yunnan [Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam].
宽叶上树南星 kuan ye shang shu nan xing
Stem 0.43 m long, 45 mm in diam., internodes 1.53 cm long, rooting. Leaf blade broadly oblong, cuspidately acuminate, base acute, 25.433 Χ 10.514 cm, lateral veins ca. 12 each side, strong, spreading and arched; petiole 1117 cm long, narrowly sheathing, sheaths ca. 2/3 Χ as long as petiole, 57 mm wide. Inflorescences axillary, without bractlike reduced leaves. Peduncle 25 cm long. Spathe initially spindle-shaped and at last spreading, lanceolate, apex acuminate, base angustate, 56 cm long. Spadix cylindric, 35.8 cm (Yunnan specimens), stipe to 2 cm long. Flowers very closed; perianth annular, ca. 1/2 Χ as high as ovary, stamens 4, anthers base divaricate, apex dehiscent; ovary obovoid, apex 3 mm in diam.; stigma transversely linear. Berry yellow-green, drying blackened, ovoid, apex truncate, ca. 10 mm long. Fl. AprMay.
Forests, 100250 m; SE Yunnan [Malaysia, Vietnam].
雷公连属 lei gong lian shu
Epipremnopsis Engler.
Creeping against trees and over rocks by the aid of adhesive roots. Leaves long-petiolate, leaf blade entire, pinnatifid or entire with a series of rather large openings on either side of midrib; pulvinus distinct; rachides and laticiferous absent. Inflorescences usually near stem-apices on leafless nodes, mostly solitary; peduncle initially for the greater part enveloped by sheaths, afterwards more and less becoming naked, far exserted from the remnants of the fraying sheaths; spathe initially tubular-inrolled, finally reflexed and entirely spreading, early caducous; stipe of the spadix short; spadix cylindric; flowers many, bisexual, naked; stamens 4; filaments strap-shaped; anthers longitudinally dehiscent; ovary 1-celled, 2-ovuled; ovules subbasal along, parietal, strongly intruding placenta; style conical, minute; stigma orbicular or longitudinally inserted; berry 12-seeded, seed subglobose.
About 8 species. Tropical Asia, two species in China.
1a. Leaf blade entire, unlobed; spadix obovoid 4 cm long, upper part 17 mm in diam.; stigma rounded 1. A. sinense
1b. Leaf blade with some big and some small oblong perforations (openings); spadix cylindric, 6 Χ ca. 13. cm; stigma oblong 2. A. hainanense
雷公连 lei gong lian
? Scindapsus sinensis Engler in Engler, Bot. Jahrb. 29: 234. 1900; Epipremnopsis sinensis (Engler) H. Li.
Epiphytic lianas. Stem slender, 35 mm in diam.; internodes 35 cm long. Leaf blade light green, after drying black brown, falcate-lanceolate, entire, apex acute, base late cuneate or sub rounded, 1323 Χ 58 cm, strongly asymmetric, one side usually 2 Χ as wide as other. Lateral veins many, diverging at 30 angle from midrib, contracted near margin into a marginal vein. Petiole elongated base sheathing, 815 cm long. Peduncle pale green, 5.5 cm. Spathe initially green, inrolled spindle-shaped, 7 cm long, middle part 2.2 cm in diam., finally spreading cymbiform, subovate, 89 cm long, 11.5 cm wide, yellow green to yellow. Spadix-stipe 510 mm long, spadix obovoid, apex obtuse, angustate towards base, ca. 4 cm long and 1.8 cm in diam. Flower bisexual; filaments 4 mm long, anthers oblong, 3 mm long; ovary 56-angular cylindric, apex truncate, 4 Χ 5 mm. stigma sessile, nearly circular, 1-celled, 2-ovuled, ovules subbasal, transversely inserted. Berry green, mature one yellow or red, bad smelling; seeds 12, brown, obovate-nephroid, 2 mm long. Fl. JunJul, fr. JulNov.
· Evergreen forests, on trees or over rocks, 5501100 m Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan.
The stems and leaves are used for treating traumatic injury, fractures and angina pectoris.
穿心藤 chuan xin teng
Epipremnopsis hainanensis Ting & Wu ex H. Li & al. in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 15(2): 102. 1977.
Stem cylindric internodes 23 cm long. Leaf blade green, after drying dark brown, papery, ovate-lanceolate, falcate-lanceolate, apex abruptly acuminate, base rounded or subcordate, entire, 1315 cm on juvenile branch, on adult branch blade large 2835 Χ 912 cm, lateral veins 57 pairs, ascending and arched, each side along midrib some big and some small perforations; perforations ovate or oblong, 46 cm long, 1.54 cm diam., sometimes reaching margin and midrib of leaf blade; petiole 2030 cm, on juvenile branch only 45 cm, sheath reaching base of leaf blade, base amplexicaul, sheath early caducous. Inflorescence solitary, axillary, approximate along uppermost stem-parts. Peduncle cylindric, 810 cm, when dry dark brown. Spathe yellow-red, short cymbiform, 85 Χ 89 cm, apex rostrate. Spadix stipe 810 cm long; spadix cylindric, 6 cm long, 1.3 cm in diam.; flowers bisexual, ovary hexagonal cylindric, apex truncate, 3 Χ ca. 2. 5 mm; stigma sessile, longitudinally oblong, 1-celled, 2-ovuled; ovules anatropous with short funicle, inserted lower part of placenta; stamens 6, shorter than ovary, filaments flat, anthers longitudinally dehiscent. Fl. Apr (Hainan), Oct (Guangxi).
· Dense forests in valley or by water side, creeping against tress or over rocks; below 300 m; Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan and Yunnan. Amydriun hainanensis differs from A. sinense in having some small and some big ovate or oblong perforations along midrib of leaf blade, cylindric spadix and oblong stigma of ovary.
崖角藤属 ya jiao teng shu
Li Heng (李恒); Peter Boyce
Large lianas, epiphytic, creeping up against trees by aid of adhesive roots, on rocks. Stems thick, rooting, distichous, entire or divided, or perforate, rather firm, pinnately nerved, petiolate; pulvinus short or long; petiole unilaterally grooved, short-sheathing near base; raphides numerous in stem and leaf; laticiferous ducts absent. Inflorescences at apex of leafy plant, solitary or sometimes united into a rhipidium; spathe not constricted, initially inrolled and tubular, afterwards spreading, firm, early caducous; stalk of the spadix short or absent; spadix cylindric; flowers many, bisexual or sometimes a few male, naked; stamens 4; anthers much shorter than the filaments, dehiscent by a slit; style absent to short-conical; stigma circular to lineal, in latter case longitudinally inserted; ovary 1-or incompletely 2-celled, 2-many-ovuled; ovules basal or parietal, 1-or 2-seriate; fruit baccate, many seeded; seeds small, oblong to reniform.
Ca. 120 species, tropical Asia, Australia and the tropical western Pacific; 12 species in China.
1a. Leaf blade entire.
2a. Leaf blade very large, more than 30 cm wide.
3a. Leaf midrib shortly hairy below; spadix obovate-cylindric or elliptic, narrowing to base, 4.55.5 Χ 1.51.75 cm 3. R. hookeri
3b. Leaf midrib glabrous; spadix cylindric, to 1720 Χ 23 cm........................................................ 4. R. megaphylla
2b. Leaf blade smaller, usually less than 15 cm wide.
4a. Blade oblong or obliquely oblong, obtuse at base, 1524 Χ 59 cm ...................................... 2. R. perkinsiae
4b. Blade falcate-lanceolate or falcate elliptic.
5a. Blade narrowly cuneate at base; spathe green outside; spadix narrowing to apex, 58 Χ 1.53.0 cm 5. R. hongkongensis
5b. Blade rounded at base; spathe orange or pale yellow outside; spadix thinner and longer, cylindric.
6a. Spathe orange both inside and outside, center of outside light green; spadix = 2/3 of spathe length 1. R. lancifolia
6b. Spathe pale yellow outside; spadix more than 4/5 of spathe length ....................................... 6. R. peepla
1b. Leaf blade pinnatifid.
7a. Style absent.
8a. Leaf blade smaller, less than 35 cm long and 30 cm wide, with a few lobes.
9a. Blade broad-ovate, pinnatisect, 35 Χ 2530 cm;
lobes 34 on each side (sinuses reaching midrib); spadix long and thin, 1518 Χ
0.5 cm when dry
..................................................................................................................................................... 8.
R. laichouensis
9b. Blade ovate, pinnatifid and entire on older plants, 1725 Χ 512 cm, lobes only 13 on one or both sides (sinuses not reaching midrib); spadix shorter, 1213 Χ 0.81.0 cm ......................................................... 7.. R. luchunensis
8b. Leaf blade larger, more than 37 cm long; pinnae (lobes) with 35 subequal, parallel costae.
10a. Pinnae 25 per side, spadix under 9 cm .......................................................................................... 9. R. glauca
10b. Pinnae 69 per side, spadix 10 cm ....................................................................................... 10.. R. dulongensis
7b. Style conspicuous; leaf blade very large; lobes many, 67(15) on each side; leaf blade ovate-oblong.
11a. Perforation absent; leaf blade 6070 Χ 4050 cm; spadix cylindric ......................................... 12. R. decursiva
11b. Large perforations usually present along midrib; blade 3055 Χ 2236 cm; spadix oblong-conical 11. R. crassicaulis
上树蜈蚣 shang shu wu gong
Epiphytic lianas. Stem green 20 m long and more, 12 cm in diam., branched. Branches pendulous, internodes 12 cm long, rooting Leaf blade subleathery, green above, pale green beneath, entire, falcate-lanceolate, ovate-oblong, rarely ovate, oblique, 2540 Χ 1013. 5 cm, usually one side 78 cm wide, other side only 4 5. 5 cm, apex long acuminate, base oblique rounded, i. e. base of one side obtuse, other side cuneate, lateral veins 7 8 per side, ascending obliquely and arched. Petiole green sheathing from base to pulvinus, 1430 cm long, base 3 mm in diam., at apex pulvinus incrassate, 11. 5 cm long. Inflorescence terminal; bracts membranous, lanceolate, 10 cm long, caducous peduncle green, 710 cm long, 1 cm in diam., upper part recurved; spathe initially green, inrolled and tubular with a 23 cm long rostrum, in flowering stage spreading cymbiform in outline, orange in both sides, center of outside light green; light yellow in inside base, 12.54.5 cm Χ 10 cm, apex abrupt acuminate, with a long rostrum, after flowering caducous. Spadix sessile, cylindric, 7 cm long, 1.3 cm in diam., apex obtuse. Flowers bisexual, anthers purple. ovary yellow or pale green, tetragonal or pentagonal cylindric; stigma bracked, sessile, longitudinal oblong, many-ovuled. Infructescence incrassated, 9 cm long, 1.52 cm in diam. Berry gray-green, seeds many, cylindric, yellow, 1.52 mm long. Fl. OctNov, fr. next Oct.
Rain forests, monsoon rain forests; creeping on trees; 4802500 m. W Guangxi, Yunnan [Bangladesh, NE India].
针房藤 zhen fang teng
Climbing lianas. Leaves petiolate, blade leathery, oblong or obliquely oblong, 1524 Χ 59 cm, apex acuminate, base obtuse, lateral veins nearly parallel; peduncles 69 cm long; spathe convolute, 8 Χ 2 cm; spadix shorter than the spathe, sessile, 6 cm long, 1 cm in diam.; anthers ovoid, acuminate; ovary hexagonal cylindric, 5 mm long.
Taiwan, known only from Taidong [Philippines].
Rhaphidophora perkinsiae differs from R. lancifolia in having smaller leaf blades, (1524 Χ 59 cm) and smaller spadix (6 Χ 1 cm).
毛过山龙 mao gou shan long
Epiphytic, climbing lianas. Stem cylindric, 8.12 mm in diam., internodes short, 510 mm. Leaf blade papery, oblique oblong, apex with a 1520 mm long acumen, base rounded, truncate or subcordate, 27.545 Χ 1530 cm, sides and base of midrib on underside shortly hairy, lateral veins all diverging at 7040 angle from midrib; petiole 1230 cm, sheath reaching pulvinus or stopping short by to 2 cm, pulvinus distinct 12 cm. peduncle suberect, 35 cm, base bracts 12, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 36 cm, caducous. Spathe thick, oblong-ovate, outside green, inside yellow, 56 cm long, apiculus 15 mm. Spadix sessile, yellow, obovoid, cylindric or elliptic, 4.55.5 Χ 1.51.75 cm, in fruit stage 8.5 Χ 3. 5 cm. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric; stigma subsessile, longitudinally oblong, yellow, after drying brown; ovules many with slender funicle, base hairy; filaments 2 mm, anthers oblong; usually around base of ovary in the upper part of spadix present staminodes 4. Fl. MarJul.
Dense forests in mountain valley, on big trees, 2802200 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang (Medog) and Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand and Vietnam].
The stems are used as medicine for fractures.
大叶崖角藤 da ye ya jiao teng
Epiphytic lianas. Stem cylindric, very thick, 34 cm in diam., internodes 16 cm. Leaf blade green, light green lower side, leathery, very large, ovate-oblong, apex abrupt acuminate, base cordate, entire, 5070 Χ 2850 cm. lateral; veins 1013 each side, all diverging at 8090 angle from midrib; petiole green, cylindric, 5070 cm. Inflorescences terminal and axillary. Peduncle green, 1518 cm long, 2 cm in diam. Spathe initially inrolled, white green, afterwards spreading, cymbiform, light yellow, very thick (2 mm when dry), 2027 Χ 16 cm. Spadix sessile, yellow-green, when dry green black, cylindric, apex obtuse, base oblique; ovary tetra-or hexagonal cylindric, 7 mm, stigma sessile, capitate; ovules long elliptic or cylindric, funicle thin and long, base hairy; stamens 4, filaments compressed, 23 Χ 0.51 mm, anthers small, yellow. Fl. AprAug.
· Moist rain forests in limestone areas, on big trees or on limestone cones; 6001300 m. S Yunnan.
狮子尾 shi zi wei
Rhaphidophora tonkinensis Engler & Krause
Epiphytic lianas. Stem thick, cylindric, branched; branches 510 mm diam., internodes 14 cm, rooting, usually diffuse, internodes of juvenile branches elongated to 68 cm, air roots opposite to petiole. Leaf blade papery or subleathery, usually falcate-elliptic, sometimes oblong-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, apex long acuminate, base angustate, green above, pale green below, 2035 Χ 56(14) cm, lateral veins many, diverging at 45 angle from midrib, thin. on juvenile stems leaf blade oblique elliptic, apex acute, base angustate cuneate of one side, rounded of other side. Petiole 510 cm, sheathing to pulvinus, pulvinus conspicuous 410 mm. Inflorescences terminal and axillary. peduncle cylindric, 45 cm, apex 10 mm in diam. Spathe green to light yellow, ovate, apex acuminate, involved, 69 cm long, early caducous. Spadix cylindric, pale green or light yellow, 58 Χ 1.53 cm. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric, apex truncate, ca. 4 Χ 2 mm, stigma capitate, black. Berry yellow-green. Fl. AprAug.
Valley rain forests, evergreen forests, on trees or stone walls, 80900 m (2000) m, (Gongshan of Yunnan). Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hongkong, Yunnan [Indonesia (Kalimantan) Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
The plant is used as medicine for the treatment of traumatic injury, fractures, lumbago, rheumatism and internal fever.
大叶南苏 da ye nan su
Pothos peepla Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 1: 454. 1820; Scindapsus peepla Schott, Melet. 1: 21. 1832; Rhaphidophora dunniana A. Levιillι.
Epiphytic lianas. Stem pale green, 812 mm diam., rooting, internodes 25 cm long, branches usually short, abundance. Leaf blade subleathery, oblong, elliptic-oblong, or ovate-oblong, entire, 825 Χ 411 cm, apex abrupt acuminate or acute, base rounded, lateral veins many parallel, diverging at 45angle from midrib. Petiole 1020 cm, light green, sheath reaching pulvinus, caducous; pulvinus incrassated, 812 mm long. Inflorescences terminal. Peduncle robust, 810 cm, erect, upper part recurved, around base bracts membranous, linear, 67 cm long, early caducous. Inflorescence terminal. Peduncle robust, erect, upper part recurved, 810 cm long. Spathe ochraceous outside, vitellinous inside, involved, afterwards spreading, elliptic-oblong or oblong in outline, 79 cm long, apex rostrum ca. 10 mm. Spadix sessile, cylindric, 5.58 cm long, ca. 4/5 of total spathe, 102 mm in diam., ochraceous, pale white, or, violate; ovary tetra-or hexagonal-cylindric, 2 Χ 2 mm; stigma oblong, small; stamens shorter than ovary, anthers elliptic, Fl. SepOct.
Evergreen forests, valley forests, on trees or on stone walls, 18002800 m; Guizhou, Yunnan [Cambodia, NE India, Laos, Malaysia (to Kalimantan), Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand].
The plant is used as medicine for the treatment of fractures, traumatic injury, rheumatic arthralgia, angina pectoris, bronchitis, and cough.
绿春崖角藤 lu chun ya jiao teng
Epiphytic lianas. Juvenile stems dark green, rooting, creeping on ground humus soil under forests or on bark mosses of trees, back rounded, moniliform or torulose, internodes thickened, 1020 Χ 57 mm; branches shorter, internodes elongated, 78 cm. Leaf blade subleathery, green above, light green below, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1027 Χ 512 cm, black-brown when dry, apex acuminate or caudate, base oblique rounded, unequal pinnately lobed, pinnae 23 per side, or one side entire, other side with 23 pinnae, sinuses reaching to 23 cm from midrib, sometimes, on adult branches leaf blades pinnately lobed, others entire, or blades of all liana entire; lateral veins 910 each side of midrib, ascending obliquely. Petiole 2025 cm, sheath membranous, caducous, pulvinus ca. 10 mm long. Inflorescence nearly terminal. Peduncle robust, green, 1214 cm, erect. Spathe light yellow-green, spreading, ovate, ca. 1416 cm long, early caducous. Spadix sessile, pale yellow, cylindric, 1213 Χ 23 cm, apex obtuse, base oblique. Flowers bisexual, stamens 4, anthers sessile, adnate to upper part of ovary; ovary green white, pentagonal cylindric, apex truncate, 8 Χ 4 mm, stigma sessile, yellow-brown, oblong, ovules oblong, with thin funicle, parietal, Berry free, juicy, orange, apex yellow-green, obconical, 6 Χ 4 mm, 46-angulate. Fl. SepNov, fr. next Jun.Jul.
· Evergreen forests, mossy forests, on big trees; 1700 2500 m. Xizang (Medog), Yunnan.
莱州崖角藤 lai zhou ya jiao teng
Climbing lianas. Stem 12 cm in diam., internodes 3 4 cm, branched. Leaf blade leathery broad-ovate, base truncate in outline, 35 Χ 2530 cm, pinnately cut; pinnae 34 per side, linear-oblong, apex falcate-truncate with ascending falcate tip, 14 Χ 34 cm, with 12 equally parallel costae, sinuses almost reaching midrib. Petiole 30 cm, sheathing, pulvinus 15 mm long. Peduncle 1518 cm long, ca. 5 mm thick. Spathe yellow, 1011.5 cm long. Spadix cylindric, sessile, 11 Χ1.52 cm; ovary hexagonal-cylindric, apex truncate, stigma sessile circular. Berry many seeded. seeds oblong spindle-shaped, 2 Χ 0.7 mm, maculose. Fl. MayAug, mature fr. next year.
Dense forests, on trees or stone walls; below 1500 m. Yunnan.
Rhaphidophora laishouensis differs from R. decursiva in having pinnae in 35 pairs (compared with 615 pairs), and a smaller spadix (11 Χ 23 cm).
粉背崖角藤 fen bei ya jiao teng
Pothos glaucus Wallich, Pl. As. Rar. 2: 45. 1831.
Stem more than 10 m. long, 1224 mm diam. Leaf blade green above, glaucous beneath, ovate in outline, symmetric, acuminate, base truncate, oblique or shallowly cordate, 1540 Χ 1235 cm, irregularly and asymmetrically pinnately cut, pinnae 25 per side, linear lanceolate, apex truncate with ascending falcate tip, base decurrent along midrib, usually with 3 equally strong, parallel costae, sinuses almost reaching midrib. Petiole 1228 cm, sheath reaching base of leaf blade pulvinus indistinct. Peduncle cylindric, spreading, curved at apex, 20 cm Χ 45 mm. Spathe oblong-ovate, oblong-lancelet, orange, pale yellow, accumulate, 1014 Χ 1.52 cm. Spadix sessile, cylindric, pale yellow, 610 Χ 2 cm. Ovary tetragonal or hexagonal-cylindric, apex truncate, smooth, walls not fibrous; stigma sessile, circular or elliptic. Fl. AugSep.
Mountain broad-leaf forests, trees, below 2000 m; Xizang (Medog, Zayu) [Bangladesh, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand].
独龙崖角藤 du long ya jiao teng
Epiphytic climbing. Stem cylindric, green, 12 m long, 23 cm diam., internodes 0.52.5 cm. Leaf blade subleathery, green above, pale green beneath, oblong-ovate in outline, base rounded or subcordate, 50 Χ 35 cm, pinnately cut, pinnae 69 per side, broadly linear, oblique, ones at mid-leaf 45 cm wide, apex truncate with falcate tip, with 34 equally strong, parallel costae, sinuses nearly reaching midrib. Petiole 4149 Χ 1.5 cm, base 34 cm sheathing, pulvinus indistinct. Peduncle solitary, cylindric, 1520 cm Χ 810 mm. Spathe unknown. Spadix sessile, pale green, cylindric, 10 Χ 1.8 cm; ovary 45-gonal cylindric, apex truncate, stigma circular. Fr. NovMar.
· Valley forests, below 12002500 m. Yunnan (Gongshan).
粗茎崖角藤 cu jing ya jiao teng
Branches cylindric, 36 cm diam., internodes short. Leaf blade leathery, ovate in outline, apex acute, base obtuse, 3055 Χ 2236 cm pinnately cut, pinnae 610 and more per side, reaching midrib or nearly midrib, linear-falcate, apex truncate, base decurrent, usually with 24 equally strong, parallel costae, along midrib with perforations (8 20Χ 25 mm), pinnae at mid-leaf 1521 Χ 15 cm. Peduncle cylindrical robust, 1220 Χ 11.6 cm. Spate unknown. Spadix sessile, pale white, long conical, 1017 Χ 22.5 (base) cm; ovary cylindric, 68 Χ 2 mm, stile short conical, stigma circular. ovules many, oblong, funicle long. Fr. NovDec.
Dense tropical forests, on trees or over stones; below 1300 m. Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [N Vietnam].
爬树龙 pa shu long
Pothos decursive Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 1: 418. 1820.
Large epiphytic climber. Stem robust, 35 cm diam., green at the back, rooting, internodes 12 cm long. Juvenile leaf blade rotund, entire, apex abrupt acute, 16 Χ 13 cm. adult leaf blade oblong-ovate, ovate in outline, green above pale green beneath, 6070 Χ 4050 cm, apex acute, base subcordate; irregularly and asymmetrically pinnately cut; pinnae 915 per side, ones at mid-leaf 35 cm wide, apex truncate with ascending falcate tip, base narrowed, 20 Χ 35 cm, with a strong costa. Petiole 2040 cm, pulvinus indistinct. Inflorescence axillary, solitary. Peduncle cylindric, green, very robust,1120 Χ 1.53 cm. Spathe initially involved, afterwards spreading, cymbiform, yellow both sides, oblong-ovate, 1720 Χ 1012 cm, Spadix sessile, gray-green, cylindric, 1516 Χ 23 cm, base oblique; filaments flat, base angustate, 5 mm, nearly as long as ovary, anthers yellow, oblong, less than 1 mm; ovary hexagonal-conical, 5 Χ 3 mm, stile distinct, ca. 1 cm.; stigma longitudinal oblong, yellow; ovules many, funicle slender, lateral inserted. infructescence 1520 Χ 55.5 cm. Berry obconical, green-white, base white or yellow, 18 Χ 5 mm, apex with a persistent stile. Fl. MayAug, fr. mature in next JulSep.
Monsoon rain forests, and valley evergreen broad-leaf forests, creeping on ground layer, over rocks or climbing against trees; below 2200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang (Medog, Zayu) and Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam].
The stems and leaves are used as medicine for the treatment of traumatic injury, fractures, swellings, colds, lumbago, snake bites and for against coughs and bronchitis.
There has been much confusion over Rhaphidophora decursiva and Epipremnum pinnatum because of both species have the large pinnatifid leaves, but Epipremnum pinnatum leaf blade has small perforations (2 mm long) along midrib, sessile, longitudinally linear-oblong stigma, 1-celled and 2-ovuled ovary which much differ from R. decursiva.
麒麟叶属 qi lin ye shu
Epiphytic, coarse climbers. Stems robust, suffrutescent or woody, branched and rooting. Leaves long-petiolate. Petioles with pulvinus at junction with blade, somewhat sheathing at base; leaf blade large, entire, pinnatifid or pinnatisect, with perforations along the midrib or not. Inflorescence solitary and axillary. Peduncle robust. Spathe ovate, cymbiform, acute or acuminate, deciduous; spadix sessile. Flowers bisexual, sometimes with female ones at spadix base, rarely unisexual, lacking perianth. Stamens 4(6), filaments linear, flat, anthers much shorter than filaments, anther cells ellipsoidal, longitudinally dehiscent; ovary polygonal-cylindric, apex truncate; 1-loculed, ovules 24, inserted at base of parietal placenta. sometimes 68, distichous at parietal placentas, anatropous, with short funicle; stigma sessile, linear oblong, longitudinal. Berry small, seeds nephroid, usually striate.
Ca. 20 species: Tropical Asia, Pacific Islands, Australia, two species in China, and one species usually cultivated in gardens.
1a. Leaf blades green, not marbled.
2a. Flowers unisexual; leaf blade obtuse, not cordate, 40 Χ 25 cm; without perforations ........... 1. E. formosanus
2b. Flowers bisexual; blade cordate at base, 4560 Χ 3040 cm, with small perforations along midrib 2. E. pinnatum
1b. Leaf blades light green with yellow marbling, entire and cordate at base ......................................... 3. E. aureum
台湾麒麟叶 tai wan qi lin ye
Epiphytic lianas. Stems branched. Branches 1 cm in diam. Leaf blade membranous, oblong-obovate or ovate-oblong, 40 Χ 2530 cm, apex acute or acuminate, base broadly obtuse, pinnatifid; pinnae 610 per side, the terminal one trapeziform, ones at mid-leaf 18 Χ 3.5 cm, apex truncate with ascending falcate tip, sinuses remote from midrib for 2.5 cm. Petiole 30 cm long, base sheathing. Peduncle solitary, ca. 15 cm Χ 8 mm. Spathe involved, apex acuminate, ca 13 cm long; spadix unisexual, cylindric, 11 Χ 2 cm; stamens usually 6, filaments flat, adnate at ovary; ovary obovoid, hexagonal cylindric, 45 Χ 4 mm, apex truncate, stigma linear. Fl. Jul.
· Mountain forests, creeping on rocks or tree trunks. Central Taiwan. 1500 m.
麒麟叶 qi lin ye
Pothos pinnata Linnaeus, Spec. Pl. ed. 2: 1374. 1763: Scindapsus pinnatus Schott; Rhaphidophora pinnata Schott.
Tall scandent plant. Stem robust. cylindric, 2.54 cm diam., branched. rooting. Leaves petiolate. Leaf blade subleathery, oblong, base wide cordate, 4060 Χ 3040 cm, irregularly pinnatifid, along midrib with small perforations (2 mm long), pinnae 1213 per side, narrowly lanceolate to somewhat falcate, with 13 equally strong, parallel costae; sinuses remote from midrib 23 cm. Petiole 2540 cm, sheath reaching base of pulvinus, caducous, pulvinus distinct, 2.3 cm long. Peduncle robust, cylindric, 1014 cm, cataphylls at base. Spathe green outside, yellow inside, 1012 cm long, apex acuminate. Spadix cylindric, 10 Χ 3 cm; ovary hexagonal, apex truncate, 56 mm long, stigma sessile, linear, longitudinal; ovules 24, nearly basal. Seeds reniform, smooth. Fl. AprMay.
Tropical rain forests, creeping on trees or on stone walls; below 2000 m; Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan and Yunnan [Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islands, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam].
The plants are used as medicine to treat traumatic injury, abscesses, rheumatic arthralgia and abscesses.
绿萝 lu luo
Pothos aurea Linden & Andre in Ill. Hort. 69. 1880.
Tall scandent plant. Stem branched. Branches slender, 34 mm thick, internodes 1520 cm. Leaf blade subleathery, light green, usually with some irregularly yellow marbling, oblique ovate or ovate-oblong, apex shortly acuminate, base deeply cordate, 3245 Χ 2436 cm lateral veins 89 each side of midrib, ascending at 7080° angle from midrib; petiole 340 cm, sheathing; pulvinus distinct, 2.53 cm.
· Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Taiwan and Yunnan, Widely cultivated naturalized in Solomon Islands.
藤芋属 teng yu shu
Lianas, creeping against trees with the aid of adhesive roots. Stem robust, branched. Leaves spirally arranged, blade undivided, pinnately nerved, with very numerous, parallel, thin lateral nerves; petiole usually sheathing or winged throughout its length. Inflorescences near stem-apices, solitary; peduncle at last laterally protruding from the petiolar sheath; spathe not constricted, initially involved and tubular, afterwards somewhat inflated, finally expanding only by a rather narrow longitudinal slit, never entirely or conspicuously flat-spreading, falling off as a whole leaving a thick scar on apex of peduncle; spadix cylindric, much thicker than peduncle, drying black; flowers many, bisexual, naked; stamens 4; filaments strap-shaped; ovary with flat, often subrhomboid or quadrangular apex, 46-angular, 1-celled; ovule 1, basal; fruit-wall containing very numerous (needle-shaped) raphides; stigma sessile, discoid to linear; fruits baccate, seeds subreniform.
About 36 species; tropical Asia, one species in Hainan of China.
海南藤芋 hai nan teng yu
Rhaphidophora maclurei Merr. in Philip. Journ. Sci. 21: 337. 1922; Scindapsus megaphyllus Merr. in Lingn. Sci. Journ. 9: 36. 1930.
Lianas. Stem robust, 2.5 cm thick. Leaf blade leathery, entire, oblong-elliptic or ovate-elliptic, green above, pale green below, drying pale brown, apex acute or short acuminate, base subcordate, 2346 Χ 1224 cm, lateral veins numerous, diverging at 7080 angle from midrib; petiole 2632 cm, base imbricate, sheath reaching pulvinus. Peduncle robust; spathe yellow, apex acuminate, involved and tubular, 1822 cm long. spadix sessile, cylindric, ca. 15 Χ 2.5 cm; filaments 4 mm, anthers ovoid, 3 mm Berry striate, apex truncate, 9 Χ 5 mm, 1-loculed, 1-seeded. Fl. NovOct.
Dense tropical forests, creeping on trees and stone walls; 400600 m; Hainan [Thailand, Vietnam].
臭菘属 chou song shu
Perennial herbs. Underground rhizome robust, from which growing leaves in this year and inflorescences with cataphylls in other ( next) year. Leaves petiolate: petiole long sheathing; blade large, subcordate or cordate-ovate, apex acute or rounded primary lateral veins strong and distinct, pinnately from midrib, ascending and arching, secondary venation thin, arching-anastomosing, fine intramarginal vein present. Peduncle short. Spathe very thick, lower part involved and tubular; from middle part inflated and semispreading, ovoid-globose, apex acuminate, recurved, and rostriform. Spadix long stiped, globose, much shorter than spathe. Flower bisexual, foul smell, tepals 4, upper part arcuate, apex protruding conically; stamens 4, filaments flattened, apex recurved, acuminate, longer than ovary; anthers short, locules 2, opposite, dehiscing longitudinally by slits; ovary elongated, base caved in spadix, 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; ovule erect, short ovoid, pendent from the top of locule, with short funicle.
3 species, East Asia and North America, one species in China.
臭菘 chou song
Dracontium foetidum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. ed. 1: 967. 1753.
Rhizome robust, to 7 cm diam. Leaves basal; petiole1020 cm long and more, leaf blade large, 2040 Χ 1535 cm and more, apex acuminate or rounded. Cataphylls around peduncle1040 cm long. Peduncle 320 Χ 11.2 cm. Spathe dark violet, with violet lines outside, 1016 cm long, 45.5 cm in diam. Spade violet 2.53 cm diam., steppe 510 mm long. Fl. MayJun.
Dark coniferous forests, moist mixed forests, swampland, swamp meadow and swamp forests; below 300 m. Heilongjiang [N America, Canada, Japan, Russia].
The plant is poisonous, but sometimes used as medicine for treatment of swellings.
水芋属 shui yu shu
Perennial aquatic herbs. Rhizomes creeping, juvenile only leaves growing, from adult ones growing both of leaves and inflorescences. Petiole sheathing, sheath long, apex free. Leaf blade cordate, broadly ovate, orbicular, apex acuminate and acute. Spathe from base spreading, elliptic, ovate, apex acuminate, base decurrent, persistent, Spadix stiped, free from spathe, cylindric, upper part usually with some neutral flowers; flowers bisexual, naked, stamens 6, filaments flattened, apex acuminate into connective, anthers short, locules 2, opposite, ellipsoid, dorsifixed, laterally and longitudinally dehiscent; ovary short ovoid, 1-loculed, stigma sessile, ovules 69, anatropous, central, oblong, funicle short, erect. Berry conical, seeds many, oblong-cylindric.
One species: North temperate regions and subarctic area, also in China.
水芋 shui yu
Rhizomes creeping, cylindric, robust, 50 Χ 12 cm, nodes rooting; cataphylls lanceolate, acuminate, ca. 10 cm. Leaf blade 614 Χ ca. 614 cm, primary and secondary veins pinnately arching from midrib and from base of midrib, intramarginal vein indistinct. Petiole cylindric, 1224 cm and more, base sheathing, sheath 78 cm, 1/2 of the length free from petiole. Peduncle 1530 cm Χ 812 mm. Spathe green outside, white inside, 46 Χ 33.5 cm, apex with 10 mm long acumen, persistent. Spadix 1.53 Χ 1 cm. Infructescence subglobose, wide-elliptic, 4.5 Χ 3 cm, spadix-stipe 57 mm long. Fl. JunJul, fr. Aug.
Meadows, swamps, in shallow water; below 1100 m; Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nai Mongol [North America, Asia and Europe].
曲籽芋属 qu zi yu shu
Perennial, evergreen aquatic herbs. Rhizome short or tuberous. Plants stout, aculeate, with submersed stem. Leaf blade in outline sagittate, undivided, the 2 bifulate [=bifurcate?] basal nerves penninerved; petiole long, inside with longitudinal air ducts; pulvinus well developed, solid. Inflorescences at apex leafy plant, solitary in leaf axils, long pedunculate; spathe not constricted, involved, at last entirely spreading, rarely upper part spiral, persistent. Spadix cylindric, much shorter than spathe, cylindric, sessile or stiped; stipe adnate to the spathe. Flowers many, bisexual, tepals 4, 5, 6, with vaulted apex; stamens 46; filaments flattened and acuminate into connective, anthers oval, dehiscent with a slit; ovary ovoid, style absent, stigma depressed-globose; 1-celled, 12 ovuled; ovule subbasal, anatropous with long funicle; fruit drupaceous, 1-seeded; seed subreniform, with cristate margins.
12 species: tropical regions (America, Africa, Asia), one species in China.
曲籽芋 qu zi yu
Lasia merkusii Hasskarl, Cat. Bot. 59. 1844; Cyrtosperma lasioides Griffith.
Herbs ca. 2 m. tall. Leaf blade with convex margins, on either side green, upper part mostly somewhat shorter than lower one, acute to shortly acuminate, on lower surface shortly aculeate on the midrib and the 2 basal nerves, otherwise unarmed, firmly herbaceous, larger ones 65105 Χ 4050 cm; anterior lobe in outline elongate-ovate, with ca. 512 primary nerves and a few secondary side-nerves, especially on lower surface conspicuously veined; basal lobes strongly downwardly directed, with patent, narrowed, acuminate apex, and rather numerous side-nerves, 3555 cm long; petiole yellow-green, sparingly short-aculeate, up to 2 cm long; pulvinus 3.5 cm, aculeate. Peduncle stout, rather densely aculeate, green, up to 110 cm; spathe (expanded) oblong-lanceolate, with narrowed, usually acuminate apex, thick-fleshy, longitudinally nerved, outside brown, inside yellow with brown lines, 1630 Χ 6.512 cm, stipe of spadix 11.5 cm; spadix obtuse, 6.512 Χ 11.5 cm, after anthesis up to 22 Χ 3.5 cm; tepals ca. 4 mm; stamens ca. 4 mm; anthers ca. 0.5 mm; ovary 45 mm high; stigma less than 1 mm diam.; fruit laterally compressed, smooth, dull red-brown, ca. 5 mm.
Swamps, swamp forests, river banks, in shallow water; Hainan [Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia and Singapore].
刺芋属 ci yu shu
Perennial, evergreen, aculeate marsh or aquatic herbs. Stem erect or ascending, with armed internodes. Leaves several crowded at stem-apex, in outline sagittate-hastate, simple or divided, aculeate on the larger nerves beneath, pinnately nerved above the bifurcate basal nerves; secondary venation reticulate. Petiole long, aculeate, inside with longitudinal air-vessels; pulvinus well-developed, solid. Inflorescences at apex of leafy plant, solitary in leaf-axils, long-pedunculate; peduncle aculeate; spathe constricted, when still involved ovoid-caudate, entirely including the spadix, at last falling off, the widened lower part when mature opening by a slit, the caudate portion persistently involved; spadix sessile, cylindric, within widened part of spathe; flowers all bisexual; tepals 46, free, with vaulted-truncate apex; stamens 46; anthers elliptic, dehiscent by a longitudinal slit; filaments much longer; ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled; ovule hanging from apex of ovary-cell; style very short; stigma suborbicular; fruit drupaceous; exocarp thin; mesocarp finely fibrous; endocarp rather thick, soft; seed largish, compressed. Albumen absent, embryo macropedous, campylotropous.
Two species: Tropical Asia, one species in China.
刺芋 ci yu
Dracontium spinosum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. ed. 1: 967. 1753.
Herbs 12 m tall. Stem 2.5 cm diam., with strong, nipple-shaped prickles. Leaf blade herbaceous, larger ones 3565 Χ 2060 cm, very variable, distinctly constricted at or near the base, entire or pedate to near the midrib, acuminate, with strongly downwardly directed to subpatent, whether or not once or twice bifid basal lobes, and 34 narrow and rather long acute or acuminate lateral segments; primary lateral nerves 24; strong, secondary lateral nerves thinner, veins very numerous, all venation smooth above, on lower surface with rather small, straight to slightly curved prickles; petiole laxity aculeate, sometimes almost smooth, larger ones 32125 cm; pulvinus 1535 mm, aculeate. Peduncle laxity aculeate, up to 47 cm; spathe black-red outside, crimson inside,1835 cm, caudate portion up to 28 cm, widened part very much shorter, 310 cm wide; stipe of the spadix obscure; spadix cylindric, 35 cm long, after anthesis elongated up to 8 cm; tepals oblong, 1.53 mm, apex triangular-hooded, keeled; filaments ca. 1.5 Χ 0.8 mm; anthers 0.8 Χ 0.8 mm; ovary ovoid, ca. 1. 5 mm high. Fruits obpyramidal, apex truncate, densely warty-aculeate, ca. 1 cm wide, sides unarmed, when dry irregularly ribbed; seed ovoid-cordate, 57 mm. Fl. JulSep.
Swamps, riverbanks, ditches, moist places in tropical and subtropical forest, sometimes cultivated along fish ponds and rice fields; below 1530 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, S. Xizang and Yunnan [Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, SE India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Sikkim, Sri Lanca, Thailand, Vietnam].
The young leaves are used as vegetables. The rhizomes are used as medicine for treatment of lymphotuberculosis, lymphonoditis, stomach ache, snake and insect bites, injury and rheumatism.
千年健属 qian nian jian shu
Li Heng (李恒); Peter Boyce
Perennial, evergreen, aromatic herbs. Stem creeping, erect or ascending. Leaves long petiolate; leaf blade oblong, elliptic, lanceolate or deltoid, sometimes sagittate, apex acuminate usually with tubular tip, base usually cordate, membranous or herbaceous; primary nerves all diverging from midrib, or some ones basal; secondary veins closely parallel, tertiary ones numerous and very much thinner, all nerves straight over most of their length, only near the apex arcing into a margin vein; petiole sheathing below, usually longer than blade. Inflorescences at or near apex of leafy plant, usually several together; spathe often constricted, persistently tubular-involved; stipe of the spadix very short; spadix elongate, lowest female portion mixed with staminodes, upper portion male; flowers unisexual, naked; female flower: ovary incompletely 25-celled with axile placenta, rarely with central placenta; ovules numerous, semiantropous with thin and slender funicle; style minute, stigma sessile or terminating on a minute style, discoid or lobed; staminodes few at base of female flower, of various shape; male flowers (fertile) consisting 246 stamens, minute; anther-cells extrorsely dehiscent by a slit; connective broad or narrow, sterile flowers (if present) at base of male axis of spadix. Berry few or many seeded; seeds on a long funicle, longitudinally striate; ovoid-lageniform.
About 110 species: Tropical America and Asia; 3 species in China.
1a. Leaf blade sagittate at base.
2a. Spadix 3.5 cm long, 46 mm diam .......................................................................................................... 1. H. occulta
2b. Spadix 4.5 cm long, to 1.2 cm diam ................................................................................................ 2. H. kelungensis
1b. Leaf blade rounded at base, ovate, 1812 cm .................................................................................. 3. H. hainanensis
千年健 qian nian jian
Calla occulta Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 532. 1700, ed. Willed. 651. 1793; Homalomena cochinchinensis Engler; Homalomena tonkinensis Engler.
Rhizome creeping; erect stem 3050 cm tall; cataphylls linear lanceolate, 15162.5 cm. Leaf blade membranous to herbaceous, sagittate-cordate top cordate, 1530(8) 1528 cm and usually more; primary nerves 7 per side, 24 of them basal, downwards to basal lobes and then arcuating into leaf-margin; secondary and tertiary ones thinner, numerous. Petiole 2540 cm, lower part with 25 mm wide sheaths. Inflorescences 13, in axil of cataphylls. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 1015 cm. Spathe pale green, fusiform-inrolled, in anthesis incompletely opening into
Valley dense forests, bamboo forests and mountain shrub forests; 801100 m; Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
The aromatic rhizomes are used as medicine to treat traumatic injury, fractures, stomachache, lumbago, intestinal parasites and rheumatic arthralgia.
台湾千年健 tai wan qian nian jian
Leaves 45, blade membranous, broadly ovate, 3325 cm, apex triangular-acute, base sagittate-cordate, veins almost parallel; petiole 60 cm, base sheathing. Peduncle about 35 cm long. Spathe pale green, 6 cm long, involved, acute at apex. Spadix 45 cm 12 mm; female portion 1212 mm; male portion 3 cm 13 mm, obtuse; stamens 1.5 mm long; ovary with clavate staminodes, obovoid, 22.5 mm long, obtuse at apex. Fl. Mar.
· Taiwan: Jilong.
海南千年健 hai nan qian nian jian
Stem erect, 40 cm tall, 1.2 cm diam. Leaf blade ovate-oblong, green, 181112 cm, abrupt acuminate, acute with 23 mm long tubular tip, base broadly rounded; primary lateral veins 56 per side, secondary numerous, parallel. Petiole 46 cm long, lower 1012 cm portion sheathing. Peduncle slender, 45 cm long, 12 mm thick. Spathe yellow green, small, cymbiform, 3.5 cm long, 1.2 cm diam., apex with 34 mm long rostrum. Spadix shorter spathe, 2.5 cm long: female portion cylindric, 103 mm; male portion clavate 2 cm 1.53 mm, apex obtuse; ovary ovoid, stigma circulate, subsessile. Fl. Oct.
· Mountain laxy [=?] forests: Hainan.
H. hainanensis differs from other Chinese species in blade base broadly rounded (not cordate), small spathe (3.5 cm long); shorter spadix (2.5 cm ), and clavate male portion (2 cm).
落檐属 luo yan shu
Perennial, evergreen, erect or ascending, terrestrial herbs. Stemless or short-stemmed. Leaves ± crowded. Leaf blade herbaceous, green above, pale white to glaucous below, lanceolate, cordate or sagittate, primary, secondary and tertiary lateral nerves parallel, or secondary and tertiary ones partly diverging at narrow angle from primary nerves, all reaching near margin into a margining vein. Petiole much longer than blade, lower part sheathing. Inflorescence at or near apex of leafy plant, usually several together, peduncle shorter than petiole; spathe constricted, persistently tubular-involved; portion below constriction persistent, enveloping female part of spade, afterwards circumcises and caducous; stipe of the spadix short or absent; lower part of spadix-axis adnate to spathe; spadix elongate; lower portion female, upper portion male and whether or not separated from female by a naked interstice; male portion of spadix falling off later than upper part of spathe, fertile below, upwards sterile; flowers numerous unisexual, naked; female flower: ovary 1-celled; ovules rather few to very numerous, on 24 parietal to subbasal placentas; stigma sessile, discoid; staminodes sometime present; berry few or many seeded; seeds subellipsoid, densely longitudinally grooved; male flower: fertile flowers consisting of 2 or 3 connate stamens; filaments strap-shaped; anthers adnate; connective thick; anther-cells excavate in the center, dehiscing with a terminal pore; pollen shed in small clumps; sterile flowers subclavate.
About 120 species, mostly SE Asia, a few species in South America; 2 species in China.
1a. Leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate-oblong, rounded or obtuse at base; spathe 7 cm long; spadix shorter and smaller, 5 cm long 1.. S. hainanensis
1b. Leaf blade oblong cordate at base; spathe 1215 cm long; spadix more than 10 cm long ......... 2. S. calyptrata
落檐 luo yan
Leaf blade dark green above, glaucous beneath, with densely small concave punctual at both surfaces, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, apex acuminate, base surrounded or obtuse, 16175.57 cm; primary nerves 810 per side, parallel to secondary and tertiary veins; petiole 2030 cm, lower 1/2 sheathing. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 13 cm long. Spathe pale green to white, involved, constricted, 7 cm long, lower portion 2.5 cm long, persistent, upper portion involved horn-shaped, caducous from base. Spadix 5 cm long: female portion adnate to spathe, 2.5 cm 45 mm, toward apex attenuate; ovary oblong, ca. 1 mm, with white punts, 1-celled, with 2 parietal placentas; ovules numerous, anatropous, obovoid, with longitudinal striations; funicle thin and elongate, at placentas by 2-ranks. Male portion of spadix cylindric, 154 mm, fertile stamens: anthers subcuneate dehiscing with a terminal pore; upper sterile portion clavate, 1.3 cm long, apex obtuse, 5 mm thick, attenuate towards base, 2 mm diam.: sterile staminodes cylindric, apex concave circular. Fl. Aug. Oct.
· Dense tropical forests, on rocks, 140190 m; Hainan: Lien Hua Shan or Lingao Xian.
S. hainanensis differs from S. cadieri in Vietnam in having elliptic or oblong-lanceolate leaf blade, sterile portion occurring upper part of spadix.
广西落檐 guang xi luo yan
Calla calyptrata Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 3: 514. 1832; Zantedeschia calyptrata Koch; Schismatoglottis longipes Miquel; S. riparia Schott.
Leaf blade herbaceous, dark green above, glaucous beneath, densely concave punctuate at both surfaces, oblong, apex acute, base cordate, 1520810 cm; basal lobes semiovate, 34 cm long; lateral nerves 10 per side, 23 of them basal; petiole 3040 cm, lower 1/3 sheathing. Peduncle 40 cm. Spathe green, 1215 cm long, involved tubular portion 57 cm long, 1.5 cm diam., persistent; upper portion horn-shaped-inrolled, 78 cm 712 mm, in anthesis, spreading, afterwards caducous. Spadix (Guangxi) : female portion 3.41.4 cm, 2/3 adnate to spathe, female flowers mixed with a few sterile stamens, in upper part a distinct area of dense numerous sterile stamens mixed by some pistils; fertile male portion 33.5 cm 56 mm, apex portion of spadix sterile, cylindric, 46 cm long; ovary obovoid, apex truncate, stigma discoid; male flowers consisting of 2 stamens, filaments, synandria filaments short, anthers oblong or nephroid, dehiscing by an apical pore; staminodes clavate, obtuse. Fl. Jun.
Dense tropical forests, under forest or on rocks; 740880 m. Guangxi (Long Ling co. and Longzhou) [SE Asia, Pacific Islands].
The stems are used tonic medicine to treat lumbago and arthralgia.
广东万年青属 guang dong wan nian qian shu
Terrestrial, erect or ascending evergreen herbs. Stems whether or not branched, rooting, internodes distinct, green. Leaves spiral arrangement; leaf blade undivided, usually oblong, oblong-lanceolate, midrib strong, primary lateral nerves more than 47 per side, secondary and tertiary lateral nerves parallel with primary ones, numerous. Petiole long or short, sheathing. Inflorescences at or near apex of leafy plant, usually several together; peduncle shorter than petiole; spathe initially tubular-involved, in anthesis opening by a slit to nearly expanded, enveloping at least the female portion of spadix, shorter or longer than spadix; stipe of spadix short or absent; flowers numerous, naked; spadix cylindric; female portion of spadix, shorter or longer than spadix; stipe of spadix short or absent; flowers numerous, naked; spadix cylindric; female portion at base of rachis, persistent, few-flowered, much shorter than male portion; male portion above the female, caducous, many flowered; male flower: stamens free; anthers sessile, apically dehiscent by a slit or a pore; connective thick; staminodes between male and female portions of spadix, few, antherlike; female flower: ovary 1-or rarely 2-celled; ovule 1 in each ovary-cell, basal, anatropous; style thick, very short; stigma large; berry 1-seeded; seed oblong, large, exalbuminous.
21 species: Tropical and Subtropical Asia; 2 species in China. Many species are widely cultivated in gardens as evergreen ornamental plants.
1a. Spadix shorter than spathe, 2/3 of the spathe length; male portion of spadix cylindric, 23 cm 34 mm 1. A. modestum
1b. Spadix equaling to longer than spathe, male portion of spadix conical, 23910 mm ...................... 2. A. tenuipes
广东万年青 guang dong wan nian qing
Stems erect, green, 4070 cm 1520 mm, Leaves mostly crowded at stem-apex; leaf blade green above, pale green beneath, ovate, usually ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, base obtuse or wide-cuneate; primary lateral nerves 45 per side, ascending and arching, secondary ones indistinct, parallel to primary nerves; petiole 520 cm long, green, more than 1/2 of the length sheathing, base amplexicaul. Peduncle (5) 1012.5 cm. Spathe (5.5) 671.52 cm, oblong-lanceolate, apex long-acuminate. Spadix shorter than spathe, about 2/3 of spathe length; cylindric, with a 10 mm long stipe: female portion 57.55 mm male portion elongate, 23 cm 34 mm. Stamens apex truncate, quadrangular, anthers dehiscent by a pore; ovary subglobose, style short, stigma discoid. Berry green to yellow-red, oblong, 208 mm; seed oblong 1.7 cm long. Fl. May, fr. OctNov.
Dense forests, 5001700 m; Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou and widely cultivated in gardens as evergreen ornament plants. [Philippines, Vietnam].
The plant is used as medicine externally to treat snake and insect bites, hydrophobia, abscesses and swelling.
越南万年青 yue nan wan nian qing
Perennial, evergreen, erect herbs. Stems dark-green, cylindric, 4080 cm tall, 12 cm diam., rooting at nodes; internodes 23 cm long, at upper part, 510 mm long; cataphylls wide-linear, apex abrupt acute, 47 cm long, early caducous. Leaves dense crowded at stem-apex, usually 56. Leaf blade initially involved, afterwards spreading, ovate-oblong, apex caudate-acuminate or abrupt long-acuminate, base truncate-rounded, subcordate, or decurrent, herbaceous, dark-green above, pale green beneath, 10255.511 cm; primary lateral nerves 68 per side, ascending and arching; petiole green 615 cm, lower part sheathing. Peduncle 26 cm long, green. Spathe initially involved, tubular, afterwards opining by a slit, cymbiform, ovoid. 34.5 cm, 1.3 cm diam. Spadix 2.54.5 cm long, a little longer or equivalent than spathe: female portion 5 mm long, male portion 23 cm; male flower with 4 stamens, anthers 2-celled, female flowers: ovary globose, stigma sessile, circular, 1-cell, ovule basal. Berry oblong, 12187010 mm; seed oblong. Fl. AprJun, fr. SepOct.
Dense valley forests, below 1500 m. Young [Laos, Thailand and Vietnam].
泉七属 quan qi shu
Perennial, terrestrial, evergreen herbs. Stems creeping or ascendant, with persistent cataphylls. Leaves petiolate. Leaf blade peltate, ovate, ovate-oblong, apex acuminate, primary veins radiating from petiole and pinnately from midrib of main lobe; secondary venation arching-anastomosing, fine intramarginal vein present. Inflorescences axillary, solitary, peduncle short; spathe shortly convolute at the base, yellowish or somewhat purple inside, limb ovate or ovate-lanceolate, expanded, reflexed, marcescent. Spadix very short, dense-flowered female portion of spadix cylindric, adnate to the spadix; male portion clavate or capitate; appendix absent. Flowers unisexual, naked; female flower: ovaries mixed with clavate staminodes, subglobose, 1-celled; stigma 45-lobed; ovules many, parietal, orthotropus; stamens 36, connate in a peltate body with a flat crenulate crown; anther-cells globose, dehiscent by an apical pore. Barry ovoid, seeds 46. Seed ovoid.
Four species: Tropical and subtropical Asia; 2 species in China.
1a. Female flowers often with staminodes, stigma 25-lobed ......................................................... 1. S. colocasiifolia
1b. Female flowers without staminodes, stigma entire ............................................................................... 2. S. griffithii
泉七 quan qi
Gonatanthus peltatus Hort. ex Van Houtte; Steudnera henryana Engler.
Perennial, evergreen herbs. Stem short, creeping and ascendant, persistent cataphylls brown, Petioles green, cylindric, slender, 3050 cm long, base sheathing; leaf blade ovate, subleathery, green obovate pale green below, apex acuminate or acute, base obtuse, 20301217 cm. Peduncle green or violet, much shorter than petiole, 815 cm long. Spathe yellow outside, purple at base; purple inside; ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, apex long acuminate, expanded, 101557 cm, reflexed. Spadix 34 cm long: female portion 22.5 cm cylindric, 23 mm diam.; 3/4 of length adnate to the spathe; male portion ellipsoid, obtuse, 11.5 cm 56 mm. Ovary subglobose, stigma 45-lobed, mixed with clavate staminodes. Fl. MarApr.
Dense forests, wet meadows, by streaming water, 6501400 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [N Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, N Vietnam].
The poisonous stem is used to treat injury, cuts, bloodshed, snake or insect bites, vasculitis and skin ulcers.
全缘泉七 quan yuan quan qi
Gonatanthus griffithii Schott; Steudnera colocasiaefolia Engler, p. p.
Stem creeping, 1020 cm 310 mm. Petiole 2530 cm long; leaf blade pale green above, glaucous below, ovate-oblong, 1025615 cm, apex acute or cuspidate, base emarginate or shortly 2-lobed. Peduncle 12 cm long. Spathe yellow green both surfaces, brown purple below the middle within, 7102.83 cm, reflexed; spadix 23.5 cm: female 152512 mm, 2/3 beneath adnate to spathe; male portion cylindric, ellipsoid, 56 mm long; ovary without staminodes, stigma entire; some sterile flowers on the upper part of female portion. Barry yellowish green, obovoid, short cylindric, apex with persistent stigma, 1-celled; seeds 412. Fl. MarJun.
Open forest, brushwood in valley, wet places; 100500m; SE Yunnan [NE India, Myanmar].
岩芋属 yan yu shu
Perennial herbs with cormous tuber. Bulbil-bearing stolons arising from apex of corm; stolons erect, pendulous, or creeping simple or dense branched bulbils scaly, with hooked, filiform bristles. Leaf blade ovate, asymmetrically peltate; primary veins multiple, radiating from petiole and pinnately from midrib of main lobe; secondary venation arching-anastomosing, fine intramarginal vein present. Flowering with or before leaves. Spathe leathery, persistent, tube convolute, ovoid, closed, green, enclosing female part of spadix; limb broad or narrow, yellowish to cream erect, spreading and convolute, deciduous or marcescent. Monoecious. Flowers unisexual, lacking perianth. Spadix very short, sessile, male and female portions of spadix separated by intermediate slender neuter part composed of appressed male or no neuters between the male and female portions neuters; appendage absent; male portion clavate, of densely packed angular table-topped male portion clavate, of densely packed angular table-topped male flowers and neuters; female short, cylindric. Synandria of 23 fused stamens, anthers attached basely to a short, common filament, locules 46, each opening by a single apical, circular pore; ovaries subglobose, 1-loculed, ovules many, orthotropous, basal or parietal; stigma discoid, sessile. Berries small. Seeds albuminous. embryo axile. Chromosome number 2n = 28; diploid or triploid.
4 species: Africa, tropical Asia and Australia; all 4 species in China.
1a. Flowering before leaves; (Sect. 1. Remusatia) .
2a. Limb of spathe erect initially, reflexed after spreading; bulbiferous stolons stout, erect, simple; placentas parietal 1. R. vivipara
2b. Limb of spathe erect, semispreading, no reflexed;
bulbiferous stolons slender, much branched, pendulous or simple and creeping;
placenta parietal or basal(?)
............................................................................................................................................................. 2.
R. hookeriana
1b. Flowering with leaves (Sect. Gonatanthus).
3a. Limb of spadix spreading, reflexed; bulbiferous stolons creeping; placenta basal or parietal; inflorescence single or 23 ............................................................................................................................................................ 3. R. yunnanensis
3b. Limb of spadix in two
parts, separated by a constriction, lower part short, subglobose,
semispreading; upper very long, narrowly lanceolate, apex long acuminate,
erect; bulbiferous usually erect; placenta basal inflorescence single
...................................................................................................................................................................... 4.
R. pumila
岩芋 yan yu
Arum viviparum Roxburgh, Hort. Ben.: 65. 1814, num. nud. & in Fl. Ind. 3: 496. 1832; Caladium viviparum Loddiges; Colocasia vivipara Thwaites; Remusatia bulbifera Horttum ex Vilmorin; Remusatia formosana Hayata.
Corm 3.55 cm diam. Flowering before leaves. Cataphylls 4 or more, broad brownish, concealing peduncle, 153 cm. Stolons stout, erect, 2040 cm 5 mm. Bulbils ellipsoid, stout, 0.52.5 mm, bristles to 1.5 mm, stout. Leaf blade oblong-ovate, lanceolate, 1133719.5 cm, sinus 1.53 cm, intramarginal vein indistinct, glossy on both sides green above, pale green below. Petiole 1942 cm, sheathing for lower 1/4. Flowering before leaves. Peduncle 612 cm. Spathe: tube 351.32 cm, green outside; limb obovate, acute, apiculate, narrowed to base, 5.311.52.59 cm, purple inside, reflexed. Spadix: female part 1.72 cm 79 mm, with 34 whorls of sterile ovaries at top and 12 whorls at base, neuter part slender, 1.12.5 cm, tapering upwards; male part clavate, cylindric, yellowish, 1.52.2 cm 47 mm. Fl. AprSep. Chromosome number 2n = 28; diploid in S India, triploid in Dali of Yunnan.
Subtropical forests, epiphytic and on rocks, cliff-ledges; 7501900 m. Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, SW Asia and Australia].
The corms strong poisonous. They are used externally for the treatment of breast mastitis, traumatic injury, abscesses and swellings.
早花岩芋 zao hua yan yu
Gonatanthus ornatus Schott; Remusatia ornata (Schott) H. Li & Q. F. Guo ex H. Li.
Cormous herbs. Flowering before leaves. Tuber depressed-globose, dark without, white within, 0.53 cm in diam., 0.53 cm long. New roots and buds appear at the apex in AprilMay. Stolons much branched, spreading, pendulous sometimes simple and creeping bulbils numerous, smaller. Cataphylls white, membranous, lanceolate, ca. 9 cm long, convoluted around both leaf and flower buds. Leaves 2, appearing in June (after anthesis), spreading one after another; blades green, becoming purple underneath, membranous, ovate-lanceolate, 1st up to 30 cm long and 13 cm wide, long-acuminate at apex, peltate and cordate at base; petiole tinged reddish, with darker markings, up to 45 cm long, 8 mm thick; the 2nd leaf appears from the sheath in the lower part of the petiole of 1st, its blade smaller, 14 cm Χ 4.5 cm; petiole 1020 cm long. Flowering before the leaves (mid-May). Peduncle 413 cm long, 1.53.5 mm thick, greenish. Spathe 37 cm long, the tube convolute, ovoid, green outside, dark-purple inside, 1.32.7 cm long, 510 mm in diam., the limb entirely yellow-green, semispreading to erect, ovate, acute at apex, 24.53.3 cm, deciduous. Spadix shorter than the spathe, sessile, yellow-green; female part of spadix yellow-green, 114 mm; sterile part attenuate, yellow, 7 mm 2 mm; male part capitate, ellipsoidal, obtuse at apex, up to 9 mm 5 mm. Flowers. Female flowers 4-carpelate; ovary ovoid, 1-celled, about 1.1 mm in diam.; stigma sessile, disk-shaped; placentas parietal; ovules many, orthotropous; sterile male flowers rhomboid or elliptic, truncate at apex; male flowers clavate or cuneate, truncate at apex, with fleshy connective, bearing 46 oblong anther-cells opening by a terminal pore. Fl. May.
Evergreen forests, on mossy rocks or tree stumps.; 18002800 m. Yunnan [Bhutan, India (Simla, Assam), Nepal, Sikkim].
The plants from C. Yunnan has a triploid chromosome number of 42, but plants from Dulongjiang and from Dali are diploid with different karyotypes: C. Yunnan, K(3n)=3x=42=36m(6 SAT)+3sm+3st; Dali, K(2n)=2x=28=22m (6 SAT) (2 SAT); Dulongjiang, K(2n)=2x+28+20m+8sm(4SAT).
云南岩芋 yun nan yan yu
Gonatanthus yunnanensis H. Li & A. Hay in Act. Bot. Yunnan. 14(4): 375378. 1992.
Cormous herbs, lithophytes, flowering with leaves. Tuber globose, purple without, white within, 4 cm in diam. Bulbiferous stolons 24, creeping, simple, up to 100 cm long, ca. 4 mm thick, internodes 53.5 cm; bulbils ellipsoid, 13 mm long, covered by 45 scales, bristles filiform, hooked, in scale axile bearing some secondary small bulbils. Leaves 24; petiole cylindric, 4060 cm long; leaf blade subleathery, ovate, base peltate and cordite, green above, pale green below, 20301720 cm, sinus 47 cm; primary veins 45 each side, radiating from petiole and pinnately from midrib of main lobe; secondary venation arching-anastomosing, fine intramarginal vein absent. Peduncle cylindric, green, 1117 cm long; tube of spathe leathery, ovate-ellipsoid, green both without and within, 3 cm long, 1.2 cm in diam., apex strong constricted; limb obovate-oblong, erect, spreading and soon reflexed, 8.53 cm, light purple within and dull purple beneath, base yellowish on both surfaces. Spadix: female part subcylindric, 156 mm with densely female flowers; sterile part slender, yellow, 14