ÌìÄÏÐÇ¿Æ tian nan xing ke
Li Heng (Àîºã)[1]; Zhu Guanghua (Öì¹â»ª)[2], Josef Bogner, Peter Boyce, Wilbert L. A. Hetterscheid
Herbs, perennial, of diverse habit including climbers, floating aquatics, helophytes, 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 prophylls and/or cataphylls; leaf blade various, e.g., linear, simple (base often cordate to sagittate), sometimes peltate or variously compound (e.g., pinnate, radiate, pedate or still more complex ‘dracontioid’ (elaborated forms of sagittate, hastate, or trisect leaves in which anterior and posterior divisions are highly dissected and subdivided). Inflorescences (sometimes precocious) subtended by membranous prophylls and/or cataphylls, consisting of a spadix subtended by a spathe. Spathe commonly with tube-like base (margins fused or not) persistent or with deciduous blade. Spadix bearing bisexual or unisexual flowers, in latter case plants paradioecious or monoecious (spadix female below and male above), very rarely with morphologically bisexual but functionally unisexual flowers. Bisexual flowers; tepals 0, 4, or 6; stamens 4–6(–22), filaments free, anthers with 2 thecae; ovary usually 3-loculed or more loculed or 1-loculed (pseudomonomerous). Unisexual flowers almost always naked (rare exceptions (only 3 genera, these all from Africa, include cultivated Zamioculcas with tepalate flowers)): male represented by 1–6 (usually 2–4) free stamens or 2–12 (rarely up to 32) stamens connate into a synandrium overtopped by a common synconnective; anthers often subsessile, usually dehiscing apically by pores or slits (straight or horseshoe-shaped); female flowers consisting of a single ovary (sometimes associated with a sterile staminode), commonly 1-loculed (sometimes with 3 or 4 locules), ovules 1 to many per locule, placentation parietal, axile, basal, or apical. Pollen grains aperturate or inaperturate, exine of various ornamentation. Most genera (Aroideae, s.l. with inaperturate pollen grains without sporopollenin). Neuter flowers derived from male or female flowers sometimes present at apex or base of female and/or male section. Spadix sometimes with a sterile, terminal appendix. Fruit usually a head of 1 to several seeded indehiscent separate berries, or dehiscent via shedding stylar plate (Monstereae excl. Amydrium) or syncarpous and apically dehiscent (Cryptocoryne) or syncarpous and indehiscent (Syngonium – cultivated), commonly red, green, white, or yellow, rarely blue.
A family of ca. 104 genera, in excess of 3000 species: in all parts of the world except polar regions and the driest deserts, chiefly in tropical and subtropical regions; 202 species of 27 genera present in China, 100 species (nearly 50 % are endemic). 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 northeastern and northwestern regions are poorer in aroids: Nei Mongol and Heilongjiang each have four species, Qinghai three species, Xinjiang only two species. Fifty percent of aroid species are medicinal plants, for example: tian nan xing (Arisaema heterophyllum), ban xia (Pinellia ternata), and hu zhang (Pinellia pedatisecta) have been used since ancient times; tubers of yu shu (Colocasia) and mo yu shu (Amorphophallus) are used for food or vegetables or used in industry for starch. Da piao (Pistia) is very valuable as feed for pigs and sometimes is cultivated as an ornamental plant in aquatic gardens.
The following genera are not native in China, but are cultivated there: Anthurium, Zantedeschia, Dieffenbachia, Caladium, and Philodendron.
Li Heng. 1979. Araceae. Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 13(2): 1–210.
2a. Flowers with perianth (‘perigone’).
3a. Plants climbing.
4a. Ovary 3-loculed (but fruit monomerous); flowers functionally bisexual ............... 2. Pothos
4b. Ovary 1-loculed; flowers functionally unisexual (plants dioecious) .............. 3. Pothoidium
3b. Plants herbaceous.
4a. Plants without prickles (unarmored); leaves deciduous, oblong-cordate; inflorescences carried at ground level with most of peduncle hypogeal; plants of boreal habitats ... 1. Symplocarpus
4b. Plants armored with prickles; leaves evergreen, sagittate or hastate to pinnatifid or pinnatipartite; inflorescence carried on an erect, aerial peduncle; plants of tropical habitats.
5a. Plants solitary to few clustered; rhizome erect, hypogeal; leaves sagittate to hastate; spathe flat, reflexed; fruit smooth ........................................................................... 9. Cyrtosperma
5b. Plants colony-forming; rhizome creeping, epigeal; leaves variable, frequently sagitatte or hastate to pinnatifid or pinnatipartite; spathe twisted, erect; fruit prickly............................ 10. Lasia
2b. Flowers without perianth (‘perigone’).
7a. Plants aquatic and/or helophytic; spathe persistent; fruit red; plants of boreal habitats 11. Calla
7b. Plants climbing, not aquatic and/or helophytic; spathe deciduous; fruit various, if red then spathe caducous; plants of tropical habitats.
8a. Fruit each a discrete indehiscent berry.
9a. Inflorescences solitary or at most 3 held loosely together; fruit ovoid, white at maturity 5. Amydrium
9b. Inflorescences several together distichously arranged; fruit truncate, red at maturity 4. Anadendrum
8b. Fruit not a discrete berry, dehiscent via shedding of stylar plate.
10a. Fruit each with numerous, small, straight seeds .................................. 6. Rhaphidophora
10b. Fruit each with one to few, large, curved seeds.
11a. Seeds 2–4 per fruit on an intrusive parietal placenta; leaves pinnately divided with pin holes along midrib ............................................................................................... 7. Epipremnum
11b. Seed 1 per fruit on a basal placenta; leaves always entire ....................... 8. Scindapsus
1b. Flowers unisexual, male and female flowers on same plant or not; perigone absent or reduced and ringlike.
12a. Plant a free-floating aquatic ................................................................................... 27. Pistia
12b. Plant never a free-floating aquatic; if aquatic then rooted into soil.
13a. Suffruticose herbs; fruit a red berry ............................................................ 16. Aglaonema
13b. Herbaceous plants of various life forms but never suffruticose; fruit various.
14a. Rooted aquatics; fruit an apically dehiscent syncarpium ........................ 14. Cryptocoryne
14b. Terrestrial herbs and/or geophytes; fruit separate, indehiscent.
15a. Male flowers free.
16a. Spadix terminating in an appendix comprised of clearly defined sterile flowers.
17a. Spathe wholly persistent into fruiting, splitting from base to apex at fruit maturity; spathe free from spadix; vegetative tissues aromatic (terpenoids) when crushed 12. Homalomena
17b. Spathe limb deciduous during anthesis, lower spathe persisting to fruiting and then splitting from apex to base at fruit maturity; much of female part of spadix adnate to spathe; vegetative tissues not aromatic ........................................................................... 13. Schismatoglottis
16b. Spadix terminating in a ± smooth to rugulose or echinate appendix but with individual sterile flowers not clearly defined except at appendix base.
18a..... Male and female flowers on different plants, rarely on same plant; leaves variously divided (most commonly pedate to pedatisect), very rarely entire ............................ 22. Arisaema
18a..... Male and female flowers in same inflorescence; leaves various.
19a..... Leaves commonly solitary, usually dracontioid, very rarely pedate, never entire; fruit red, rarely blue .......................................................................... 17. Amorphophallus
19b..... Leaves commonly several together, sagittate to hastate or pedate, never dracontioid; fruit red, purple, or greenish.
20a..... Female part of spadix adnate to spathe .......................................... 21. Pinellia
20a..... Female part of spadix free.
21a..... Lower spathe marcescent soon after anthesis and usually shed well before fruit maturity; ripe fruit red, each containing several seeds; leaves sagittate ............. 18. Arum
21b..... Lower spathe persistent late into fruit maturation; ripe fruit variously colored but never red, each containing 1 or 2 seeds; leaves various ........................... 19. Typhonium
15b. Male flowers connate into synandria of 4 or 5 flowers.
22a. Spathe not differentiated into an upper limb and lower tube.
23a. Spathe brightly colored (internally commonly yellow or purple-red); female flowers with staminodes; stem a repent or suberect epigeal rhizome ..................... 23. Steudnera
23b..... Spathe white; female flowers without staminodes; stem a hypogeal tuber or stolon 15. Hapaline
22b. Spathe differentiated into an upper limb and lower tube separated by a pronounced constriction.
24a. Plant with conspicuous erect aerial stolons bearing along their distal portion numerous barbed bulbils ............................................................................................. 24. Remusatia
24a. Plant without conspicuous erect aerial stolons; if stolons present then these decumbent and bearing tubercules at tips.
25a..... Mature infructescences declinate to pendent; fruit <3 mm, pale yellow to brown and fruit-smelling when ripe; seeds small and very numerous per fruit ......... 25. Colocasia
25b..... Mature infructescences erect; fruit >4 mm, red when ripe, odorless; seeds large, few per fruit ..................................................................................................... 26. Alocasia
??? chou song shu
Li Heng (李恒); Peter Boyce, Josef Bogner
Herbs, large, glabrous, seasonally dormant. Rhizome erect, stout, with thick roots. Leaves few to several, petiolate; petiole long, with sheath; leaf blade subcordate to cordate-ovate, large, apex acute to cuspidate; middle vein strong; primary lateral veins pinnate and arching toward apex, running into inconspicuous marginal vein; secondary lateral veins and higher order venation reticulate to transverse-reticulate. Inflorescences 1 or 2 in a sympodium, appearing before or with leaves; peduncle long but only shortly exserted above ground; cataphylls surrounding peduncle. Spathe thick, boat-shaped or conchiform, lower part convolute, upper part somewhat to widely gaping, apex two-keeled, rostrate, curving forward. Spadix stipitate, globose to broadly ellipsoid, much shorter than spathe and hidden within. Flowers bisexual, with perigone; tepals 4, arching and imbricate. Stamens 4, free; filaments flattened; connective slender; thecae oblong, dehiscing by longitudinal slit; pollen grains ellipsoid, monosulcate, exine reticulate, apertural exine verrucate. Ovary of gynoecium (pistil) somewhat immersed in spadix axis, 1-loculed; ovule 1, orthotropous; funicle very short; placentation apical-parietal; stylar region long attenuate; stigma punctate-discoid. Infructescence globose to broadly ellipsoid; berries densely arranged. Berry with tepals and style persistent to ripe fruiting stage, base of berry immersed in spongy spadix axis. Seed globose; testa thin, smooth; embryo globose, large; endosperm very sparse, only a single cell layer thick. 2n = 30, 60.
Four or five species: E Asia, North America; two species in China.
The other species in the genus are Symplocarpus foetidus (Linnaeus) Nuttall (the type species), in North America; S. egorovii N. S. Pavlova & V. Nechaev, in Russia (Far East), and S. nabekuraensis Otsuka & K. Inoue, in Japan, but the latter is very close to S. renifolius and it is better considered as an infraspecific taxon of it.
1a. Leaf blade orbicular-cordate, 30–40 cm long and wide or nearly so; flowering before leaves appear in early spring; fruit ripening in summer of same year ............................................................................ 1. S. renifolius
1b. Leaf blade ovate to ovate-oblong, 10–20 cm long and 7–12 cm wide; flowering with leaf appearance in summer (ca. July); fruit ripening in spring of following year .............................. 2. S. nipponicus
??? chou song
Rhizome hypogeous, to 7 cm in diam. Leaves in a rosette; petiole to 40 cm long and ca. 1 cm in diam.; leaf blade 30–40 cm long and wide or nearly so (to 33 cm wide), middle green, base cordate, apex acute; venation reticulate, middle vein very strong, primary veins 5 on each side, ascending toward apex, lowermost ones running into basal lobes. Flowering before leaves appear; inflorescence usually solitary; peduncle green and purplish tinged, 7–13(–20) cm long, ca. 1 cm in diam.[since some descriptions in the family are quite long, perhaps here and thru-out for 3D objects alternatively use L×W dimensions, omitting long and in diam., e.g., 7–13(–20) × ca. 1 cm] Spathe plain purple to blackish purple, rarely green without any markings or with dark purple spots, boat-shaped, 8–20 × 5–12 cm, strongly leathery, apex acuminate. Spadix ellipsoid, 2–2.5 cm long, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. Flowers densely arranged. Flower 3–3.5 mm in diam., pinkish (tepals), thecae yellow. Fl. early spring, fr. summer of same year.
Wet places, forest swamps, moist mixed and coniferous forests, swamp meadows, swamp lands; below 300 m. Heilongjiang [Japan, Russia (Amur region, Ussuri, Sakhalin)].
The plant is poisonous, but sometimes used medicinally for treating swelling.
日本??? ri ben chou song
Rhizome hypogeous, thinner. Leaves in a rosette; petiole to 20 cm; leaf blade green, rarely variegated, ovate to narrowly ovate-oblong, 10–20 × 7–12 cm, base obtuse to cordate-subcordate, apex acute; venation reticulate, middle vein strong, primary lateral veins 6 or 7 on each side. Flowering with leaf appearance. Peduncle purple, long. Spathe plain purple or mottled dark purple, broadly elliptic and boat-shaped, leathery. Spadix ellipsoid, stipitate. Flowers densely arranged. Fl. summer (ca. Jul), fr. spring of following year.
Wet places. NE China (which provinces??) [Japan, Korea].
ʯ¸ÌÊô shi gan shu
Li Heng (Àîºã); Peter Boyce[3]
Plants climbing against trees with aid of adhesive roots, or creeping over rocks. Primary shoots branching to produce further adherent shoots and both types (in most species) are sterile but give rise to free, sympodial or physiognomically monopodial flowering shoots, often highly ramified, arising from leaf axil (subgen. Pothos) or beneath it (subgen. Allopothos (absent from China)). Leaves simple, distichous; petiole conspicuously winged [or wingless]; petiolar sheath minute or well developed, amplexicaul; articulation distinct (pulvinus at junction of petiole and blade); leaf blade with primary lateral veins on each side of midrib traversed by one or more intramarginal veins running ± from base and from ca. midway along midrib to apex or first to distal margins and then to apex. Inflorescences in axils of leaves or seemingly extra-axillary, sometimes pseudo-terminal, usually several along stem; peduncle partly or entirely enveloped by sheathlike organs (cataphylls). Spathe inconspicuous, cymbiform or elongate, not constricted, at last entirely spreading, and either spreading or recurved. Spadix sessile or stipitate, varying in shape, with reduced flowers at very base, otherwise fertile. Flowers many, bisexual, sometimes reduced; tepals 6, with vaulted-truncate apex. Stamens 6; filaments strap-shaped; anthers ovoid, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary 3-loculed; ovule 1 per locule, subbasal; stigma sessile, initially umbilicate. Berry 1–3-seeded; seeds large, without endosperm.
About 75 species: tropical and subtropical regions of Madagascar, India, Asia, Australia, and Polynesia; eight species in China (one endemic).
One of us (Boyce) treats Pothos cathcartii, P. balansae, and P. warburgii as synonyms of P. chinensis.
1a. Leaf petiole 13–15 cm, much longer than leaf blade; blade 3–4 cm; spadix cylindric, 5–6 ´ 0.15–0.2 cm 8. P. repens
1b. Leaf petiole ca. as long as or shorter than leaf blade; spadix ellipsoid to subglobose or globose.
2a. Petiole nearly as long as to slightly exceeding blade.
3a. Peduncle at anthesis reflexed or recurved; spadix globose, small, 5–6 cm .... 1. P. scandens
3b. Peduncle erect; spadix larger or smaller (ca. 2.5 or 10 cm), oblong.
4a. Spathe dark purple; leaf smaller, petiole 4–8 cm long, 5–10 mm wide ...... 2. P. cathcartii
4b. Spathe yellow-green; leaf larger, petiole 2/3 to equaling blade length, 7–9 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide; blade 8.5–12.5 cm ................................................................................... 3. P. balansae
2b. Petiole much shorter than blade.
5a. Petiole broad, small, obovate, length and width only 1/8–1/6 of blade; veins conspicuously branched; branchlets 4-angled.
6a. Peduncle and stipe small and broad, together 1.3–2 cm; peduncle stout ...... 4. P. pilulifer
6b. Peduncle and stipe long and narrow, together 7.5–8 cm; peduncle very slender 5. P. kerrii
5b. Petiole narrower and long, obovate-oblong or cuneate; veins inconspicuous; branchlets not 4-angled.
7a. Blade lanceolate, 6–8 ´ 1.5–2.2 cm; petiole cuneate, 6–12 ´ 3–4 mm .... 6. P. warburgii
7b. Blade obovate-lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 6–8 ´ 2.5–3.5 cm; petiole obovate-oblong to narrowly cuneate, 1–4 ´ 0.5–1.2 cm ........................................................ 7. P. chinensis
[Boyce commented: There is a major problem here; P. cathcartii, P, balansae, P. warburgii and P.chinensis are without doubt synonymous; the key will only work with a few specimens of each ‘species’; when a wide range of material is used the four merge. The earliest name is P. chinensis.]
[Boyce commented: The descriptions for Pothos are very inconsistent in what they describe and the manner in which the describe. Particular problems involve life form descriptors, (persistent use of ‘epiphytic’ – no Pothos are epiphytes), branches and leaves.]
ó«òëµø´ò tang lang die da
[Boyce commented: Pothos scandens has an extensive synonomy; FOC editor: please see FOC Guidelines]
Lianas, root climbing, creeping. Stem 4–6 m and more; branches cylindric, 1.5–9 mm in diam. Leaves petiolate; petiole cuneate, truncate at apex, auriculate [Boyce commented: cannot be truncate and auriculate], many veined; leaf blade lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 4–8 × 1–3 cm, 3-veined on each side, base obtuse, sometimes reduced into a small apex [??what] (only 1–2 mm), apex acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, small, appearing axillary; peduncle short, 5–8 mm, with 6–8 cataphylls at base; cataphylls imbricate, green, ovate, small, upper ones ca. 4 mm. Spathe purple at anthesis, cymbiform, small, 5–6 mm. Spadix yellow-green to yellow, subglobose or ellipsoid, 5–6 mm long, 4–5 mm in diam., on a short stipe (stalk); stipe 4–5 mm, erect in bud, recurved at 180°–270° so to bring spathe and spadix adjacent to stipe. Berry ripening red, oblong-ovoid, less than 10 mm long, 5–6 mm in diam. Fl. and fr. all seasons.
Rain forests, monsoon rainforests, in mountains or river terraces, bottoms, creeping on trees or on rocks; 200–1000 m. Xizang (Medog), S and SE Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Madagascar].
This is used medicinally in Yunnan for treating traumatic injuries and rheumatic arthralgia; the leaves are used as tea by the Tai people.
×Ï°úʯ¸Ì zi bao shi gan
Suffruticose, root climbing. Stems cylindric, more than 5 m long; internodes 1–2 cm. Petiole oblong-cuneate, 4–8 × 0.5–1 cm, almost as long as leaves, auriculate or not, rounded or truncate; leaf blade oblong or ovate-oblong, 5.5–9 × 2–2.5 cm, 3-veined on each side, lateral veins 2 or 3 pairs, base obtuse or rounded, apex caudate. Inflorescences appearing axillary; cataphylls 4 or 5, imbricate, ovate, 5–15 mm; peduncle straight, 2–4 cm. Spathe spreading, reflexed [??], whitish green to green and then purple-brown (latter post anthesis), broadly ovate, ca. 2 ´ 2.3 cm, apex acute. Spadix erect, oblong, ellipsoid [??- OR or], ca. 10 mm long, 7–8 mm in diam., on a short stipe; stipe ca. 5 mm, straight. [??colors. ??Fruit not observed] Fl. Apr.
Dense forests, on trees; 500–1600 m. Xizang (Medog), S, SE, and SW Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, N Myanmar, Thailand, N Vietnam].
One of us (Boyce) treats this as a synonym of Pothos chinensis, see Boyce, P. C. (Blumea 45: 147–204. 2000).
ÁúÖÝʯ¸Ì long zhou shi gan
Lianas, root climbing. Stems with branches green, internodes 1–2 cm. Leaves petiolate; petiole broadly cuneate, ca. as long as leaves or shorter, apex truncate; leaf blade ovate, oblong, or lanceolate-oblong, (2–)8.5–12. 5 × 3–4 cm, [??base], apex acuminate. Inflorescences appearing axillary, rarely physiognomically terminal on shoot. Peduncle ca. 4 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam.; cataphylls many, imbricate, ovate, ca. 2 ´ 2 cm. Spathe yellow, ovate, large, ca. 2.5 ´ 3 cm; spadix stipe ca. 5 mm; spadix oblong, ca. 2.5 ´ 2 cm. Flowers large, 3–4 mm in diam. Berry yellow, ripening red. Fl. Jun.
SW Guangxi (Daquinshan, Longzhou) [N Vietnam].
One of us (Boyce) treats this as a synonym of Pothos chinensis, see Boyce, P.C. (Blumea 45: 147–204. 2000).
µØ¸Ì di gan
Lianas, root climbing. Stems 2–3 m long, [??cross-section shape?]. Branches green, 4-angulate, internodes 2–3 cm. Leaves petiolate; petiole short, 0.5–2.5 cm long, 0.7–1.5 cm wide, obovate, auriculate, truncate; leaf blade elliptic, 7–9 ´ 2.5–4.5 cm, leathery, [??base], apex acute, aristate; veins conspicuous, 1 pair basal, 3 pairs lateral. Inflorescences appearing axillary, peduncle and stipe together 1–2 cm, stout (ca. 1.5 mm in diam.); cataphylls 4 or 5, small, 2–6 mm. Spathe reflexed, ovate, ca. 5 mm. Spadix yellow-green, globose, 5–6 mm in diam. [??Flowers. ??Fruit] Fl. Dec–Jul.
Dense forests, on rocks; 200–1000 m. SW Guangxi, SE Yunnan [N Vietnam].
All parts of the plant are used medicinally for epilepsy.
³¤¹£Ê¯¸Ì chang geng shi gan
Lianas, root-climbing. Stems with branches cylindric, 4-angulate, internodes 1.5–3 cm. Petiole obovate, 1–2.2 ´ 0.5–0.9 cm, not auriculate, obtuse; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate, 6–11 ´ 2.5–4 cm, subleathery, with 2 pairs basal and 1 pair lateral veins, acuminate, caudate. Inflorescences axillary; peduncle purple-brown, 3.5–4 cm; stipe 10–50 × 0.23–0.75 mm; cataphylls 3–5, imbricate, 1–5 mm. Spathe purple-brown, ovate-cymbiform, ca. 5 mm, apex acute. Spadix yellow-green, globose, 4–5 mm in diam.; stipe 3–5 cm. Fl. Aug.
Dense forests, on rocks. SE Guangxi (Longzhou) [Laos, Vietnam].
The plant is used medicinally to treat traumatic injuries.
Pothos kerrii is quite similar to P. pilulifer, but it is different from the latter by the elongated peduncle and stipe (7.5–8 cm both together), peduncle and stipe of P. pilulifer 1.3–2 cm.
̨Íåʯ¸Ì tai wan shi gan
Lianas. Branches 4-angulate, internodes longer than 1 cm. Petiole broadly cuneate, shorter than blade, 6–12 ´ 3–4 mm; leaf blade oblong or oblong-lanceolate, (2–)6–8 × 1–2 cm, apex acute. Peduncle longer than petiole; cataphylls 5. Spathe broadly ovate, ca. 5 mm, apex acute. Spadix on a short stipe, ovoid, ca. 4 mm long, ca. 3 mm in diam. Flowers small. Fl. Mar–Oct.
· Taiwan.
One of us (Boyce) treats this as a synonym of Pothos chinensis, see Boyce, P. C. (Blumea 45: 147–204. 2000).
ʯ¸Ì×Ó shi gan zi
Lianas, root climbing, Stems brownish, striate, subcylindric, ca. 2 cm in diam., branched, internodes 1–4 cm, rooting. Leaves petiolate; petiole obovate-oblong or cuneate, ca. 1/6 ´ as long as blade, 1–4 ´ 0.5–1.2 cm; leaf blade elliptic or lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate-oblong, 6–13 ´ 1.5–5.6 cm, papery, base obtuse, margin cristate, apex acuminate or long acuminate; veins conspicuous, 1 pair basal, 3 pairs lateral. Inflorescences axillary; cataphylls 4 or 5(or 6), ovate, ca. 5 cm; peduncle 8–18(–25) mm. Spathe green, ovate, ca. 8 mm long, 10–15 mm wide [??okay or not], apex acute. Spadix yellow-green or yellowish, elliptic to subglobose, short, 7–8(–11) mm long, 5–6(–10) mm in diam.; stipe 3–5(–8) mm. Berry yellow-green to ripening red, ovoid or oblong, ca. 1 cm. Fl. and fr. all seasons.
Moist dense forests, climbing on trees or creeping over rocks; below 2400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang (Medog), Yunnan, [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam].
1a. Peduncle 8–18 mm ........................................................................................... 7a. var. chinensis
1b. Peduncle to 25 mm ........................................................................................ 7b. var. lotienensis
[Boyce commented: These varieties do not hold up; P. chinensis is highly variable in the same manner as P. scandens]
ʯ¸Ì×Ó(Ô±äÖÖ) shi gan zi (yuan bian zhong)
Tapanava chinensis Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 4: 14. 1838; Pothos seemannii Schott; P. yunnanensis Engler.
Peduncles 8–18(–20) mm.
Moist dense forests, climbing on trees or creeping over rooks; below 2400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang (Mêdog), Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam].
The whole plant is used medicinally to treat rheumatic arthralgia, traumatic injuries, fractures, coughs, and infantile malnutrition caused by intestinal parasites.
³¤±úʯ¸Ì chang bing shi gan
Peduncles to 25 mm. Fl. Apr–Jun.
· Moist mountain valleys, on rocks; 500–1100 m. S Guizhou.
°Ù×ãÌÙ bai zu teng
Flagellaria repens Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 212. 1790; Pothos loureiroi Hooker & Arnott; P. terminalis Hance.
Lianas, root climbing. Stems 1–20 m long; branches flexuous, slender, usually angulate, rooting, internodes 10–15 mm; flowering branches pendulous, cylindric, striate, not rooting. Petiole 13–15 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, long cuneate, apex retuse; leaf blade lanceolate, 3–4 cm ´ 5–7 mm, veins parallel, inconspicuous, apex acuminate; leaves on young branches much smaller, 10–20 ´ 3–4 mm. Inflorescences terminal and axillary; main peduncles 2–3 cm; cataphylls 3–5, lanceolate, imbricate or lax; peduncle in axil of cataphyll, 11–13 cm, slender, at base with a linear bract 1–2 cm [Boyce commented: the description of the inflorescence architecture is most confusing; what is the difference between a cataphyll and a bract; I described them thus in Blumea: 45: (2000)]; flowering shoots somewhat abbreviated to well-developed by enrichment, arising from few to several of the distal leaf axils of fertile shoots, occasionally arising from naked older portions of shoot, bearing a minute prophyll and a few to many 5–40 mm, sequentially longer, cataphylls, longest sometimes with a prominent vestigial leaf blade. Inflorescences solitary to several together, either congested or spaced along a leafy to naked branching system to 20 mm. Spathe green, margins stained purple, linear-lanceolate, 4–6 cm × 5–8 mm, apex acute, long aristate. Spadix yellow-green to greenish purple, slender, cylindric, 5–6 cm, at fruiting up to 10 cm long and 1.5–2 mm in diam.; stipe 5–6 mm. Berry deep red, ovoid, ca. 1 cm. Fl. Mar–Apr, fr. May–Jul.
Moist forests, epiphytic on trees or creeping over rocks; below 900 m. S Guangdong, S Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan [N Vietnam].
This plant is used for treating traumatic injuries, fractures, and abscesses.
¼Ùʯ¸ÌÊô jia shi gan shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Shrubs, climbing. Branches extra-axillary. Leaves simple, distichous, petiolate; petiole elongated, leaflike, wide apart, veins parallel; leaf blade short, triangular-lanceolate, with parallel veins. Inflorescences in axil of leaves, bractlike cataphylls 1 or 2. Spathe deciduous, short. Spadix cylindric. Flowers bisexual but plants functionally dioecious; tepals 6, with vaulted-truncate apex. Stamens 3–6; anthers oval, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary obovoid, 1-loculed; ovule solitary, subbasal; stigma sessile. Berry ovoid, acute; seed oblong, without endosperm.
A monotypic genus: China (Taiwan – Lanyu Island), Indonesia [Sulawesi, Maluku], Philippines.
Pothoidium is similar to Pothos repens, but differs from the latter in being functionally dioecious, by the branching inflorescences by its unilocular ovary and solitary ovule. Pothoidium has functionally unisexual spadices arranged seemingly in panicles and maturing sequentially. The structure of the fertile shoots is not yet clearly understood; however, it is possible that they are developed by the reduction of all the leaves of a leafy fertile shoot system to minute prophylls and cataphylls and that the panicle-like synflorescence is hence to be regarded as an aggregate structure. Pothos repens and Pothoidium are vegetatively almost identical. Depauperate flowering specimens of Pothoidium greatly resemble robust plants of P. repens. Interpretation of Pothoidium inflorescences suggests that P. lobbianum is functionally dioecious. ‘Male’ spadices have flowers with prominently visible anthers and an apparently sterile ovary. ‘Female’ spadices have flowers with a large unilocular fertile ovary and no stamens. Flowers of Pothos species are always bisexual with a trilocular ovary.
¼Ùʯ¸Ì jia shi gan
Climbers. Branches elongated, striate, internodes 7.5–10 mm. Leaves leathery; petiole 7.5–10 ´ ca. 1 cm, base angustate, apex truncate; leaf blade triangular-lanceolate, 2.5–4 ´ ca. 7.5 mm, much smaller and shorter than petiole. Inflorescences several to many, borne in a terminal branching system, lower inflorescences axillary to a foliage leaf, upper ones either subtended by a cataphyll or without a subtending leaf, peduncular axis slender, composed of one to several internodes, sometimes subtended by a prophyll, sometimes also bearing a cataphyll ± halfway up. Spathe occurrence irregular, often absent, widely spreading, linear-lanceolate, margins usually revolute. Spadix apparently often functionally unisexual, cylindric, sessile to long stipitate when subtended by spathe. Flowers apparently usually unisexual, sometimes bisexual, congested, with a perigone of 6 free tepals; male flowers with well developed anthers and apparently sterile ovary; female flowers with large fertile ovary and lacking stamens; stamens 3–6, free, number often varying on a single spadix. Spathe broadly ovate, 5–7.5 mm, acute. Spadix 1.5–2.5 cm. Berry ca. 1.2 cm long, ca. 6 mm in diam. Seed solitary, ovoid. Fl. Feb–May, fr. Jul–Oct.
Taiwan (Taitung: Botel Tobago) [Indonesia (Sulawesi, Maluku), Philippines].
ÉÏÊ÷ÄÏÐÇÊô shan shu nan xing shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Plants creeping against trees or over boulders by mean of adhesive roots. Leaves distichous, petiolate, undivided, pinnately veined; upper nodes of stem with usually 2 normal leaves with distinct sheaths, and (mostly) several strongly to entirely reduced leaves with strongly developed sheaths; petioles of other leaves only at base moderately sheathing, pulvinus distinct; rhaphides and laticiferous vessels absent. Inflorescences emerge from a rhipidium carried at shoot tips (or sometimes laterally displaced), with each inflorescence subtended by a reduced leaf comprised mainly of an expanded petiolar sheath. Spathe white or green, cymbiform, oblong-ovate, initially tubular-inrolled and beaked for ca. ¼ spathe length, at last entirely spreading, often caducous. Spadix cylindric, with stalk (stipe) well developed. Flowers many, bisexual; perianth (perigone) a single cuplike structure, membranous, truncate. Stamens 4; filaments strap-shaped; anthers longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; ovule central-basal; stigma sessile, transversely inserted. Berry subglobose, distinctly truncate apically; seed large.
Nine species: tropical Asia: from India to Malaysia; two species in China.
One of us (Boyce) notes that the two taxa treated here are not the species in China, but rather that there are three undescribed species requiring further work.
[Boyce commented: There is a problem here. Neither of the species cited here are present in China; latifolium is Pen. Mal. Endemic (type from Perak) while A. montanum is a synonym of Rhaphidophora montana; there are 3 species in China, all are undescribed. Really not sure what to recommend other than getting all specimens from Kunming on loan and rushing out a mss. to describe.]
1a. Leaf sheath ca. 10 mm wide; blade oblong-lanceolate, 15–20 ´ 5–8 cm; inflorescence with linear bracts ca. 7 mm; spadix stipe 5–8 mm .................................................................... 1. A. montanum
1b. Leaf sheath 5–7 mm wide; blade ovate-oblong, (14–)30 ´ (5.5–)9 cm; inflorescence without linear bracts, spadix stipe ca. 2 cm ...................................................................................... 2. A. latifolium
ÉÏÊ÷ÄÏÐÇ shang shu nan xing
Calla montana Blume, Flora 8: 147. 1825 [??Cat. Gew. Buitenzorg 62].
Stem 4–5 mm in diam., internodes elongated, ca. 2.5 cm, upper one much shorter, rooting. Petiole 10–15 cm, from base to pulvinus sheathing, developed sheaths 9–14 cm, ca. 10 mm wide, mostly early caducous; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate, 15–20 ´ 5–8 cm, papery, oblique, obtuse or subcordate at base, margin entire, apex acuminate; lateral veins 7 or 8 on each side, between them secondary veins 2 or 3, reticulate. Inflorescences axillary and terminal from bractlike reduced leaves; bractlike linear leaves ca. 7 cm, apex acuminate with tail 5–7 mm. Peduncle 10–15 cm. Spathe initially tubular-inrolled, at last entirely spreading, ovate-lanceolate, apex with a rostrum 10–15 mm. Spadix pale green, ellipsoid, 3–3.5 cm, stipe 5–8 mm. Flowers dense; perigone annular, ca. 1/2 ´ as high as ovary. Filaments 4, anthers ovoid. Ovary obovoid, apex ca. 3 mm in diam.; stigma transversely oblong. Berry ovoid, ca. 8 mm, apex truncate. Fl. and fr. Jun–Oct.
Forests, on trees or rocks; below 500 m. Hainan, SE Yunnan [Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam].
¿íÒ¶ÉÏÊ÷ÄÏÐÇ kuan ye shang shu nan xing
Stem 0.4–3 m long, 4–5 mm in diam., internodes 1.5–3 cm, rooting. Petiole 11–17 cm, narrowly sheathing; sheaths ca. 2/3 ´ as long as petiole, 5–7 mm wide; leaf blade broadly oblong, 25.4–33 ´ 10.5–14 cm, base acute, apex cuspidate-acuminate; lateral veins ca. 12 on each side, strong, spreading, and arched. Inflorescences axillary, without bractlike reduced leaves. Peduncle ca. 25 cm. Spathe initially spindle-shaped and at last spreading, lanceolate, 5–6 cm, base angustate, apex acuminate. Spadix cylindric, 3–5.8 cm (Yunnan specimens), stipe to 2 cm. Flowers very closed; perigone annular, ca. 1/2 ´ as high as ovary. Stamens 4; anthers base divaricate, apex dehiscent. Ovary obovoid, apex ca. 3 mm in diam.; stigma transversely linear. Berry yellow-green, drying blackened, ovoid, ca. 10 mm, apex truncate. Fl. Apr–May.
Forests; 100–300 m. SE Yunnan [Malaysia, Vietnam].
À×¹«Á¬Êô lei gong lian shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Epipremnopsis Engler.
Lianas, creeping against trees and over rocks by aid of adhesive roots. Leaves long petiolate; leaf blade entire and pinnatifid or entire with a series of rather large perforations on either side of midrib; pulvinus distinct; raphides and latex absent. Inflorescences mostly solitary [Boyle commented: at tips of primary or lateral shoots, usually near stem apices - inflorescences in aroids are ALWAYS terminal on the shoot; the crucial thing is the shoot a primary or a lateral axis and how reduced is it on leafless NOT the case in A. hainanese nodes]; peduncle initially for greater part enveloped by sheaths, afterward ± becoming naked, far exserted from remnants of fraying sheaths. Spathe initially tubular-inrolled, finally reflexed and entirely spreading, early caducous. Stipe of spadix short; spadix cylindric. Flowers many, bisexual, naked. Stamens 4; filaments strap-shaped; anthers longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary 1-loculed, 2-ovuled, [??ovary dehiscence?]; ovules subbasal along parietal, strongly intruding placenta; style conical [Boyle commented: in most Monstereae the style forms a massive cap on top of the ovary]; stigma orbicular or longitudinally inserted. Berry 1- or 2-seeded; seed subglobose.
Five species: tropical Asia, two species in China.
1a. Leaf blade entire, unlobed; spadix obovoid, ca. 4 cm, upper part ca. 17 mm in diam.; stigma rounded 1. A. sinense
1b. Leaf blade with oblong perforations; spadix cylindric, ca. 6 ´ 1.3 cm; stigma oblong 2. A. hainanense
À×¹«Á¬ lei gong lian
?Scindapsus sinensis Engler [??ex Diels], Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 29: 234. 1900; Epipremnopsis sinensis (Engler) H. Li [Boyle asked: Are you implying that the Scindapsus may not be homotypic?]; Rhaphidophora dunniana H. Léveillé.
Stem slender, 3–5 mm in diam.; internodes 3–5 cm. Petiole elongated, 8–15 cm, base sheathing; leaf blade light green, after drying black-brown, falcate-lanceolate, 13–23 ´ 5–8 cm, strongly asymmetric, one side usually 2 ´ as wide as other, base broadly cuneate or subrounded, margin entire, apex acute; lateral veins many, diverging at 30° from midrib, contracted near margin into a marginal vein. Peduncle pale green, ca. 5.5 cm. Spathe initially green, inrolled spindle-shaped, ca. 7 cm, middle part ca. 2.2 cm in diam., finally spreading, cymbiform, subovate, 8–9 × ca. 11.5 cm, yellow-green to yellow. Stipe of spadix 5–10 mm; spadix obovoid, ca. 4 × 1.8 cm, angustate toward base, apex obtuse. Flower bisexual. Filaments ca. 4 mm; anthers oblong, ca. 3 mm. Ovary 5- or 6-angular, cylindric, ca. 4 ´ 5 mm, apex truncate; stigma sessile, nearly circular, 1-loculed, 2-ovuled; ovules subbasal, transversely inserted. Berry green, when mature yellow or red, and bad smelling; seeds 1 or 2, brown, obovoid-reniform, ca. 2 mm. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Jul–Nov.
Evergreen forests, on trees or over rocks, 500–1100 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan [N Vietnam].
The stems and leaves are used for treating traumatic injuries, fractures, and angina pectoris.
´©ÐÄÌÙ chuan xin teng
Epipremnopsis hainanensis Ting & Wu ex H. Li, Y. Shiao & S. L. Tseng, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 15(2): 102. 1977.
Stem cylindric [??dimensions]; internodes 2–3 cm. Petiole 20–30 cm, on juvenile branch only 4–5 cm; sheath reaching base of leaf blade, base amplexicaul, marcescent; leaf blade green, after drying dark brown, ovate-lanceolate, falcate-lanceolate, 13–15 cm on juvenile branch, on adult branch blade large, 28–35 ´ 9–12 cm, papery, base rounded or subcordate, margin entire, apex abruptly acuminate; lateral veins 5–7 pairs, ascending and arched, each side along midrib with some large and some small perforations; perforations ovate or oblong, 4–6 cm long, 1.5–4 cm in diam., sometimes reaching margin and midrib of leaf blade. Inflorescence solitary; peduncle dark brown when dry, cylindric, 8–10 cm. Spathe yellow-red, broadly cymbiform, 8–5 ´ 8–9 cm, apex rostrate [??how long is the rostrum]. Stipe of spadix 8–10 cm; spadix cylindric, ca. 6 cm long, ca. 1.3 cm in diam. Flowers bisexual. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric, ca. 3 ´ 2.5 mm, apex truncate; stigma sessile, longitudinally oblong, 1-loculed, 2-ovuled; ovules anatropous with short funicle, inserted on lower part of placenta. Stamens 6, shorter than ovary during female anthesis but filaments extending at male anthesis to bring thecae above pistils; filaments flat; anthers longitudinally dehiscent. Fl. Apr (Hainan), Oct (Guangxi).
Dense forests in valleys or by water sides, creeping against trees or over rocks; below 300 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Yunnan [N Vietnam].
ѽÇÌÙÊô ya jiao teng shu
Li Heng (Àîºã); Peter Boyce
Lianas, large, creeping up trees by aid of adhesive roots, and on rocks. Stems thick, rooting, [text missing here]. Leaves distichous, entire or divided, or perforate, thinly to rather thickly leathery, pinnately veined, petiolate; pulvinus short or long; petiole often adaxially grooved or canaliculate, sheath extending to pulvinus; raphides numerous on stem and leaf; laticiferous ducts absent. Inflorescences at apex of leafy shoots, solitary or sometimes united into a synflorescence (rhipidium). Spathe not constricted, initially inrolled and tubular, afterward spreading, firm, mostly early caducous, rarely marcescent. Stalk of spadix short or absent; spadix cylindric. Flowers many, bisexual or sometimes a few male, naked. Stamens 4; anthers much shorter than filaments, dehiscent by a slit. Style broadly conical; stigma circular to linear, in latter case longitudinally inserted; ovary 1- or incompletely 2-loculed, 2- to many ovuled; ovules basal or parietal, 1- or 2-seriate. Fruit with stylar plate sloughing away in groups or singularly to reveal ovary cavity with seeds embedded in pulp, many seeded; seeds small, oblong to reniform.
About 120 species: tropical Asia, Australia, and the tropical western Pacific; 12 species in China (two endemic).
1a. Leaf blade entire.
2a. Leaf blade very large, more than 30 cm wide. [Boyle commented: The problem with these leaf blade leaves is that it only takes into account mature plants; I can partially rebuild this key but for the pinnate-leaved species I don’t know them well enough to make a sensible attempt at key construction. As it stands most people will find this key frustratingly difficult to use.]
3a. Innovations puberulent; leaf midrib minutely pubescent below; spadix obovoid-cylindric or elliptic, narrowing to base, 4.5–5.5 ´ 1.5–1.75 cm; infloresceneces pendent .............. 3. R. hookeri
3b. Innovations glabrous; leaf midrib glabrous; spadix cylindric, to 17–20 ´ 2–3 cm; inflorescences erect 4. R. megaphylla
2b. Leaf blade smaller, usually less than 15 cm wide. [Boyle commented: The best option here would be to start with stem cross-section (rectangular vs terete/sub-terete); these leaf characters do NOT work]
4a. Blade oblong or obliquely oblong, obtuse at base, 15–24 ´ 5–9 cm .......... 2. R. perkinsiae
4b. Blade falcate-lanceolate or falcate-elliptic.
5a. Blade narrowly cuneate at base; spathe green outside; spadix narrowing to apex, 5–8 ´ 1.5–3 cm 5. R. hongkongensis
5b. Blade rounded at base; spathe orange or pale yellow outside; spadix narrower and longer, cylindric [??dimensions].
6a. Spathe orange both inside and outside, center of outside light green [Boyle commented: this green coloration is solely down to how soon after opening the spathe is observed; as the spathe ages the color green goes; another problem is that the spathe in lancifolia and peepla is very soon caducous and thus this key couplet very weak]; spadix ca. 2/3 of spathe length ...... 1. R. lancifolia
6b. Spathe deep orange outside; spadix more than 4/5 of spathe length ............. 6. R. peepla
1b. Leaf blade pinnatifid.
7a. Style ?inconspicuous. [Boyle commented: This does NOT work; all aroids have a style]
8a. Leaf blade less than 35 × 30 cm, with a few lobes.
9a. Blade broadly ovate, pinnatisect, ca. 35 ´ 25–30 cm; lobes 3 or 4 on each side (sinuses reaching midrib); spadix long and thin, 15–18 ´ ca. 0.5 cm when dry ................. 8. R. laichouensis
9b. Blade ovate, pinnatifid or entire on older plants [Boyle commented: you mean both types of leaf present on older plants?], 17–25 ´ 5–12 cm, lobes only 1–3 on one or both sides (sinuses not reaching midrib); spadix shorter, 12–13 ´ 0.8–1 cm ............................. 7. R. luchunensis
8b. Leaf blade longer than 37 cm; pinnae (lobes) with 3–5 subequal, parallel costae.
10a. Pinnae 2–5 per side, spadix shorter than 9 cm .............................................. 9. R. glauca
10b. Pinnae 6–9 per side, spadix ca. 10 cm ............................................... 10. R. dulongensis
7b. Style conspicuous; leaf blade very large; lobes many, 6–7(–15) on each side; leaf blade ovate-oblong.
11a. Foliage leaves scattered and interspersed with several (up to 7) cataphyll-bearing nodes; feeding roots corky and smooth; perforations absent, leaf blade 60–70 ´ 40–50 cm ...... 12. R. decursiva
11b. A shingle climber when juvenile; feeding roots densely scaly; large perforations usually present along midrib, blade 30–55 ´ 22–36 cm ......................................................... 11. R. crassicaulis
ÉÏÊ÷òÚò¼ shang shu wu gong
[Boyle commented: Here and elsewhere some indication of whether that are small, moderate or massive and whether gracile or robust would be useful]. Lianas. Stem green [??always, ??cross-section] climbing, to 20 m or more, 1–2 cm in diam.; internodes 1–2 cm, rooting. Petiole green, sheathing from base to pulvinus, 14–30 cm, base ca. 3 mm in diam., at apex pulvinus incrassate, 1–1.5 cm; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, falcate-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, rarely ovate, oblique, 25–40 ´ 10–13.5 cm, subleathery, base obliquely rounded, i.e., one side obtuse, other side cuneate, usually one side of blade 7–8 cm wide, other side only 4–5.5 cm, margin entire, apex long acuminate; lateral veins 7 or 8 per side, ascending obliquely and arched. Inflorescence terminal [??on what type of branch, ??Clinging or free]; [cataphylls membranous, lanceolate, ca. 10 cm, caducous, Boyle asks: REALLY?]; peduncle green, 7–10 cm, ca. 1 cm in diam., upper part recurved. Spathe initially green, inrolled and tubular with a rostrum 2–3 cm, at anthesis spreading, cymbiform in outline, orange on both sides, center of outside light green; light yellow inside base, 12.5–4.5 ´ ca. 10 cm, apex abruptly acuminate, with a long rostrum, after anthesis caducous. Spadix sessile, cylindric, ca. 7 cm long, ca. 1.3 cm in diam., apex obtuse. Flowers bisexual, [??zone of reduced/sterile flowers that occurs at base of the spadix in most species]. Anthers purple. Ovary yellow or pale green, tetragonal or pentagonal-cylindric; stigma sessile, longitudinally oblong, many ovuled. Infructescence [incrassate: ??WHAT], ca. 9 cm long, 1.5–2 cm in diam. Berry gray-green; seeds many, yellow, cylindric, 1.5–2 mm. Fl. Oct–Nov, fr. next Oct.
Rain forests, monsoon rain forests, creeping on trees; 500–2500 m. W Guangxi, Yunnan [Bangladesh, NE India].
Õë·¿ÌÙ zhen fang teng
Lianas. Leaves petiolate; leaf blade oblong or obliquely oblong, 15–24 ´ 5–9 cm, leathery, base obtuse, apex acuminate; lateral veins nearly parallel. Peduncles 6–9 cm. Spathe convolute, ca. 8 ´ 2 cm. Spadix sessile, shorter than spathe, ca. 6 cm, ca. 1 cm in diam. Anthers ovoid, acuminate. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric, ca. 5 mm. [??further characters to make parallel with previous sp.]
Taiwan (known only from Taidong) [Philippines].
Rhaphidophora perkinsiae differs from R. lancifolia in having smaller leaf blades, (15–24 ´ 5–9 cm) and a smaller spadix (ca. 6 ´ 1 cm).
ë¹ýɽÁú mao gou shan long
Lianas. Stem cylindric, 8–12 mm in diam., internodes short, 5–10 mm. Petiole 12–30 cm, sheath just short of or reaching pulvinus; pulvinus distinct, 1–2 cm; leaf blade obliquely oblong, 27.5–45 ´ 15–30 cm, thinly leathery, sides and base of midrib abaxially minutely pubescent, base rounded, truncate, or subcordate, apex with an acumen 15–20 mm; lateral veins diverging at 70–40° [??] from midrib. [??Inflorescence position, ??How many together ??Where carried (on free or clinging branches)]; peduncle pendent, 3–5 cm, subtended by 1 or 2 cataphylls; cataphylls caducous, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 3–6 cm. Spathe outside green, inside yellow, oblong-ovate, 5–6 cm, thick, apiculus ca. 15 mm [??no mention of a rostrum]. Spadix sessile, yellow, obovoid, cylindric, or elliptic, 4.5–5.5 ´ 1.5–1.75 cm, at fruiting stage ca. 8.5 ´ 3.5 cm. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric; stigma subsessile, yellow, drying brown, longitudinally oblong; ovules many with slender funicle. Filaments ca. 2 mm; anthers oblong; staminodes 4, usually around base [is this what you mean??] of ovary in upper part of spadix. Fl. Mar–Jul.
Dense forests in mountain valleys, on large trees; 300–2200 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang (Medog), Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, NE India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, N Vietnam].
The stems are used medicinally for fractures.
´óҶѽÇÌÙ da ye ya jiao teng
Lianas. Stem cylindric, very thick, 3–4 cm in diam., internodes 1–6 cm. Petiole green, canaliculate, 50–70 cm; leaf blade green adaxially, light green abaxially, ovate-oblong, very large, 50–70 ´ 28–50 cm, leathery, base cordate, margin entire, apex abruptly acuminate; lateral veins 10–13 on each side, all diverging at 80–90° from midrib. Inflorescences terminal or appearing axillary (producing fascicles of up to 4 inflorescences in a synflorescence at tips of primary axis and then as synflorescence develops axis reiterates, overtopping synflorescence such that inflorescence cluster is displaced and appears to be produced laterally). Peduncle green, 15–18 cm long, ca. 2 cm in diam. Spathe initially inrolled, white-green, afterward spreading, cymbiform, light yellow, very thick (ca. 2 mm when dry), 20–27 ´ ca. 16 cm. Spadix sessile, yellow-green, when dry green-black, cylindric, base oblique, apex obtuse. Ovary tetra- or hexagonal-cylindric, ca. 7 mm; stigma sessile, punctiform; ovules narrowly elliptic or cylindric [??placentation]; funicle long and thin, base hairy. Stamens 4; filaments compressed, 2–3 ´ 0.5–1 mm; anthers yellow, small. [??Fruit] Fl. Apr–Aug.
Moist rain forests in limestone areas, on large trees or on limestone; 600–1300 m. S Yunnan [N Laos, N Thailand, N Vietnam].
ʨ×Óβ shi zi wei
Lianas. Stem thick, rectangular in cross-section; branches 5–10 mm in diam.; [Boyle commented: the architecture of R. hongkongensis is very similar to that of R. lancifolia; ??pendulous branches and ??inflorescence position] internodes 1–4 cm, rooting; internodes of juvenile branches elongated to 6–8 cm, often producing aerial roots opposite to petiole. Petiole 5–10 cm, sheathing to pulvinus; pulvinus conspicuous, 4–10 mm; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, usually falcate-elliptic, sometimes oblong-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 20–35 ´ 5–6(–14) cm, base narrowly cuneate to minutely truncate, apex long acuminate; lateral veins many (but in fresh material almost invisible), diverging at 45° from midrib; juvenile stems with leaf blade obliquely elliptic, base narrowly cuneate on one side, rounded on other side, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal; peduncle cylindric, 4–5 cm, apex ca. 10 mm in diam. Spathe early caducous, green to light yellow, ovate, involute, 6–9 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix pale green or light yellow, cylindric, 5–8 ´ 1.5–3 cm. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric, ca. 4 ´ 2 mm, apex truncate; stigma black, capitate. Fruit yellow-green. Fl. Apr–Aug.
Valley rain forests, evergreen forests, on trees or stone walls; 100–900(–2000) m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan [?Indonesia, Laos, ?Malaysia, Myanmar, N Thailand, N Vietnam].
The plant is used medicinally for treating traumatic injuries, fractures, lumbago, rheumatism, and internal fevers.
´óÒ¶ÄÏËÕ da ye nan su
Pothos peepla Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 1: 454. 1820; Scindapsus peepla Schott.
Lianas. Stem pale green, 8–12 mm diam., rooting [??where], internodes 2–5 cm, terete to weakly sulcate on opposite sides, branching usually short but abundant. Leaf blade oblong, elliptic-oblong, or ovate-oblong, 8–25 ´ 4–11 cm, subleathery, base rounded, margin entire, apex abruptly acuminate or acute; lateral veins many, parallel, diverging at 45° from midrib. Petiole light green, 10–20 cm; sheath reaching pulvinus, marcescent; pulvinus thickened, 8–12 mm. Inflorescences terminal on lateral free branches; peduncle erect, upper part recurved, robust, 8–10 cm; bracts around base early caducous, linear, 6–7 cm, membranous. Inflorescence terminal; peduncle erect, upper part recurved, robust, 8–10 cm. Spathe involute, later spreading, dull orange outside, dull yellow to dull orange inside, elliptic-oblong or oblong in outline, 7–9 cm, apex with rostrum ca. 10 mm. Spadix sessile, ochraceous, pale white, or, violet, cylindric, 5.5–8 cm long, ca. 4/5 of total spathe, 10–2 mm in diam.[??]. Ovary tetra- or hexagonal-cylindric, ca. 2 ´ 2 mm; stigma oblong, small. Stamens shorter than ovary during female anthesis; at male anthesis filaments extend to project thecae beyond pistil; anthers elliptic. [??Fruit] Fl. Sep–Oct.
Evergreen forests, valley forests, on trees or on stone walls; 1800–2800 m. Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, N Cambodia, NE India, Laos, N Myanmar, Nepal, N Thailand, N Vietnam].
The plant is used medicinally for treating fractures, traumatic injuries, rheumatic arthralgia, angina pectoris, bronchitis, and coughs.
ÂÌ´ºÑ½ÇÌÙ lu chun ya jiao teng
Lianas. Juvenile stems dark green, rooting, creeping on ground humus soil of forest understories or on bark mosses of trees, back rounded, moniliform or torulose, internodes thickened, 10–20 ´ 5–7 mm. Petiole 20–25 cm; sheath caducous, membranous, [??how far does the sheath extend], pulvinus ca. 10 mm; leaf blade green adaxially, light green abaxially, black-brown when dry, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 10–27 ´ 5–12 cm, subleathery, base obliquely rounded, apex acuminate or caudate, unequally pinnately lobed; pinnae 2 or 3 per side, or one side entire, other side with 2 or 3 pinnae, sinuses reaching to 2–3 cm from midrib, sometimes on mature branches leaf blades pinnately lobed, others entire, or blades all entire; lateral veins 9 or 10 on each side of midrib [??how many per pinnae], ascending obliquely. Inflorescence nearly terminal; peduncle erect, green, robust, 12–14 cm. Spathe early caducous, spreading, light yellow-green, ovate, 14–16 cm. Spadix sessile, pale yellow, cylindric, 12–13 ´ 2–3 cm, base oblique, apex obtuse. Flowers bisexual. Stamens 4; anthers sessile, adnate to upper part of ovary [Boyle commented: really? If this is true then it is unique in the genus and really should be a major key element]. Ovary green-white, pentagonal-cylindric, ca. 8 ´ 4 mm, apex truncate; ovules oblong, with slender funicle, parietal; stigma sessile, yellow-brown, oblong. Berry free, juicy, orange, apex yellow-green, obconical, ca. 6 ´ 4 mm, 4–6-angulate. Fl. Sep–Nov, fr. next Jun–Jul.
· Evergreen forests, mossy forests, on large trees; 1700–2500 m. Xizang (Medog), Yunnan.
À³ÖÝѽÇÌÙ lai zhou ya jiao teng
Lianas. Stem 1–2 cm in diam., internodes 3–4 cm, branched. Petiole ca. 30 cm, sheathing, pulvinus ca. 15 mm; leaf blade broadly ovate, ca. 35 ´ 25–30 cm, leathery, base truncate in outline, pinnately divided; pinnae 3 or 4 per side, linear-oblong, apex falcate-truncate with ascending falcate tip, ca. 14 ´ 3–4 cm, with 1 or 2 equally parallel costae, sinuses almost reaching midrib. Peduncle 15–18 cm long, ca. 5 mm in diam. Spathe yellow, 10–11.5 cm. Spadix sessile, cylindric, ca. 11 ´ 1.5–2 cm. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric, apex truncate; stigma sessile, circular. Berry many seeded. Seeds oblong, spindle-shaped, ca. 2 ´ 0.7 mm, maculose. Fl. May–Aug, mature fr. next year.
Dense forests, on trees or stone walls; below 1500 m. Yunnan [N Vietnam].
Rhaphidophora laichouensis differs from R. decursiva in having pinnae in 3–5 pairs (compared with 6–15 pairs), and a smaller spadix (ca. 11 ´ 2–3 cm). [Boyle asks ??What about leaf arrangement]
·Û±³Ñ½ÇÌÙ fen bei ya jiao teng
Pothos glaucus Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 45. 1831 (‘glauca’); Monstera glauca (Wallich) K. Koch ex Ender; Pothos wallichii Steudel, Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 2: 391. 1841, nom. illeg. based on same type as Pothos glaucus Wallich; Rhaphidophora glauca var. khasiana J. D. Hooker; Scindapsus glaucus (Wallich) Schott.
Lianas, to 10 m, but frequently smaller. Stems 0.7–2.5 cm in diam., terete in cross-section; climbing stems with internodes elongated and rooting; free lateral stems forming a complex series of branches eventually pendent under their own weight. Leaves scattered, with one foliage leaf at each node except for proximal part of a branch where first few nodes have a prophyll and one or more cataphylls instead of foliage leaves; petiole 9–33 cm, apical geniculum indistinct; petiolar sheath reaching base of leaf blade; leaf blade adaxially dull mid-green, abaxially pale to strikingly glaucous-green, ovate in outline, ± symmetrical, 11.5–42 × 7.5–24 cm, base truncate, oblique, or shallowly cordate, apex acuminate, variously pinnatifid, pinnatipartite, or pinnatisectly divided, depending upon degree of maturity; pinnae 2–5(–8) per side, each pinna with 3 conspicuous primary lateral veins. Inflorescence solitary, erect, arising from tips of free lateral branches; peduncle spreading, apical portion curved, 10–25 cm. Spathe opening wide, pale glaucous green in bud, opening pale to mid-yellow, waxy, oblong-ovate, 4.5–8.5 × 0.8–1.3 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix sessile, dull cream colored, cylindrical, 4.5–8.5 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm in diam. at widest point, base slightly tapering, apex truncate-rounded. Stamens 4 per flower; filaments flat, 2.7–3 mm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, not increasing in length at anthesis; pollen simply expelled from between pistils. Pistils 3–5.5 mm, apex 3–4 mm wide, truncate, smooth; stigma flat, circular to elliptic, 0.6–1 mm; ovules numerous, on 2 intrusive parietal placentae. Infructescence 12–15 cm long, 3–3.5 cm in diam. when ripe, subtended by persistent withered spathe remains early in development; mature infructescence surface comprised of tough thickened stylar tissue that upon ripening falls as irregular plates to expose ovary cavities with seeds embedded in copious, pale orange pulp; seeds numerous per ovary, narrowly ellipsoid, 1.5–2 × ca. 1 mm. Fl. Aug–Sep.
Montane broad-leaved forests, trees; below 2000 m. Xizang (Mêdog, Zayü[check thru-out mss]) [Bangladesh, Bhutan, NE India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, N Thailand].
¶ÀÁúѽÇÌÙ du long ya jiao teng
Lianas. Stem green, cylindric, 1–2 m long, 2–3 cm in diam., internodes 0.5–2.5 cm. Petiole 41–49 ´ ca. 1.5 cm, base 3–4 cm sheathing, pulvinus indistinct; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, oblong-ovate in outline, ca. 50 ´ 35 cm, subleathery, base rounded or subcordate, pinnately divided; pinnae 6–9 per side, broadly linear, oblique, those at mid-leaf 4–5 cm wide, apex truncate with falcate tip; costae 3 or 4, equally strong, parallel; sinuses nearly reaching midrib. Peduncle solitary, cylindric, 15–20 cm ´ 8–10 mm. Spathe unknown. Spadix sessile, pale green, cylindric, ca. 10 ´ 1.8 cm. Ovary 4- or 5-gonal-cylindric, apex truncate; stigma capitate. Fr. Nov–Mar.
· Valley forests; below 1200–2500 m. Yunnan (Gongshan).
´Ö¾¥Ñ½ÇÌÙ cu jing ya jiao teng
Lianas. Branches dorso-ventrally compressed, to 3 cm in diam., internodes short. Leaf blade ovate in outline, 30–55 ´ 22–36 cm, leathery, base obtuse, apex acute, pinnately divided; pinnae 6–10 or more per side, reaching midrib or nearly so, linear-falcate, base decurrent, apex truncate; primary lateral veins usually 2–4, equally strong, parallel, along midrib with perforations (8–20 ´ 2–5 mm), pinnae at mid-leaf 15–21 ´ 1–5 cm. [??Inflorescence position] Peduncle robust, cylindrical, 12–20 ´ 1–1.6 cm. Spathe unknown. Spadix sessile, white, cylindrical, 10–17 cm long, 2–2.5 cm in diam. at base. Ovary cylindric, 6–8 ´ ca. 2 mm; ovules many, oblong, funicle long; stile broadly conical; stigma circular. [??fruit, ??Seeds] Fr. Nov–Dec.
Dense tropical forests, on trees or over stones; below 1300 m. Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [N Lao PDR, N Vietnam].
ÅÀÊ÷Áú pa shu long
Pothos decursivus Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 1: 418. 1820 [??p. 436].
Lianas, large. Stem green at back [??what at the front], robust, 3–5 cm in diam., rooting [??where], internodes 1–2 cm. Petiole 20–40 cm [??shape, ??Petiolar sheath], pulvinus indistinct; juvenile [Boyle commented: Leaf arrangement in R. decursiva is very distinctive and should be noted here as diagnostic]; leaf blade orbicular, ca. 16 ´ 13 cm, margin entire, apex abruptly acute; mature leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, oblong-ovate, ovate in outline, 60–70 ´ 40–50 cm, base subcordate, apex acute, margin irregularly and asymmetrically pinnately divided; pinnae 9–15 per side, ca. 20 ´ 3–5 cm at mid-leaf, base narrowed, apex truncate with ascending falcate tip, with a strong costa. Inflorescence solitary, axillary; peduncle green, cylindric, very robust, 11–20 ´ 1.5–3 cm. Spathe initially involved, afterward spreading, yellow on both sides, cymbiform, oblong-ovate, 17–20 ´ 10–12 cm, Spadix sessile, gray-green, cylindric, 15–16 ´ 2–3 cm, base oblique. Filaments flat, ca. 5 mm, nearly as long as ovary, base angustate; anthers yellow, oblong, less than 1 mm. Ovary hexagonal-conical, ca. 5 ´ 3 mm; stile distinct, ca. 1 cm; stigma yellow, longitudinally oblong; ovules many; funicle laterally inserted, slender. Infructescence 15–20 ´ 5–5.5 cm; berry green-white, base white or yellow, obconical, ca. 18 ´ 5 mm, apex with a persistent stile. Fl. May–Aug, fr. mature next Jul–Sep.
Monsoon rain forests, valley evergreen broad-leaved forests, creeping on ground, over rocks or climbing against trees; below 2200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang (Medog, Zayu), Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].
The stems and leaves are used as medicine for the treatment of traumatic injuries, fractures, swellings, colds, lumbago, snake bites, coughs, and bronchitis.
There has been much confusion over Rhaphidophora decursiva and Epipermnum pinnatum because both species have large pinnatifid leaves, but Epipremnum pinnatum’s leaf blade has small perforations (ca. 2 mm long) along midrib, a sessile, longitudinally linear-oblong stigma, and 1-loculed and 2-ovuled ovary. [Boyle commented: They also differ in leaf arrangement as noted above.]
÷è÷ëÒ¶Êô qi lin ye shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Lianas, large to very large. Stems robust, woody, branched and rooting [??from where]. Leaves long petiolate; petiole with pulvinus at junction with leaf blade, somewhat sheathing at base; leaf blade large, entire, pinnatifid or pinnatisect, with perforations along midrib or not. Inflorescence solitary, terminal or sometimes displaced; peduncle robust. Spathe caducous, cymbiform, ovate, acute or acuminate. Spadix sessile. Flowers bisexual, sometimes with female ones at spadix base and these sterile, lacking perigone. Stamens 4(–6); filaments linear, flat; anthers much shorter than filaments; anther cells ellipsoidal, longitudinally dehiscent. Ovary polygonal-cylindric, apex truncate, 1-loculed; ovules 2–4, inserted at base of parietal placenta, sometimes 6–8, distichous on parietal placentas, anatropous, with short funicle; stigma sessile, linear-oblong, longitudinal. Fruit small; seeds reniform, usually striate.
About 20 species: tropical Asia, Pacific islands, Australia; two species in China, and one species (Epipremnum aureum (Linden & Andre) Bunting) cultivated in gardens (one endemic).
1a. Leaf blade light green with yellow marbling, entire and cordate at base ................ 3. E. aureum
1b. Leaf blade green, not marbled.
2a. Flowers unisexual; leaf blade obtuse, not cordate, ca. 40 ´ 25 cm; without perforations . 1. E. formosanus
2b. Flowers bisexual; blade cordate at base, 45–60 ´ 30–40 cm, with small perforations along midrib 2. E. pinnatum
̨Íå÷è÷ëÒ¶ tai wan qi lin ye
Lianas, epiphytic. Branches ca. 1 cm in diam. Petiole ca. 30 cm, base sheathing; leaf blade oblong-obovate or ovate-oblong, ca. 40 ´ 25–30 cm, membranous, base broadly obtuse, apex acute or acuminate, pinnatifid; pinnae 6–10 per side, terminal one trapeziform, those at mid-leaf ca. 18 ´ 3.5 cm, apex truncate with ascending falcate tip, sinuses remote from midrib for 2.5 cm. Peduncle solitary, ca. 15 cm ´ 8 mm. Spathe involved[??involute or convolute], ca. 13 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix unisexual, cylindric, ca. 11 ´ 2 cm. Stamens usually 6; filaments flat, adnate at ovary. Ovary obovoid, hexagonal-cylindric, 4–5 ´ ca. 4 mm, apex truncate; stigma linear. Fl. Jul.
· Mountain forests, creeping on rocks or tree trunks; ca. 1500 m. C Taiwan.
One of us (Boyle) treats this as a synonym of Epipremnum pinnatum.
÷è÷ëÒ¶ qi lin ye
Pothos pinnatus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 2: 1324. 1763; Rhaphidophora pinnata Schott; Scindapsus pinnatus (Linnaeus) Schott. [Boyle commented: This species has an extensive synonymy: see below] [FOC editor: only include those that have been used for Chinese specimens though, see FOC Guidelines]
[Monstera pinnata (L.) Schott, Wien. Zeit. Kunst, Literatur, Theater, Mode, 4th Quartal (127) (1830) 1028; Scindapsus pinnatus (L.) Schott in Schott & Endlicher, Melet. Bot. (1832) 21; Rhaphidophora pinnata (L.) Schott, Prod. Syst. Aroid. (1860) 385
Polypodium laciniatum Burm.f.; Rhaphidophora laciniata (Burm.f.) Merr.
Pothos pinnatifidus (‘pinnatifida’) Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1 (1832) 437; Monstera pinnatifida
(Roxb.) Schott, Wien. Zeit. Kunst, Literatur, Theater, Mode, 4th Quartal (127) (1830)
1028; Scindapsus pinnatifidus (Roxb.) Schott in Schott & Endlicher, Melet. Bot.
(1832) 21 (1832); Rhaphidophora pinnatifida (Roxb.) Schott, Prod. Syst. Aroid.
(1860): 384; Pothos caudatus Roxb. Fl. Ind. 1 (1820): 476 (‘caudata’) -- Monstera caudata (Roxb.) Schott, Wien. Zeit. Kunst, Literatur, Theater, Mode, 4th Quartal (127) (1830): 1028; Scindapsus caudatus (Roxb.) Schott & Endlicher, Melet. Bot. (1832): 21; Rhaphidophora caudata (Roxb.) Schott, Prodr. Syst. Aroid. (1860): 382
Scindapsus forsteri Endl., Ann. Weiner. Mus. Naturgesch. 1 (1836) 161
Rhaphidophora cunninghamii Schott
Scindapsus dilaceratus C. Koch & Sello, Ind. Sem. Hort. Bot. Berol. App., App. (1853) 5; Monstera dilacerata (C. Koch & Sello) C. Koch, Ind. Sem. Hort. Berol. App. (1855) 5; Tornelia dilacerata (C. Koch & Sello) Schott, Prodr. Syst. Aroid. (1860) 356; Rhaphidophora dilacerata (C. Koch & Sello) C. Koch, Gartenflora 5 (1864)
Epipremnum mirabile Schott, Bonplandia 5 (1857) 45
Rhaphidophora wallichii Schott, Prodr. Syst. Aroid. (1860) 383
Rhaphidophora vitiensis Schott; Rhaphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott var. vitiensis (Schott) Engl.
Epipremnum elegans Engl., Bull. Soc. Tosc. di Ort. 4 (1879) 269
Rhaphidophora formosana Engl. (1879) non. (Hayata) M. Hotta (1970)
Epipremnum mirabile Schott f. multisectum Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 25 (1898) 12; Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. f. multisectum (Engl.) Engl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. 37 (IV.23B) (1908) 63
Epipremnum mirabile Schott f. eperforatum Engl. —Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. f. eperforatum (Engl.) Engl.
Rhaphidophora lovellae F.M. Bailey
Rhaphidophora merrillii Engl., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 37 (1905) 115
Epipremnum merrillii Engl. & K. Krause in Engl., Pflanzenr. 37 (IV.23B) (1908) 137
Epipremnum angustilobum K. Krause, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 45 (1911) 659
Epipremnum elegans Engl. fma. ternatensis Alderw., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buit. ser.3, 4 (1922): 169
Epipremnum formosanum Hayata — Rhaphidophora formosana (Hayata) M. Hotta (1970) nom. illeg., non. Engler (1879)
Rhaphidophora neocaledonica Guillaumin, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 84 (1937) 160 — Type: New Caledonia, Isle of Pines, Pancher s.n. (P, holo; GH, US, iso).
[Epipremnum glaucicephalum Elmer, Leafl. Philipp. Bot. 10(133): 3620 (1938)]
[Large root-climber to 15 m. Pre-adult plant usually forming modest terrestrial colonies. Adult plant with stem 5--40 mm diam., internodes 2--25 cm long, separated by quite prominent leaf scars, though these often obscured by prophyll, cataphyll and petiolar sheath fibre, stems lustrous green with prominent irregular longitudinal whitish crests, older stems with distinctive matt to sub-lustrous pale brown papery epidermis, flowering stems often with the terminal portion torn away from climbing substrate and ± plagiotropic. Clasping roots dense, feeding roots rather uncommon, usually strongly adherent to substrate, more rarely free, both root types pubescent, mid- to dark brown, growing tip pale brown-yellow, feeding roots later becoming prominently lenticellate. Cataphylls and prophylls soon drying and then degrading to prominent netted sheaths, these ± long-persistent and ± densely clothing upper stem before eventually decaying (but see Hay, 1990, pl. Xia). Foliage leaves somewhat scattered on lower stem, becoming somewhat clustered distally. Petiole 19.5--60 cm x 3--13 mm, canaliculate, smooth, dark green, air-drying mid- to dark brown and longitudinally sulcate; apical geniculum 16--70 x 3--5 mm, smooth, basal geniculum 3--7 x 1--1.5 cm, both genicula greater in diameter than petiole, drying shrunken to less than petiole diameter, dark and often with many lamellae-like ridges; petiolar sheath extending to half way along the apical geniculum, at first membranaceous, soon drying chartaceous, then disintegrating into untidy partially netted fibres, later falling to leave a ± smooth, mid-brown scar; lamina 10--93 x 5--60 cm, regularly pinnatifid to (rarely) entire, ovate to oblong-elliptic in outline, sub-membranaceous, apex acute to acuminate, base rounded to slightly cordate, divisions pinnatifid to pinnatisect, rarely midrib ± naked at sinus; pinnae 1.2--6.5 cm wide, apex truncate to acute, terminal pinna weakly sinuous, many individuals with minute to somewhat well developed pellucid dots especially adjacent to the midrib in leaves just beginning to display pinnae, pellucid dots often perforating and enlarging, sometimes extending to lamina margin (then fenestrations often additional to fully developed pinnae), lamina lustrous dark green, rarely slightly to intensely blue-green and glaucous above, paler beneath, pinnae each with 1 (rarely more except for the terminal pinna) compound primary lateral vein and several to rather many interprimary veins, these diverging from midrib at c. 75°, individual elements of the compound vein diverging at c. 10° from various points along the pinna, the compound vein becoming progressively finer towards the pinna tip, interprimary and secondary venation mostly remaining sub-parallel to compound primary vein, some weaker elements further dividing and becoming sub-reticulate, all higher order venation conspicuously reticulate, midrib impressed above, very prominently raised beneath, lower order venation slightly impressed to almost flush above, variously raised beneath, higher order venation flush above, flush or nearly so beneath in fresh material but raised and rather conspicuous in dried specimens. Inflorescence solitary, more rarely rarely two or more together, first inflorescence subtended by a usually fully developed foliage leaf and a very swiftly disintegrating cataphyll, at anthesis ± naked to partially or almost completely obscured by netted and sheet-like fibres. Peduncle 5.5--21.5 cm x 4--10 mm, stout, terete, pale green. Spathe canoe-shaped, stoutly attenuate to 15 mm, opening almost flat at anthesis, 7--23.5 x 3- 15 cm when pressed flat, exterior green, later dull greenish yellow to mid-green, interior dull yellow or pale green at anthesis, air-drying dark brown, no detectable odour when fresh. Spadix 8.5--25 x 1.1--3.5 cm, sessile, cylindrical, bluntly tapering towards the apex, base slightly obliquely inserted, white when young, glaucous grey-green to greenish cream, dark yellow to green or greenish white at anthesis, air-drying almost black. Flowers 3--7 mm diam.; stamens 4; filaments 5 x 1 mm; anthers narrowly ellipsoid, 1.5--2 x 0.75--1 mm; ovary 4--12 x 2--7 mm, cylindrical, basal part slightly compressed; ovules 2--3; stylar region 3--7 x 1.5--4 mm, trapezoid, rather robust, apex flattened, margins somewhat raised in dry material; stigma linear, 2--6 x 0.1--0.5 mm, longitudinal. Fruit mid-green; stylar region greatly enlarged, ovary cavity with seeds embedded in sticky orange-red pulp; Seeds 4.5 x 3.5 mm, pale to mid-brown.]
[Nick: The above in yellow highlighter is a useful model for Epipremnum] [however, see the FOC Guidelines – too long]
Lianas. Stem robust, cylindric, 2.5–4 cm in diam., branched, rooting. Leaves petiolate; petiole 25–40 cm, sheath reaching base of pulvinus, caducous; pulvinus distinct, ca. 2.3 cm; leaf blade 40–60 ´ 30–40 cm, oblong, subleathery, base broadly cordate, irregularly pinnatifid, along midrib with small perforations (ca. 2 mm); pinnae 12 or 13 per side, narrowly lanceolate to somewhat falcate, with 1–3 equally strong, parallel costae; sinuses remote from midrib 2–3 cm. Peduncle robust, cylindric, 10–14 cm; cataphylls at base. Spathe green outside, yellow inside, 10–12 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix cylindric, ca. 10 ´ 3 cm. Ovary hexagonal, 5–6 mm, apex truncate; stigma sessile, linear, longitudinal; ovules 2–4, nearly basal. Seeds reniform, smooth. Fl. Apr–May.
Tropical rain forests, creeping on trees or on stone walls; below 2000 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan including Ryukyus, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia (Queensland, Pacific islands)].
The plants are used medicinally to treat traumatic injuries, abscesses, and rheumatic arthralgia.
ÌÙÓóÊô teng yu shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Lianas, creeping against trees with aid of adhesive roots. Stem robust, branched. Leaves spiro-distichous; petiole usually sheathing or winged throughout its length; leaf blade undivided, pinnately veined, with very numerous, parallel, thin lateral veins. Inflorescences near stem apices, solitary; peduncle at last laterally protruding from petiolar sheath. Spathe not constricted, initially involved and tubular, afterward 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 drying black, cylindric, much thicker than peduncle. Flowers many, bisexual, naked. Stamens 4; filaments strap-shaped. Ovary with flat, often subrhomboid or quadrangular apex, 4–6-angular, 1-loculed; ovule 1, basal; stigma sessile, discoid to linear. Seeds subreniform.
About 36 species: tropical Asia; one species in China.
º£ÄÏÌÙÓó hai nan teng yu
Rhaphidophora maclurei Merrill, Philipp. J. Sci. 21: 337. 1922; Scindapsus megaphyllus Merrill.
Lianas. Stem robust, ca. 2.5 cm in diam. Petiole 26–32 cm, base imbricate, sheath reaching pulvinus; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, drying pale brown, oblong-elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 23–46 ´ 12–24 cm, leathery, base subcordate, margin entire, apex acute or shortly acuminate; lateral veins numerous, diverging at 70–80° from midrib. Peduncle robust. Spathe yellow, involved[??] and tubular, 18–22 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix sessile, cylindric, ca. 15 ´ 2.5 cm. Filaments ca. 4 mm; anthers ovoid, ca. 3 mm. Fruit ca. 9 ´ 5 mm, apex truncate, 1-loculed, 1-seeded. Fl. Nov–Oct. [Boyle commented: ??details how S. maclurei differs from the vegetatively VERY similar Rhaphidophora megaphylla (the differences are in the shape and orientation of the stigma/style tissue and the leaf venation)]
Dense tropical forests, creeping on trees and stone walls; 400–600 m. Hainan [N Thailand, N Vietnam].
[Boyle commented: Scindapsus officinale is not listed]
Çú×ÑÓóÊô qu zi yu shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Herbs, evergreen, robust, armored (prickles), helophytic. Rhizome often erect, short to long, rarely tuberous. Petiole long, internally with longitudinal air ducts; pulvinus well developed, solid; leaf blade sagittate, entire. Inflorescences solitary, long pedunculate. Spathe persistent, spreading [rarely upper part spiral], not constricted. Spadix sessile or stipitate, cylindric, much shorter than spathe; stipe adnate to spathe. Flowers bisexual; tepals 4, 5, or 6, with vaulted apex. Stamens 4–6; filaments flattened and acuminate into connective; anthers oval, dehiscent with a slit. Ovary ovoid; style absent; stigma depressed-globose; 1-loculed, 1- or 2-ovuled; ovules subbasal, anatropous with long funicle. Fruit a berry, 1-seeded; seed subreniform, with cristate margins.
Twelve species: tropical regions (America, Africa, Asia); one species in China.
Çú×ÑÓó qu zi yu
Lasia merkusii Hasskarl, Cat. Hort. Bot. 59. 1844; Cyrtosperma lasioides Griffith. [Boyce commented: There is a considerable synonymy for this species] [FOC editor: but see FOC Guidelines and treat appropriately]
Herbs, ca. 2 m tall. Petiole yellow-green, to 2 cm, sparingly shortly aculeate; pulvinus ca. 3.5 cm, prickly; leaf blade green, to 65–105 ´ 40–50 cm; posterior lobes generally exceeding anterior, acute to shortly acuminate; midrib and 2 posterior veins on abaxial surface shortly aculeate, otherwise unarmed; anterior lobe in outline narrowly ovate, 35–55 cm, with ca. 5–12 primary veins and a few secondary lateral veins, conspicuously veined especially abaxially; basal lobes strongly downwardly directed, with spreading, narrowed, acuminate apex, and rather numerous lateral veins. Peduncle green, with scattered white smudges associated with prickles, to 110 cm, stout, rather densely prickly. Spathe (expanded) outside brown, inside pale yellow to almost white, with or without brown lines, oblong-lanceolate, 16–30 ´ 6.5–12 cm, thickly fleshy, longitudinally veined, apex narrowed, usually acuminate. Stipe of spadix 1–1.5 cm; spadix obtuse, 6.5–12 ´ 1–1.5 cm, after anthesis becoming nodding by reflexing on peduncle, to 22 ´ 3.5 cm; tepals [??how many per flower] ca. 4 mm. Stamens ca. 4 mm; anthers ca. 0.5 mm. Ovary 4–5 mm high; stigma less than 1 mm in diam. Fruit dull red-brown, ovoid, laterally compressed, ca. 5 mm, smooth.
Swamps, swamp forests, river banks, in shallow water. [??]Hainan [Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore; Polynesia]. [??Is this a CONFIRMED identification for Hainan? This is a LONG way north of the remainder of the distribution for C. merkusii]
´ÌÓóÊô ci yu shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Herbs, evergreen, armored, helophytic or of forest swamps. Stem long creeping and stoloniferous with terminal part erect or ascending, with armed internodes. Leaves several, crowded at shoot apex, sagittate-hastate, simple or divided, prickly abaxially on larger veins, pinnately veined above bifurcate basal veins; secondary venation reticulate. Petiole long, aculeate, interior with longitudinal air vessels; pulvinus well developed, solid. Inflorescences solitary, long pedunculate; peduncle prickly. Spathe constricted above spadix; lower part when mature opening by a slit, long caudate portion involute and twisted, at last the whole falling off. Spadix sessile, cylindric, within widened part of spathe. Flowers bisexual; tepals 4–6, free, with vaulted-truncate apex. Stamens 4–6; anthers elliptic, dehiscent by a longitudinal slit; filaments much longer. Ovary 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; ovule hanging from apex of locule; style very short; stigma suborbicular. Fruit a berry; exocarp thin; mesocarp finely fibrous; endocarp rather thick, leathery, upper part and area around stigma prickly; seed large, compressed; albumen absent, embryo macropedous, campylotropous.
Two species: tropical Asia; one species in China.
´ÌÓó ci yu
Dracontium spinosum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 967. 1753. [again, there is a significant synonymy]
Herbs, 1–2 m tall. Stem long creeping and stoloniferous, erect or ascending, ca. 2.5 cm in diam., internodes with stout prickles. Petiole to 32–125 cm, laxly prickly, sometimes almost smooth; pulvinus 15–35 mm, aculeate; leaf blade very variable, sagittate-hastate, 35–65 ´ 20–60 cm, simple or divided; anterior lobe entire or pedate to near midrib, acuminate; posterior lobes strongly downwardly directed to subspreading, with once or twice bifid with 3 or 4 narrow to rather long acute or acuminate lateral segments; primary lateral veins 2–4, strong; secondary lateral veins thinner; higher order veins very numerous; all venation flush above, on abaxial surface with rather small, straight to slightly curved prickles. Peduncle laxly prickly, to 47 cm. Spathe dull orange to black-red outside, dull yellow to rarely dull crimson inside, 18–35 cm with caudate portion to 28 cm, lower part widened, very much shorter, 3–10 cm wide. Stipe of spadix obscure; spadix cylindric, 3–5 cm, in fruit elongated to 8 cm. Tepals oblong, 1.5–3 mm, apex triangular-hooded, keeled; filaments ca. 1.5 ´ 0.8 mm; anthers ca. 0.8 ´ 0.8 mm. Ovary ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm high. Fruit obpyramidal, ca. 1 cm wide, densely warty-aculeate, sides unarmed, when dry irregularly ribbed, apex truncate; seed ovoid-cordate, 5–7 mm. Fl. Jul–Sep.
Swamps, riverbanks, ditches, moist places in tropical and subtropical forests, sometimes cultivated along fish ponds and rice fields; below 1500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, S Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, NE and SE India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]. [??Is the native status in China confirmed? Also for Vietnam?]
The young leaves are used as vegetables. The rhizomes are used medicinally for treating lymphotuberculosis, lymphonoditis, stomach aches, snake and insect bites, injuries, and rheumatism.
水芋属 shui yu shu
Li Heng (李恒); Peter Boyce, Josef Bogner
Herbs, perennial. Rhizome creeping. Leaves several, distichous; petiole sheathing; sheath ligulate, long; leaf blade broadly ovate-cordate to cordate-orbicular, apex acute to acuminate; venation parallel-pinnate. Inflorescence solitary, flowering with leaf appearance; peduncle erect. Spathe persistent, fully expanded, elliptic to ovate, base decurrent, apex acuminate. Spadix stipitate, cylindric, apex obtuse. Flowers numerous, densely arranged, bisexual, naked (perigone absent), only uppermost flowers often male. Stamens free, usually 6, sometimes more (9–12); filaments flattened; anthers dorsifixed; connective short and slender; thecae ellipsoid, dehiscing by longitudinal slit; pollen grains diaperturate, globose, small, exine foveolate and apertural exine verrucate. Pistil ovoid, 1-loculed; ovules 6–9 (rarely more), anatropous and oblong; funicle distinct; placenta basal; stylar region attenuate; stigma subhemispheric, small. Infructescence subglobose to broadly ellipsoid. Berry globose-conical; seeds many (usually 4–9). Seed oblong-cylindric to somewhat ellipsoid; testa thick, scrobiculate toward chalaza and sulcate-striate toward micropyle; raphe prominent; embryo axile, elongate; endosperm copious. 2n = 36. 54, 72.
One species: N temperate regions and subarctic areas (Asia, Europe, North America), including China.
水芋 shui yu
Rhizome creeping, green, cylindric, to 50 cm long, robust, 1–2(–3) cm in diam., somewhat spongy; nodes rooting. Cataphylls lanceolate, to 10 cm, apex acuminate. Petiole green, terete, (6–)12–24 cm (and longer to 30[–40] cm), base sheathing; sheath 7–8(–12) cm, with free ligule; leaf blade green, (4–)6–14 × (4–)6–14 cm; primary veins (8–)10–14(–18), pinnately arching from a strong midvein on each side, intramarginal vein inconspicuous. Peduncle green, terete, 15–30 cm long, 0.8–1.2 cm in diam. Spathe outside green, inside white, (3–)4–6(–8) × 3–3.5(–5) cm, apex with an acumen ca. 1 cm. Spadix 1.5–3 × 0.7–1.5 cm; stipe 5–7 mm. Flowers yellowish green, 2–2.2(–2.5) mm tall. Infructescence (2–)3–5 × (1.5–)2.5–3.5 cm. Berries red, (5–)6–12 × (4–)5–10 mm. Seed brown, 3–5 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diam. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Aug–Sep.
Creeping helophyte in swampy shores of streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, forest swamps, swampy meadows, in shallow water, often with Sphagnum moss; below 1100 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Asia, Europe, North America].
ǧÄ꽡Êô qian nian jian shu
Li Heng (Àîºã); Peter Boyce
Herbs, evergreen, aromatic. Stem creeping, erect or ascending. Leaves long petiolate; petiole sheathing up to 1/2 way, usually longer than blade, petiole frequently distinctly articulate ca. 1/2 way along; leaf blade oblong, elliptic, lanceolate, deltoid, or sagittate, thinly to rather stiffly leathery, base usually cordate, apex acuminate usually with tubular tip; primary veins all diverging from midrib, with rather few basal; secondary veins striate; tertiary veins often numerous and very much thinner; all veins straight over most of their length, only near apex arcing into a submarginal vein. Inflorescences usually several together. Spathe persistent, often constricted. Stipe of spadix very short or absent; spadix elongate; female flowers usually each with an associated staminode; upper male portion usually separated from female flower zone by a ring of staminodes, very rarely a naked or near naked interstice; flowers unisexual, naked; female flower: ovary incompletely 2–5-loculed with axile placenta, rarely with central placenta [which species is central?]; ovules numerous, semi-antropous with long, slender funicle; style minute; stigma sessile or terminating a minute style, discoid or lobed; male flowers (fertile) consisting 2–6 stamens; 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; three species in China (two endemic).
1a. Leaf blade rounded at base, ovate, ca. 18 × 12 cm ..................................... 3. H. hainanensis
1b. Leaf blade sagittate at base.
2a. Spadix ca. 3.5 cm long, 4–6 mm in diam. ........................................................ 1. H. occulta
2b. Spadix ca. 4.5 cm long, to 1.2 cm diam. ................................................... 2. H. kelungensis
[Boyce commented: BIG problem here; we are simply not sure WHAT H. occulta is; the type is lost and the material that Schott annotated as being H. occulta consists of at least three species. The type almost certainly came from Hue.]
ǧÄ꽡 qian nian jian
Calla occulta Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 532. 1793.
Rhizome creeping; terminal part of stem erect, 30–50 cm tall; cataphylls and prophylls linear-lanceolate, 15–16 × ca. 2.5 cm. Petiole 25–40 cm, lower part with 2–5 mm wide sheaths [??how long the sheath relative to the petiole; sheaths persistent? marcescent? caducous?]; leaf blade sagittate-cordate, cordate at apex, 15–30 × (8–)15–28 cm or usually more; primary veins 7 per side, 2–4 of these basal, downward to basal lobes and then arching into leaf margin; secondary and tertiary ones thinner, numerous. Inflorescences 1–3 together; peduncle shorter than petiole, 10–15 cm. Spathe pale green, fusiform, [??constricted or not], gaping at anthesis, incompletely opening [??text missing].
Valley dense forests, bamboo forests, mountain shrub forests; 80–1100 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
The authors of this treatment are not sure what Homalomena occulta is; the type is lost and the material that Schott annotated as being H. occulta consists of at least three species.
The aromatic rhizomes are used medicinally to treat traumatic injuries, fractures, stomach aches, lumbago, intestinal parasites, and rheumatic arthralgia. [Boyce commented: I suspect that the above description is made up for at least two species; need to see the specimens used to compile this]
̨ÍåǧÄ꽡 tai wan qian nian jian
Leaves 4 or 5; petiole ca. 60 cm, base sheathing [??for how long and what morphology the sheath]; leaf blade broadly ovate, ca. 33 × 25 cm, veins almost parallel, base sagittate-cordate, apex triangular-acute. Peduncle ca. 35 cm. Spathe pale green, [??constricted or not], ca. 6 cm, apex acute. Spadix 4–5 cm × ca. 12 mm; female portion ca. 12 × 12 mm; male portion ca. 3 cm × 13 mm, obtuse; stamens [??shape] ca. 1.5 mm; ovary with clavate staminodes, obovoid, 2–2.5 mm, apex obtuse [??what the staminodes or the ovary]. Fl. Mar.
· Taiwan (Jilong). [Boyce commented: Need to compare this with Philippines species]
º£ÄÏǧÄ꽡 hai nan qian nian jian
Stem erect, ca. 40 cm tall, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. Petiole ca. 46 cm, lower 10–12 cm portion sheathing; leaf blade green, ovate-oblong, ca. 18 × 11–12 cm, base broadly rounded, apex abruptly acuminate, acute with tubular tip 2–3 mm; primary lateral veins 5 or 6 per side; secondary veins numerous, parallel. Peduncle 4–5 cm long, slender, 1–2 mm in diam. Spathe yellow-green, cymbiform, ca. 3.5 cm long, ca. 1.2 cm in diam., apex with rostrum 3–4 mm. Spadix shorter than spathe, ca. 2.5 cm: female portion cylindric [??what about flower descriptions], ca. 10 × 3 mm; male portion clavate [??what about flower descriptions] ca. 2 cm × 1.5–3 mm, apex obtuse; ovary ovoid; stigma capitate, subsessile. Fl. Oct.
· Open forests in mountains. Hainan.
Homalomena hainanensis differs from other Chinese species in blade base broadly rounded (not cordate), small spathe (ca. 3.5 cm), shorter spadix (ca. 2.5 cm ), and clavate male portion (ca. 2 cm).
ÂäéÜÊô luo yan shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Herbs, evergreen, creeping, stoloniferous, erect or rarely ascending, colony-forming, clump-forming, or solitary, terrestrial or rheophytic. Leaves ± crowded; petiole much longer than blade, lower part sheathing; leaf blade green adaxially, frequently with discolorous banding along midrib or between midrib and submarginal veins, less often variously spotted, usually paler or even glaucous abaxially, cordate, sagittate, less often lanceolate, softly subsucculent to thinly leathery; primary, secondary, and tertiary lateral veins parallel, or secondary and tertiary ones partly diverging at a narrow angle from primary veins, all reaching into a submarginal vein. Inflorescences usually several together; peduncle shorter than petiole. Spathe constricted; portion below constriction persistent, enveloping female part of spadix, upper spathe circumscissile and caducous [elsewhere variously caducous, marcescent or less often persistent]. Stipe of spadix short or absent; lower part of spadix axis equivalent to all or part of female flower zone adnate to spathe; spadix elongate; lower portion female, upper portion male, these separated or not by an interstice either with staminodes or less often naked; male portion of spadix falling off later than upper part of spathe, fertile below, upwards sterile [Boyce commented: not sure to what you are referring when you say this; the whole spadix or just the male flower zone? Clarify]. Flowers numerous, unisexual, naked; female flower: ovary 1-loculed; ovules rather few to very numerous, on 2–4 parietal to subbasal placentas; stigma sessile, discoid; intrapistillar staminodes sometimes present and female flower zone often with 1 or 2 rings of staminodes basally. Berry few to many seeded; seeds subellipsoid, densely longitudinally grooved; male flower: fertile flowers consisting of 2 or 3 connate stamens; filaments fused; connective thick; anther cells excavate in center, dehiscing via a terminal pore; pollen shed in strings.
About 120 species: mostly SE Asia, a few species in South America (although these possibly not congeneric); two species in China (one endemic).
1a. Leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate-oblong, rounded or obtuse at base; spathe ca. 7 cm; spadix ca. 5 cm 1. S. hainanensis
1b. Leaf blade oblong cordate at base; spathe 12–15 cm; spadix longer than 10 cm 2. S. calyptrata
ÂäéÜ luo yan
[??Plant habit? colony-forming or clump-forming or solitary.] Petiole 20–30 cm, lower 1/2 sheathing; leaf blade dark green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, 16–17 × 5.5–7 cm, both surfaces densely and minutely impressed-punctuate, base rounded or obtuse, apex acuminate; primary veins 8–10 per side, parallel to secondary and tertiary veins [Boyce commented – so you are saying venation striate?]. Peduncle shorter than petiole, ca. 13 cm. Spathe pale green to white, convolute, ca. 7 cm; lower portion ca. 2.5 cm, persistent; upper portion convolute horn-shaped in bud; [??what shape is the actual spathe?]; limb caducous. Spadix ca. 5 cm: female portion adnate to spathe, ca. 2.5 cm × 4–5 mm, attenuate toward apex [??any staminodes at the base or apex of the female zone; any interpistillar staminodes?]; pistil oblong, ca. 1 mm, 1-loculed, with 2 parietal placentas; ovules numerous, anatropous, obovoid, with longitudinal striations; funicle long and slender, carried on placentas by 2 ranks Male portion of spadix cylindric, ca. 15 × 4 mm, fertile stamens: anthers subcuneate, dehiscing by a terminal pore; upper sterile portion, clavate, ca. 1.3 cm, ca. 5 mm thick, ca. 2 mm in diam., attenuate toward base, apex obtuse: staminodes cylindric. Fl. Aug–Oct.
· Dense tropical forests, on rocks, 100–200 m. Hainan (Lien Hua Shan or Lingao Xian).
Schismatoglottis hainanensis differs from S. cardieri in Vietnam in having an elliptic or oblong-lanceolate leaf blade, and the spadix with a sterile terminal appendix.
¹ãÎ÷ÂäéÜ guang xi luo yan
Calla calyptrata Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 3: 514. 1832; Schismatoglottis longipes Miquel; S. riparia Schott; [Boyce commented: S. calyptrata has a large synonymy; why select these two names from Java?]; Zantedeschia calyptrata K. Koch.
[please re-write this description – it is too lengthy – see FOC Guidelines - and appears to be two descriptions combined into one] Herbs, stoloniferous, forming colonies or clumps, 15–60 cm tall. Stems hypogeal, hapaxanthic, 1–2 cm diam. Petiole smooth, 5–50 cm (often shorter), sheathing for ca. ⅓ its length; wings of sheath fully attached, persistent, tapering or, especially in diminutive forms, shortly and bluntly ligular at apex; blade usually dull mid-green, sometimes variegated with 1 or 2 bands or irregularly spotted gray-green to yellowish green, 7–35 cm, widest at base or ca. ⅓ along its length, 4–18 cm wide, mostly cordate to sagittate, sometimes oblong-lanceolate with base cordate to (rarely) emarginate with posterior lobes rounded to rather sharply triangular and (0–)1–10 cm; midrib somewhat abaxially prominent, with primary lateral veins 6–15 per side, irregularly alternating with lesser interprimaries, diverging at 45–70°, nearly always raised adaxially toward midrib, marginally impressed, entirely raised abaxially, mostly not branched but occasionally with 1 or 2 branches especially in lower part of blade; secondary venation arising mostly from midrib, sometimes from bases of primary veins; tertiary venation inconspicuous. Petiole 30–40 cm, lower 1/3 sheathing; leaf blade dark green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, oblong, 15–20 × 8–10 cm, thinly subsucculent, base cordate, apex acute; basal lobes semi-ovate, 3–4 cm; lateral veins 10 per side, 2 or 3 of them basal. Peduncle ca. 40 cm. Inflorescences 1–8 together, with a strong esteric odor at female anthesis; exposed part of peduncle 2–14 cm, erect at anthesis, then deflexed. Spathe 3.5–12 cm; lower spathe green, narrowly ovoid, ca. 1/2 length of whole spathe, often minutely longitudinally ridged and asperous; limb differentiated from lower spathe by an abrupt constriction corresponding to base of male zone of spadix, at female anthesis much inflated, narrowing and turbinate, apex conspicuously mucronate, completely surrounding spadix and gaping ventrally or with margins loosely overlapping, creamy to pale greenish yellow, caducous immediately after female anthesis. Spathe green, 12–15 cm, lower spathe convolute, persistent, 5–7 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam.; upper portion horn-shaped-inrolled [see yellow-highlighted text], 7–8 cm × 7–12 mm, in anthesis, spreading, afterward caducous. Spadix (Guangxi): female portion ca. 3.4 × 1.4 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 3–3.5 cm × 5–6 mm, apex portion of spadix sterile, cylindric, 4–6 cm; ovary obovoid, apex truncate, stigma discoid; male flowers consisting of 2 stamens; filaments short, anthers oblong or reniform, dehiscing by an apical pore; staminodes clavate, obtuse. Spadix ca. ¾ length of spathe, narrowly hourglass-shaped; female zone ca. 1/2 length of whole spadix, sessile, somewhat to markedly obliquely inserted to partially adnate to spathe, 5–8 mm in diam. below, distally tapering to 3–4 mm in diam.; pistils closely packed, pale green, ca. 1 mm tall, ca. 0.5 mm in diam., flask-shaped and closely packed below, distally becoming more widely spaced and subglobose, finally rather widely scattered and squashed by constricting spathe; stigmas buttonlike, papillate, raised on a short style; interpistillar staminodes white, mostly conspicuously taller than pistils, few in number, scattered, stalked, clavate, rarely absent in very small forms; sterile zone between male and female zones absent except sometimes for a relative concentration of interpistillar staminodes among distal pistils; male zone narrowly obconic, ca. 1/2 length of female zone, distally 0.5–1 cm in diam., ivory; anthers dumbbell-shaped from above, ca. 0.5 × 1 mm, with thecae apically impressed, connective shorter than to very slightly elevated above thecae; appendix bullet-shaped to hemispherical, basally nearly always somewhat wider than apex of male zone, creamy yellow; staminodes of appendix columnar, irregularly polygonal, flat- to slightly round-topped, ca. 0.5 mm in diam. Fruiting spathe declinate, urceolate. Fl. Jun.
Dense tropical forests, forest understories, on rocks; 700–900 m. Guangxi (Longling, Longzhou) [SE Asia, Pacific islands].
The stems are used as a tonic medicine to treat lumbago and arthralgia.
[example from Boyce]
[LIFEFORM: Small rheophytic herbs up to c. 20 cm tall. STEM: condensed (very rarely elongated and forming a decumbent to weakly creeping rhizome), 0.5–1.2 cm diam.; ROOTS: arising adventitiously from the lower parts of an otherwise erect stem (rarely arising along the length of a decumbent rhizome) LEAVES: several together, spreading to arching; PETIOLE: 6–12 cm long, slender, adaxially canaliculate especially in distal part, sheathing only at extreme base, the wings extended into a coriaceous very narrowly triangular persistent ligular portion 4–7 cm long, dark green tinged red, drying brown; BLADE: very narrowly elliptic, 10–14 cm long × 1–2.5 cm wide, thinly but somewhat stiffly coriaceous, adaxially glossy dark green, paler abaxially, the base cuneate, the apex acuminate to caudate for 1.5–3 cm; VENATION: midrib abaxially prominent, adaxially flush to slightly impressed with the lamina, with 5–6 extremely fine (barely differentiated from secondary venation in dry material; flush with but darker than surrounding tissue in fresh state) primary lateral veins on each side, diverging at c. 45°; secondary venation faintly prominent adaxially, fine and dense; tertiary venation obscure. Inflorescence: solitary per shoot although plants usually bearing several inflorescences in sequence from separate but densely aggregated shoots; peduncle: 3–8 cm long, stiffly arching-spreading in nature (where plants occur on vertical mud banks) but erect in cultivated plants grown in pots. Spathe: weakly nodding by slight down-curving of lower part, 4–6 cm long; lower spathe: narrowly ovoid, slightly down-curved, deep green, 1.5–2 cm long, and in the main differentiated on colour and texture (lower spathe stiffly coriaceous, spathe limb somewhat softly coriaceous) from the limb and weakly differentiated by a constriction; spathe limb: pale to mid-pink or less often white, caducous, ovate-lanceolate, spathe senescence mechanics: spathe slightly inflated and gaping during female anthesis, then spreading during male anthesis, narrowed into a beaked tip throughout, during late anthesis limb marcescent from the margins inwards and downwards and then, with the portion closest to the abscission layer still fresh, the spathe limb shedding. Spadix: subcylindric, 3–3.5 cm long; female zone: 1–1.2 cm long, dorsal (in relation to spathe) side of female zone adnate to the spathe, c. 5 mm diam.; pistils: gibbous-cylindric to ellipsoid-oblong, c. 1 mm diam.; stigma: sessile, discoid, c. 1 mm diam. and slightly overtopping the ovary, papillate at anthesis, deep pink; interpistillar staminodes: absent from among the pistils, confined to a row along the spathe/spadix adnation and occasionally a scattered individual amongst the two lowermost rows of pistils, stipitate, weakly clavate, slightly exceeding the pistils, white; sterile interstice: confined to about 2 irregular whorls of sterile stamens at the base of the male zone, white; male zone: c. 1 cm long, rather narrower than the female zone, c. 3 mm diam.; stamens: crowded, rather irregular in shape and size, ellipsoid to dumbbell-shaped from above, c. 0.5 mm across, partially to completely connate into groups of 2–3, truncate and flat-topped at female anthesis but at anthesis each theca extending a needle-like projection c. 2 mm long and terminating with a weakly peltate ovate-triangular flap through which pollen is extruded; occasionally a scattered deep pink pistillode among the stamens; appendix: absent to bullet-shaped, basally isodiametric with top of male zone, distally tapering and finally narrowly obtuse, up to c. 0.5 cm long; pistillodes: of appendix columnar, flat topped, faintly impressed, c. 0.5 mm diam., often united to the top into curved or sinuous groups, mid-deep pink - very small inflorescences with spadix fertile to the apex and pistillodes absent. Fruiting spathe: unequally funnel-form, c. 1.5 – 2 cm long, c. 1 cm wide across the mouth, the margins obliquely declined towards the convolution; fruiting peduncle: arching/declinate with lower spathe mouth held laterally or slightly downwards with the convolution ventral in respect to the peduncle; berry: gibbous-cylindric to ellipsoid-oblong, 1–1.8 mm long, 1–1.5 mm diam., with rather few seeds, mid-green with stigmatic remains dull brown and just overtopping the ovary; seed: ellipsoid, 1–2 mm long, 0.25–0.3 mm diam., very pale brown, minutely scabrid, lacking a micropylar appendage.]
隐棒花属 yin bang hua shu
Li Heng (李恒); Niels Jacobsen
Herbs, amphibious, monoecious. Rhizome creeping, stoloniferous (usually subterranean). Leaves in a rosette, linear to spatulate to oblanceolate to cordate; veins arching from base of blade and connected by transverse veinlets. Peduncle very short, elongating at maturity. Spathe tubular with margins fused for most of the length, proximal part swollen forming a chamber, a kettle, enclosing spadix; limb varying in shape, a collar or collar zone is often present, in some species limb is spirally twisted. Spadix, at first fused at apex to base of spathe flap closing kettle (later breaking loose), much shorter than spathe; basal portion with naked, connate gynoecia; intermediate zone naked; male portion apical; appendix conical, short. Female flowers 4–8, each 1-loculed; ovules many, subbasal (adaxial); styles free; stigma globose to elongate. Olfactory bodies, immediately above stigmas, regular or irregular structures. Male flowers naked; stamens solitary; thecae each dehiscent by an apical pore. Fruit a syncarplike, multiple fruit, each part ultimately splitting at adaxial part and becoming star-shaped, follicle-like; a few species splitting in a septicidal/septifragal-ceratium-like way. Seeds many, ellipsoid, small; endosperm usually copious.
More than 50 species: tropical Asia, from India to Malesia; one variable species in China.
Cryptocoryne cruddasiana Prain (J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 69: 174. 1901; C. burmensis Rataj) occurs in N Myanmar, where it grows on river banks. It has not yet been recorded from China, but may be distinguished as follows. Leaves strap shaped, up to 30 × 0.5–1 cm, smooth to somewhat undulate at margin (sometimes also finely denticulate), green to brownish marmorate, apex rather abruptly acute; leaves disappear during rainy period or become small, 2–4 cm long and terete. Spathe 8–12 cm; kettle 2–2.5 cm, with a constriction just below male flowers, whitish in lower part, purplish in upper part that also has alveolae in the wall; tube 4–5 cm, grayish on outside; limb to 3.5 cm, upright to somewhat backward bent, with irregular purplish, rounded protuberances that sometimes are ± transversely orientated, base color of surface dark yellowish, throat spotted, collar absent. Spadix: female flowers 5 or 6 with vertical, elliptic stigmas. Olfactory bodies cream-colored, finely spotted, irregularly lobed to almost toothed. Male flowers 80–120. Fruit not seen by us. 2n = 36. Fl. (?)Dec–Feb.
1a. Limb of spathe ± spirally twisted, smooth, with regular to irregular reddish to purplish to violet markings 1. C. crispatula
1b. Limb of spathe ± obliquely recurved, rugose from somewhat irregular, rounded, purplish protuberances C. cruddasiana (see note above)
旋苞隐棒花 xuan bang yin bang hua
Rhizome 0.5–1 cm in diam., irregularly thickened, sometimes with a metallic blue-gray color. Root system sometimes with many, finely branched upright roots. Leaves green to brown, very variable, narrowly linear to lanceolate, smooth to undulate to bullate, 10–70 × 0.2–4 cm, blade in broader leaves mostly with conspicuous, lateral veins; margin entire to finely, irregularly denticulate. Generally, two ecological leaf forms occur: 1) Plants which grow submerged for most of the year, thus developing long flaccid-lax submerged leaves (they may also develop shorter, stiffer emerged leaves). 2) Plants, which during the rainy season develop short, terete, leaves, and when water level decreases they form normal emerged leaves at anthesis. Spathe outside greenish to brownish, 10–40(–60) cm; kettle 1–2.5 cm, inside somewhat constricted below male flowers, inside ± reddish (especially in upper part) and with alveolae (depressions in wall) in upper part; flap closing kettle may be ± purple spotted; tube 5–30(–45) cm, slightly to somewhat twisted; limb ± spirally twisted, (1.5–)3–8(–12) cm, yellowish to grayish, with short to long, purple to reddish markings, sometimes markings can cover surface almost completely; the markings may be missing, just like limb may be almost white-grounded with only a few faint markings; collar not present. Spadix: female flowers 4–6, with horizontal to vertical, round to ovoid stigmas. Olfactory bodies ± irregularly lobed with protruding cells; male flowers 90–130, thecae rough from protruding cells. Fruit splitting in a septicidal/septifragal-ceratium-like way, greenish to purplish, elongate globular, 1–1.5 cm, surface smooth. Seeds brownish, rugose, 5–8 mm; endosperm present; embryo cone-shaped with an undifferentiated plumula. At maturity the very strong peduncle emerges from soil and finally lies on surface bending like a whitish worm. 2n = 36, 54.
Stream and river banks and beds; 500–600 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
Cryptocoryne crispatula s.l. is here interpreted as one species comprising different ecological races, i.e., leaf forms that are adapted to the water supply and the overall topography of the rivers in which they grow. In rivers with more constant water-bearings, and not too steep a fall, the more aquatic ones occur, viz. the long, narrow-leaved forms with an undulate or bullate lamina. In rivers with a seasonal variation in the water-bearings, the more amphibious ones occur, characterized by having shorter, more or less smooth leaves. The variation within C. crispatula is very complex, and more than a half dozen recognizable forms being at hand in mainland Asia, some more readily distinguishable from the next than others. There are transitions between the various forms. The here recognized varieties represent the more distinctive ones, and admittedly specific plants may only with some difficulty, unambiguously be referred to a definite variety. The number of varieties accepted is subjective. This is not meant as an excuse for an insufficient treatment, but merely a recognition of the complexity of C. crispatula.
It is important to note, that the leaves can vary in size during the flowering season, and herbarium material should therefore be studied with this in mind.
In the present circumscription Cryptocoryne crispatula is recognized as different from the tetraploid C. retrospiralis (Roxburgh) Kunth from India. If C. crispatula were not recognized as different from C. retrospiralis, the above-mentioned varieties would then be considered as varieties of C. retrospiralis.
In addition to the four varieties here recognized in China, Cryptocoryne crispatula var. tonkinensis (Gagnepain) N. Jacobsen (Aqua-Planta 16: 29. 1991; C. tonkinensis Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 9: 133. 1941; C. retrospiralis (Roxburgh) Kunth var. tonkinensis (Gagnepain) de Wit) occurs in Thailand and Vietnam, where it grows along rivers and streams. It has not yet been recorded from China, but may be distinguished as follows. Leaves 20–30 × 0.2–0.4 cm, flaccid, green to brownish, smooth or slightly undulate, usually submerged. Emerged leaves are shorter and broader compared to submerged ones. Spathe (?)mostly with a tube (5–)15–30 cm; limb with a long open spiral with a yellowish base color with irregular, dark reddish lines of varying intensities. 2n = 34. Fl. (?)Dec–Apr.
1a. Plants with short rather stiff upright emerged leaves (0.6–2 × 10–30 cm), submerged leaves short, terete, 2–10 cm.
2a. Spathe with a short, thick limb spiral, with distant to dense red spots ....... 1b. var. yunnanensis
2b. Spathe usually with a long, thin/narrow limb spiral, with
regular to irregular shorter or longer purplish to reddish lines (or limb pure
white)
.................................................................................................................. 1a.
var. crispatula
1b. Plants with long flaccid-lax submerged leaves (0.2–4 × 20–70 cm).
3a. Leaves 0.2–0.4 mm wide .................................................... var. tonkinensis (see note above)
3b. Leaves 0.5–4 cm wide.
4a. Leaves 0.5–1.2 cm wide, smooth to undulate ................................... 1d. var. flaccidifolia
4b. Leaves 1.5–4 cm wide, ± bullate ........................................................... 1c. var. balansae
旋苞隐棒花 (原变种) xuan bang yin bang hua (yuan bian zhong)
Cryptocoryne bertelibansenii Rataj; C. crispatula var. sinensis (Merrill) N. Jacobsen; C. retrospiralis (Roxburgh) Kunth var. crispatula (Engler) de Wit; C. sinensis Merrill.
Leaves upright to flat on soil surface, rather stiff (in shaded habitats more lax), mostly green but often brownish (to brown) with markings in sun exposed habitats, lanceolate to strap shaped, 10–30 × 0.5–1.5(–2.5) cm, smooth to somewhat finely undulate to crenulate along margin, entire or distinctly irregularly serrulate. During high water, leaves become small and terete, and when becoming emerged, leaves and spathes develop. Spathe with a tube 10–20 cm; limb with a rather long, somewhat tight to open spiral. Colors on limb surface usually grayish, mostly with shorter or longer purplish markings of varying intensities, but also a completely white limb has been found. 2n = 36, 54. Fl. Nov-Apr.
Stream and river banks and beds. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou [Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
八仙过海 ba xian guo hai
Basionym: Cryptocoryne yunnanensis H. Li, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 15(2): 108. 1977.
Leaves upright to flat on soil surface, rather stiff, mostly green but sometimes brownish, 5–30 × 0.5–1.5 cm, smooth to slightly undulate. During high water, leaves become small and terete, and when becoming emersed, new larger emerged leaves and spathes develop. Spathe with a rather short tube 8–12 cm; limb of spathe rather thick in texture and with a rather short spiral, with a yellowish base color and somewhat distant to very dense dark reddish spots that sometimes become longer, irregular lines into throat. 2n = 36. Fl. Nov–Apr.
River banks and beds; 500–600 m. Yunnan [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
The plants are used medicinally for treating traumatic injuries, rheumatic arthralgia, and stomach aches.
广西隐棒花 guang xi yin bang hua
Cryptocoryne balansae Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 9: 131. 1941; C. kwangsiensis H. Li; C. longispatha Merrill.
Leaves usually submersed, green to brownish to dark brown, 15–70 × 1–4 cm, rather flaccid, slightly to strongly bullate, midrib conspicuous, lateral veins less so. Emersed leaves are shorter and often not as bullate as submersed ones. Spathe with a long tube 10–30(–40) cm; limb with a rather long and rather open to somewhat tight spiral; color markings on limb surface usually grayish or yellowish, mostly with shorter or longer purplish markings of varying intensities. 2n = 36. Fl. Dec–Apr.
Rivers, streams. Guangxi [Laos, Thailand, Vietnam].
??Chinese pinyin
Leaves usually submerged, green to reddish brown, 20–50 × 0.5–1.2 cm, flaccid, somewhat undulate to almost smooth. Emerged leaves shorter and rather smooth compared to submerged ones. Spathe with a long tube (15–)20–30 cm; limb with a rather long, open spiral; coloring on limb surface usually grayish, mostly with shorter or longer purplish markings of varying intensities. 2n = 34. Fl. ?Dec–Apr.
Rivers, streams. Guangxi [Thailand, Vietnam].
ϸ±úÓóÊô xi bing yu shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Herbs, seasonally dormant or evergreen, small to medium sized, slender. Stems tuberous-stoloniferous with stolons terminating in further small, depressed-globose tubers. Leaves usually solitary, or few; petiole sheath short; leaf blade pale to deep green with or without silvery or paler variegation, cordate-sagittate, sagittate, or hastate, rarely elliptic and cuneate, primary lateral veins pinnate or mostly arising at petiole insertion, forming arching submarginal collective vein, 1 or 2 marginal veins also present; higher order venation reticulate. Inflorescences 1–5 per each floral sympodium, appearing with leaf. Peduncle subequal or longer than petiole, slender. Spathe slender, not distinctly constricted; tube persistent, very slender, tightly convolute around female flowers; blade longer [than what??], erect to reflexed and ± revolute at anthesis, oblong-lanceolate, marcescent. Spadix subequal or longer than spathe, slender; female zone adnate to spathe, few flowered (2–7), ± biseriate, separated from male zone by short sterile zone; male zone subulate to cylindric, fertile to apex or with a few sterile flowers at apex or with a long, terminal appendix (H. appendiculata). Flowers unisexual, naked. Male flowers 3-androus; synandrium peltate, truncate, hexagonal, elongated in sense of spadix axis, shallow, stipitate; connective strongly dilated; thecae remote, subglobose, short, almost pendent from margin, dehiscing by pore. Synandrodes with lower ones very few, ± remote, apiculiform; upper ones very few, consisting of tiny, peltate synandrodes. Pistils with gynoecium oblong to lageniform; ovary 1-loculed; ovule 1, anatropous; funicle very short; placenta parietal to subbasal (morphologically basal); stylar region very short; stigma subcapitate. Fruit an ellipsoid to globose berry; style persistent; pericarp thin, 1-seeded, white. Seed ellipsoid, testa smooth, very thin; embryo light green, ellipsoid, large; endosperm absent.
Six species in SE Asia; one species in China (one endemic).
ϸ±úÓó xi bing yu
Herbs, perennial. Tuber cylindric, 1–2 cm long, ca. 5 mm in diam., bearing many tubercles. Cataphylls lanceolate, 3–4 cm, membranous. Leaves 2 or 3; leaf blade oblong-elliptic, 10–17 × 5–8.5 cm, apex abruptly acuminate, base 2-lobed; lobes deltoid, 2–4 × 1–3 cm; primary veins multiple, pinnately diverging from midrib; secondary venation arching-anastomosing; intramarginal veins 3, conspicuous. Peduncles 2 or 3, 18–30 cm, very slender, base linear; cataphylls ca. 8 cm. Spathe ca. 5 cm; tube convolute, ca. 2 cm long, 1–2 mm in diam.; limb spreading and finely reflexed, lanceolate, ca. 8 cm × 8 mm. Spadix ca. 4.5 cm: female portion ca. 1.5 cm, adnate to tube of spadix; ovaries 4–12, oblong, multistriate, 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; stigma discoid; sterile portion between male and female inflorescences ca. 7 mm, naked; male portion ca. 1.5 cm; male flowers peltate, hexagonal, apex ca. 5 mm; sterile male portion at apex of spadix ca. 7 mm, with minute synandrodes. Fl. Apr.
· Tropical forest areas; ca. 300 m. Yunnan (Hekou).
¹ã¶«ÍòÄêÇàÊô guang dong wan nian qian shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Herbs, evergreen, sometimes robust. Stem epigeal, erect to decumbent and mostly unbranched or creeping and often branched, internodes green, becoming brown with age, smooth, often rooting at nodes when decumbent. Leaves several, forming an apical crown; petiole shorter than blade, sheath usually long; leaf blade often with striking, silvery and pale green patterns of leaf variegation, ovate-elliptic or narrowly elliptic, rarely broadly ovate or sublinear, base often unequal, attenuate to rounded, rarely cordate; primary lateral veins pinnate, often weakly differentiated, running into marginal vein; higher order venation parallel-pinnate. Inflorescences 1–9 per each floral sympodium. Peduncle shorter or longer than petiole, sometimes deflexing in fruit. Spathe erect, green to whitish, boat-shaped to convolute, not differentiated into tube and blade, ovate to ± globose, slightly to strongly decurrent, often apiculate, caducous, persistent, or marcescent. Spadix cylindric to clavate, shorter or longer than spathe, stipe long to almost absent; female zone rather few flowered, either separated by staminodes or contiguous with, and much shorter, than male zone; male zone fertile to apex; rarely with staminodes basally. Flowers unisexual, naked. Male flowers: stamens free, not forming clear floral groups; filaments usually distinct, connective thickened; thecae opposite, obovoid, short, dehiscing by apical pore or reniform transverse slit. Female flowers: ovary subglobose, 1-loculed, ovule 1, anatropous, broadly ovoid; funicle very short; placenta basal; stylar region short, thick; stigma broad, discoid, concave centrally. Fruit an ellipsoid berry, outer layer fleshy green but turning yellow, rarely white and finally red. Seed solitary, ellipsoid, almost as large as berry; testa thin, ± smooth; tegmen inconspicuous; embryo large; endosperm absent.
Twenty-one species: tropical and subtropical Asia; two species in China. Many species are widely cultivated in gardens as evergreen ornamental plants.
Aglaonema ovatum Engler is abundant in N Laos next to the Chinese border so is expected to eventually be found in SW China.
1a. Spadix shorter than spathe, ca. 2/3 spathe length; male portion of spadix cylindric, 20–30 mm long, 3–4 mm in diam. .................................................................................................. 1. A. modestum
1b. Spadix equaling to longer than spathe, male portion of spadix conical, ca. 23 mm long, 9–10 mm in diam. 2. A. tenuipes
¹ã¶«ÍòÄêÇà guang dong wan nian qing
Plants erect. Stems green, 40–70 cm long, 15–20 mm in diam. Leaves mostly crowded at stem apex; petiole green, 5–20 cm, sheathing more than 1/2 length; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, base obtuse or broadly cuneate, apex acuminate; primary lateral veins 4 or 5 per side, ascending and arching; secondary ones indistinct, parallel to primary veins. Peduncle (5–)10–12.5 cm. Spathe oblong-lanceolate, (5.5–)6–7 × 1.5–2 cm, apex long acuminate. Spadix cylindric, ca. 2/3 of spathe length, with a stipe ca. 10 mm; female portion 5–8 mm; male portion elongate, 2–3 cm × 3–4 mm. Stamen apex truncate, quadrangular; anthers dehiscent by a pore. Ovary subglobose; style short; stigma discoid. Berry green to yellow-red, red when ripe, oblong, ca. 20 × 8 mm; seed oblong, ca. 1.7 cm. Fl. May, fr. Oct–Nov.
Dense forests; 500–1700 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou and widely cultivated in gardens as evergreen ornamental plants. [N Laos, N Thailand, N Vietnam].
The plant is used externally as medicine to treat snake and insect bites, hydrophobia, abscesses, and swelling.
Ô½ÄÏÍòÄêÇà yue nan wan nian qing
Plants perennial, erect. Stems dark green, cylindric, 40–80 cm tall, 1–2 cm diam., rooting at nodes; internodes 2–3 cm, at upper part 5–10 mm; cataphylls early caducous, broadly linear, 4–7 cm, apex abruptly acute. Leaves usually 5 or 6, densely crowded at stem apex; petiole green, 6–15 cm, lower part sheathing; leaf blade initially involved[??], afterward spreading, dark green adaxially, pale green abaxially, ovate-oblong, 10–25 × 5.5–11 cm, thinly leathery, base truncate-rounded, subcordate, or decurrent, apex caudate-acuminate or abruptly long acuminate; primary lateral veins 6–8 per side, ascending and arching. Peduncle green, 2–6 cm. Spathe initially involved[??], tubular, afterward opening by a slit, cymbiform, ovoid, 3–4.5 × ca. 1.3 cm. Spadix 2.5–4.5 cm, slightly longer or equaling spathe; female portion ca. 5 mm; male portion 2–3 cm; male flowers: stamens 4; anthers 2-celled; female flowers: ovary globose; ovule basal; stigma sessile, circular. Berry oblong, 12–18 mm [??problem with formatting, check text]; seed oblong, [??length]. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Sep–Oct.
Dense valley forests; below 1500 m. Yunnan [N Laos, N Thailand, N Vietnam].
??Chinese pinyin
Li Heng (李恒 Li Hen); Wilbert L. A. Hetterscheid
Brachyspatha Schott; Conophallus Schott; Hydrosme Schott.
Herbs, terrestrial, small to massive. Stem subterraneous, tuberous, rarely a chain of tubers or a true rhizome; rhizome ± creeping. Leaf usually solitary, rarely paired or more; petiole terete, rarely angulate, shallowly grooved, or partly rugulose, rarely entirely verrucate or hairy; leaf blade decompound[??compound] and divided in 3 main segments; main segments equally long or anterior shorter than posterior ones (blade ± subpedate); rachises naked, narrowly or broadly winged and often carrying supernumerary leaflets on proximal parts; bulbils sometimes developing on leaves, either epiphyllar, intercalary (developing inside rachis) or half-epiphyllar (base developing in rachis, apex exposed beyond rachis). Inflorescence 1, rarely 2 or 3 (synflorescence) or more per season (then developing from different buds on stem), epigeal, rarely partly buried, solitary or simultaneous with or directly preceding leaf development, rarely emerging after leaf development. Spathe variously shaped, often cymbiform or campanulate, rarely funnel-shaped, outside variously colored; base convolute, rarely open or connate, not or clearly separated from limb by a constriction; limb erect, spreading, oblique, or arching. Spadix sessile or shortly stipitate; female zone contiguous with male zone or separated from it by a sterile zone; flowers sometimes surrounded by staminodes; sterile zone (when present) covered with staminodes, rarely partly or entirely naked; male zone cylindric, fusiform, conic, or obconic; appendix rarely absent, contiguous with male zone or separated by a constriction or a short stipe, sometimes with large longitudinal folds or ± irregular deep cracks. Female flowers consisting of one pistil; ovary sessile or shortly stipitate, 1–4-loculed, with 1 ovule per locule, basifixed, or rarely axillary ca. halfway up ovary; style present or (nearly) absent, clearly separated from ovary or less so, sometimes with apical projections ("branches") extending beyond stigma. Male flowers consisting of (1–)3–6(–8) stamens; stamens depressed or elongate; filaments present or nearly absent, separated or partly or entirely fused within one flower or rarely fused between adjacent flowers; anthers bithecal; thecae 2-celled, rarely 1-celled; pores apical, rarely lateral or subterminal. Pollen inaperturate, globose or elliptic, exine rarely absent, psilate, striate, verrucate, echinate, areolate, porate, fossulate, reticulate, or scabrate. Berries crowded or distant, globose, ovoid, or narrowly elliptic, smooth or rarely verrucate, 1–4-seeded. Seeds usually with a distinct raphe.
About 200 species: paleotropical, W to E Africa, N Australia, Bangladesh, S and SE China, India, Indochina, Malesia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia, Thailand; 16 species in China (seven endemic).
1a. Underground part a terete rhizome or chain of tubers.
2a. Underground part a terete creeping rhizome .......................................................... 5. A. hayi
2b. Underground part a chain of tubers ............................................................ 2. A. coaetaneus
1b. Underground part a single tuber.
3a. Peduncle shorter than or equal to spathe.
4a. Spathe concave, limb erect, appendix whitish ............................................ 14. A. yuloensis
4b. Spathe campanulate, limb horizontal, appendix dark purple.
5a. Appendix narrowly conical, sometimes with scattered hairs ........................... 6. A. henryi
5b. Appendix globose or broadly conical ............................................... 12. A. paeoniifolius
3b. Peduncle distinctly longer than spathe.
6a. Spadix distinctly stipitate.
7a. Appendix with a strongly cerebriform (brainlike) surface ........................ 3. A. corrugatus
7b. Appendix glabrous, shallowly or deeply fissured, partly or entirely echinate.
8a. Appendix deeply fissured/cracked lengthwise ..................................... 8. A. kachinensis
8b. Appendix glabrous, with shallowly concave sides, or partly or entirely echinate.
9a. Appendix variously laterally compressed, sides shallowly or more deeply concave, glabrous, stigma diameter hardly exceeding style diameter. ..................................... 15. A. yunnanensis
9b. Appendix terete or dorso-ventrally compressed, sides convex, glabrous or entirely or upper part echinate, stigma distinctly broader than style ............................................. 4. A. dunnii
6b. Spadix sessile.
10a. Male and female zones separated by sterile zone with ovate or elliptic, slightly convex staminodes.
11a. Male zone distinctly longer than appendix ................................................ 11. A. krausei
11b. Male zone equalling appendix.
12a. Staminodes glabrous ........................................................................ 16. A. zengianus
12b. Staminodes with furrows or depressions, appearing shallowly rugulose ....... 1. A. albus
10b. Male and female zone contiguous or with different types of staminodes in between.
13a. Spathe erect, spadix shorter than or equalling spathe.
14a. Male zone at most twice as long as female zone .............................. 13. A. tonkinensis
14b. Male zone (incl. sterile zone when present) at least 2.5 × as long as female zone 11. A. krausei
13b. Spathe oblique, spadix longer than spathe, appendix narrowly conical.
15a. Stigma sessile or nearly so, appendix glabrous or with a few scattered hairs 9. A. kiusianus
15b. Style distinct, appendix densely covered with long hairs, or glabrous.
16a. Appendix densely covered with long hairs ............................................... 7. A. hirtus
16b. Appendix glabrous ............................................................................. 10. A. konjac
??vernacular name
Tuber brown, subglobose, 5–6 cm high, 7–10 cm in diam., seasonally producing long rhizomatous offsets, these to 23 cm long and 1.5 cm in diam. Leaf solitary; petiole pale green with grayish green, 40–70 cm long, 1.5–2 cm in diam., glabrous, with irregular, elongate or rounded spots, and whitish dots; leaf blade ca. 80 cm in diam., rachises winged; leaflets elliptic-lanceolate, 2–12 × 1–3 cm, acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, long pedunculate; peduncle 16–30 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam. Spathe cymbiform, narrowly ovate, 12–22 × 6–10 cm, acute; lower margin of limb recurved, outside base green to pale green, inside creamy white; outside limb pale green, spotted with dark green and near margin with numerous indistinct white punctiform dots, inside creamy white with a faint pale green flush, base within densely verruculate. Spadix producing a heavy gaseous smell during female anthesis, sessile, bright pale green, turning yellowish during male anthesis, slightly curved, shorter than spathe, ca. 13.5 cm; female zone cylindric, ca. 1 cm long, 1.2–1.3 cm in diam., flowers congested; male zone narrowly conic, apex slightly expanded, ca. 4 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam. at base, ca. 0.8 cm in diam. at middle, flowers congested; sterile zone between male and female zone swollen, slightly conic, 1–2.5 cm long, 1–1.8 cm in diam.; staminodes congested; appendix narrowly conic, ca. 6 cm long, ca. 1.6 cm in diam., finely rugulose, apex obtuse. Ovaries bright green, depressed, angulate in cross-section, ca. 1.5 mm high, 2.5–3 mm in diam., 2-loculed, but 1 locule reduced and sterile; style strongly orientated parallel to spadix axis, bright green, upward pale to yellowish green, 2–2.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diam.; stigma lateral, slightly arching, whitish disciform, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., ca. 0.8 mm thick, entire, strongly scabrate. Male flowers consisting of 3 or 4(or 5) stamens; stamens ca. 2 mm; filaments entirely fused, off-white, ca. 1.3 mm; anthers ca. 0.7 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diam., truncate; thecae off-white, opening with apical rounded pores; connective dirty pale yellowish, flat, raised after anthesis. Staminodes consisting of sterile entire flowers, off-white, slightly hemispheric, irregular, largest ca. 12 × 7 mm, with shallow irregular depressions, or with a few irregular grooves. Berries orange-red when mature, ovoid.
* Open forests, arid thickets; 800–1000 m. S Sichuan, NE Yunnan.
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus arnautovii Hetterscheid; A. pingbianensis H. Li & C. L. Long.
Tuber persistent, depressed-globose, to 3 cm high, to 6 cm in diam., chained with others to form a pseudo-rhizome of 2–6 modules, each 3–5 cm in diam., dark brown to blackish. Leaves 1–3, lasting up to 3 years; petiole uniformly dark green, terete, 60–120 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam., glabrous, turgid; leaf blade to ca. 100 cm in diam.; rachises only winged in distal parts, common base of 3 main branches may develop into an intercalary bulbil; leaflets dark green, oblanceolate, 15–20 × 4–6 cm, acuminate. Inflorescence long pedunculate; peduncle 10–49 cm long, 0.6–1.3 cm in diam., [??color] as petiole. Spathe narrowly triangular to triangular-ovate, 7.5–15 cm long, 3–7 cm in diam., base shortly convolute, apex acute; outside green, dirty green flushed with dirty brownish purple or upper half entirely brownish purple; inside uniformly green or background color dirty green, at base and along midrib flushed dirty dark purplish, near apex less so, or base pale green and rest flushed with brownish purple, base within glabrous or nearly glabrous with a few scattered, small, punctiform warts. Spadix giving off a heavy gaseous stench at female anthesis, sessile, pale yellowish green with a very faint greenish flush, ca. as long as or longer than spathe, 10–19.5 cm; female zone cylindric, 1–2 cm long, 1–1.6 cm in diam.; flowers congested; male zone cylindric, apex slightly widened, terete or slightly compressed, 2.3–4.5 cm long, 0.7–1.5 cm in diam., flowers congested; appendix narrowly fusiform-conical, 5.5–14.5 cm long, base 0.7–2.3 cm in diam., sometimes slightly compressed, glabrous or shallowly corrugate, base constricted, apex acute, base glabrous or with some flattened staminodes, separated by grooves. Ovaries green or pale whitish green, strongly depressed, depressed-globose, or subglobose, 1.5–2 mm high, 1.5–4 mm in diam., angulate or irregularly orbicular in cross-section, 1- or 2-loculed; style pale green, straight or slightly upcurved, 1–2 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm in diam.; stigma pale yellowish or pale greenish, flattened, nearly disciform or disciform, 0.7–0.8 mm high, 0.8–2 mm in diam., irregularly orbicular or elliptic in cross-section, entire with a shallow, elongate, central depression or shallowly bilobed, or more distinctly bilabiate, margin with 2 small notches or a few small lobes, densely verruculate or echinulate. Male flowers consisting of 3 or 5 stamens; stamens ca. 2 mm long, 1–2 mm in diam.; filaments ca. 0.7 mm, connate or largely free; anthers off-white, ca. 1.3 mm, truncate; pores apical, elongate and connected to margin of anther by a groove. Fruiting part at least 5 cm long, ca. 4 cm in diam. Berries dark blue, oval or oval-ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm long, ca. 0.8 cm in diam., 1- or 2(or 3)-seeded. Fl. Mar.
Moist forested valleys, along water, thickets; 300–900 m. Guangxi (Guiping, Rongshui), Yunnan [E and N Vietnam].
[Note: both authors do not fully agree on the question whether A. pingbianensis is sufficiently different from A. coaetaneus to retain species status. The present opinion (incl. the synonymy of A. arnatovii) is that of WH and has been published and discussed Blumea 46(2)(2000): 279–280.]
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus tianyangensis P. Y. Liu & S. L. Zhang; Thomsonia sutepensis S. Y. Hu.
Tuber dark brown, globose, ca. 7 cm high, to 8 cm in diam., weighing up to 850 g., developing seasonal offsets; offsets long, rhizomatous, ca. 9 cm long, slender, ca. 0.8 cm in diam, not apically thickened. Leaf solitary; petiole 10–95 cm, slender, to 2 cm in diam. at base, longitudinally, shallowly ridged, ground color dirty white or pale green with a very faint, pale brownish hue overlain with numerous, tiny and fewer large, partly confluent, irregular, dark chocolate-brown or grayish spots; leaf blade moderately dissected, 10–150 cm in diam.; rachises only winged in distal third part; main segments subdichotomous; terminal segments oblong or lanceolate, acuminate, base long decurrent in most distal ones, others narrowly sessile, 10–28 × 4–9 cm, adaxially green. Inflorescence long pedunculate; cataphylls to 40 cm; peduncle 30–70 cm long, 0.8–2.0 cm in diam. (base), colored as petiole. Spathe ovate or elliptic-ovate, concave, 7–26 × 4–16 cm, base shortly convolute, apex acute or obtuse; outside pale greenish, grayish purple, or white, sometimes to base with whitish spots, or with gray-green or pale olive-brown spots, either only margin purplish red or also large parts reddish brown; inside pale greenish white with several irregular, purplish red spots and a purplish red margin, base inside often purplish red, or utmost base whitish, glabrous. Spadix much shorter than spathe, stipitate, 4–11 cm; stipe 0.2–1.5 cm, slender, white or with some pale brownish spots and a pinkish hue; female zone cylindric or slightly obconic, 1.3–3.5 cm long, 0.8–2 cm in diam. (incl. styles), flowers congested; male zone cylindric to fusiform-obconic, 1.3–4 cm long, 0.7–2.2 cm in diam., flowers densely congested; appendix hardly to distinctly stipitate, globose, ovate, elliptic, or conic, obtuse or truncate, at first turgid but during female anthesis weakening quickly and soon shrivelling and drying, turning brown, 1–5 cm long, 1–3 cm in diam., with several irregular grooves (not associated with staminodes), longitudinal ones deepest, between usually with a complex and dense pattern of elongate, convolute staminodes, separated by narrow grooves, whole appearing brainlike, yellowish white or pale grayish green, occasionally with a pale violet hue; stipe of appendix cylindric or obconic, 0.1–0.6 cm long, 0.3–1 cm in diam. Flowers unisexual. Ovaries globose, depressed, or subpyriform, orbicular, diamond-shaped or irregularly angulate in cross-section, 1–2 mm high, 1.5–2(–3) mm in diam., ± gradually tapering to style but after fertilization developing an annular articulation, dark purple with pale whitish green base, 1-loculed, occasionally 2-loculed, with 1 basal ovule per locule; style straight or ± strongly curved toward spadix axis, slender, cylindric or slightly conic, apex oblique and sometimes tricuspidate or drawn out in a slender point reaching beyond stigma, entirely dark purple or upper half bright pale green, 2–4 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm in diam. (base); stigma subapical or lateral, superficial or subcapitate, usually transversely bilabiate, rarely longitudinally oval, shallowly but densely verrucate or echinate, occasionally with elongate, fleshy, conic verrucae, pale yellowish or dirty whitish, 0.5–1 mm in diam., 0.2–0.5 mm high. Male flowers consisting of 3–5 stamens; stamens 3–3.5 mm; filaments 1.8–2 mm, lower half connate, whitish; anthers elongate, subquadrangular or strongly biconcave in cross-section, whitish, pinkish, or flesh-colored, 1.3–1.5 mm long, 1–1.3 mm in diam., apex truncate; connective pale violet, massive; pores transversely elongate, lateral. Infructescence cylindric, ca. 4 cm long, ca. 2 cm in diam. Berries at first green, maturing orange, elliptic, 1- or 2-seeded. Fl. Mar–May, fr. Apr–Jun.
Shaded places in primary evergreen forests, on granite bedrock; 800–1700 m. Guangxi, SE Yunnan [N Myanmar, N Thailand].
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus mellii Engler; A. odoratus Hetterscheid & H. Li.
Tuber dark brown, subglobose or depressed-globose, to 10 cm high, to 12 cm in diam., developing numerous offsets annually, these shortly narrowly fusiform, 1–3 cm long, ca. 1 cm in diam. Leaf solitary; petiole 30–60 cm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam., glabrous, green or grayish green with numerous, elongate, confluent, pale green or brownish green spots; blade to ca. 100 cm in diam., rachises winged throughout; leaflets adaxially dark green, elliptic-lanceolate, 3–21 × 1.5–7 cm, acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, long pedunculate, producing a scent of fresh carrots; peduncle [??color] as petiole, 20–60 cm long, 0.7–1.8 cm in diam. (base). Spathe broadly ovate, strongly concave, 8.5–24 × 8.5–23 cm, base shortly convolute, apex acute, overarching spadix; outside bright pale green, basally with rounded white spots, these upward grading to whitish green, inside base or a larger patch reddish purple, remainder and limb as outside but paler, base within ridged-verruculate. Spadix stipitate or rarely nearly sessile, slightly shorter than spathe, 8–20 cm; stipe colored as peduncle but much paler, 0.5–1.5 cm; female zone cylindric, upper part occasionally broadened, 0.5–2.5 cm long, 1–2.2 cm in diam., flowers congested; male zone broadly fusiform, 1.8–3 cm long, 1.3–3.5 cm in diam., flowers congested; appendix ivory-white, narrowly to broadly conic, usually slightly dorso-ventrally compressed, occasionally substipitate, variable, hollow, 3–14 cm long, 1.3–4.5 cm in diam. (near base), glabrous or entirely echinate or verruculate, or only upper third part so, base constricted and sometimes grooved, apex subacute or obtuse. Ovaries pale green, depressed, angulate in cross-section, 1–1.5 mm high, 2–3 mm in diam., 2- or 3-loculed, with one basal ovule per locule; style pale green, 0.5–1 mm long, 0.8–1 mm in diam.; stigma yellowish, flattened, ca. 1 mm high, ca. 2 mm in diam., 2- or 3(or 4)-lobed, oval or triangular in cross-section, scabrate-verrucate, lobes obtuse. Male flowers consisting of 4 or 5 stamens; stamens ca. 3 mm; filaments ca. 1.5 mm, basal third connate; anthers butterfly-shaped in cross-section, ca. 1.5 mm long, 1.5–1.8 mm in diam.; pores elongate, apical but near margin, sometimes connected by an excentric groove. Pollen striate. Infructescence: fruiting part cylindric, ca. 12 × 5 cm. Berries crowded, shortly stalked, glossy dark blue, elongate, to ca. 1.8 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam.
* Guangdong, Guangxi.
[Note – the taxonomic status of the three species treated here as A. dunii has not been fully agreed upon by both authors. Li (1979) treats A. dunnii and A. mellii separately but the descriptions indicate to WH that they represent one variable species. The name A. odoratus has been put in synonymy to A. dunnii and this is explained in Blumea 46(2)(2000): 281, along with the arguments of synonimising A. mellii with A. dunnii.]
??vernacular name
Rhizome horizontal, branching infrequently, brown and[??or] green, to ca. 25 cm long and ca. 5 cm in diam., internodes 1–1.3 cm, leaf scars transversely oval; offset tubers long lasting, depressed, broadly attached; roots mainly developed from ventral side. Leaves solitary or paired or simultaneous with inflorescence, latter emerging from petiole sheath; petiole 40–60 cm long, ca. 1–1.5 cm in diam., turgid, glabrous, moderately glossy, background color dirty grayish green but nearly totally hidden by large, oval, confluent, reddish brown spots; leaf blade 50–70 cm in diam., anterior segment less strongly developed than posterior ones; rachises short, unwinged except for distalmost parts; leaflets adaxially moderately glossy green, venation quite strongly impressed, abaxially paler green, lanceolate, 8–32 × 2.5–7 cm, margin crispate-undulate, apex acuminate. Inflorescence solitary or with leaf, long pedunculate; peduncle ca. 50 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam. at base, ca. 0.8 cm in diam. at apex, glabrous, reddish brown to yellowish brown, densely covered with dark reddish brown, narrowly oval, often confluent spots. Spathe erect, ovate, funnel-shaped, margin involute, upper third part horizontally spreading, lower part loosely convolute, base and limb not differentiated, 16–20 × 12–15 cm, apex narrowly acute, outside base very pale purplish brown on a ± cream colored background, with numerous, small and slightly larger, punctiform, rounded, partly confluent, dark purplish brown spots, upper part outside dirty cream with less numerous rounded spots but numerous tiny ones, to margin flushed with gray, inside base dark maroon, upper part ± cream colored with few tiny dark purple spots, to margin flushed with dirty dark brownish green, base within with very shallow, interconnected ridges. Spadix emitting a strong cheesy smell, shortly stipitate, longer than spathe, 20–28 cm; female zone cylindric or slightly obconic, 1.8–2.2 cm long, 1–1.3 cm in diam., upper limit irregular, flowers congested; male zone fusiform or fusiform-obconic, 2–3 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm in diam., lower and/or upper limit irregular, flowers congested; stipe ca. 2 mm; appendix 16–23 cm, basal part 1–1.7 cm in diam., upper part ca. 4 mm in diam., narrowly fusiform, upper half myosuroid and horizontally [??re]flexed or nearly erect, apex obtuse, all ± cream colored with a faint bright greenish hue, base with flattened staminodes separated by shallow grooves, upward diminishing, remainder glabrous. Ovaries bright pale green with tiny reddish purple dots near stigma, very broadly ovoid, 2–2.3 mm long, ca. 2 mm in diam., rounded in cross-section, 1-loculed, ovule on a heavy placenta, running on one side to apex of ovary; style absent; stigma pale dirty yellowish, very thin, acrosopically placed on ovary, ± reniform, ca. 1 × 0.8 mm, scaberulose. Male flowers consisting of ca. 4 stamens; stamens 1.5–1.8 mm; filaments whitish, ca. 0.3 mm, basally connate; anthers dark pink to purplish, 1.2–1.5 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., truncate, pores elongate, apical. Pollen irregular, in tetrads, psilate to verrucate.
Secondary forests; below 1100 m. SE Yunnan [N Vietnam].
??vernacular name
Tuber dark brown, depressed-globose, 2–6 cm high, 3–11 cm in diam., weighing up to 500 g., seasonally producing several globose offset tubers, these 0.5–1 cm in diam. Leaf solitary; petiole 30–60 cm, near base 1–2 cm in diam., glabrous, dull or moderately glossy, mid- or dark green with several, ± oval or irregular, whitish spots, with or without numerous, small, white dots in between; leaf blade moderately or highly dissected, 30–100 cm in diam.; rachises narrowly winged; leaflets adaxially mid- or dark green, dull or glossy, margin at first reddish pink, later usually turning green or whitish, abaxially pale green, elliptic-ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate, 4–26 × 1.5–5.5 cm, major veins strongly impressed, apex acuminate or long acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, shortly pedunculate; peduncle [??color] as petiole, 4–20 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm in diam., lengthening in fruit. Spathe campanulate, constricted between base and limb, broadly triangular-ovate, 9–25 cm long, 8–23 cm in diam., base strongly convolute, apex acute or obtuse, thickly walled; outside glossy pale green, with or without a purplish flush, with or without a few small, paler spots; inside dark maroon, near constriction dirty whitish or greenish purple; limb horizontal, irregularly wavy, outside pale green, with a variable, pinkish purplish hue, maroon near margin, inside dark maroon, dull or glossy, near margin greenish or pale purplish, venation strongly impressed, base within densely covered with large, irregular verrucae. Spadix producing a smell of decaying meat or cow dung at female anthesis, sessile, longer than spathe, 20–52 cm, male and female zones contiguous or separated by a short (ca. 0.5 cm) (partly) sterile zone; female zone cylindric or slightly conic, 1.5–4 cm long, 2–3 cm in diam. (incl. styles), flowers congested or all or partly ± remote; male zone ± obconic, 1.5–4.5 cm long, 0.9–1.9 cm in diam. at base, 1.5–3.5 cm in diam. at apex, flowers congested or lower ones distant, free or in upper part fused into low-angled spirals; sterile zone with variously transformed male flowers (staminodes), sometimes intermixed with a few sterile, remnants of bisexual flowers, often accompanied by all possible transitional stages from adjacent zones; appendix pale or dark brown[??appendix or whole spadix], narrowly fusiform, 15–42 cm long, 1.4–3 cm in diam. near base, 1.8–4 cm in diam. at 1/3rd from base, oval in cross-section, thinly walled and hollow after anthesis, apex ± obtuse or acute, with regular or irregular, shallow, strongly wrinkled and/or with elongate depressions, these in basal half of appendix with or without a short, pale or dark purplish or whitish hair (0.5–2.5 mm). Ovaries depressed, orbicular or suborbicular in cross-section, 1.5–3 mm high, 2–3(–4.5) mm in diam., base or larger part greenish, rest dark purple, 2-loculed, with one basal ovule per locule; funicle long, strongly coiled; style brownish purple or blackish, 2–3 mm long, slender, 0.8–1.2(–1.5) mm in diam.; stigma grayish purple, large, orbicular or oval in cross-section, 0.8–1.5 mm high, ca. 2 mm in diam., 2- or 3(or 4)-lobed, densely scabrate-papillate; lobes conic, obtuse or subacute. Male flowers consisting of (2 or)3–6 stamens; stamens ivory-white, oval in cross-section, ca. 2 mm long, ca. 1.8 mm in diam.; filaments ca. 1 mm, basally connate; anthers ca. 1 mm, truncate or rostrate (elongation of connective); connective minutely verrucate, after anthesis more strongly rostrate by differential shrinking of lateral sides of anthers; pores apical, elongate prior to anthesis, oval at anthesis, opening by deepening of lower margin, after anthesis ± laterally displaced. Sterile flowers (when present) between male and female zone either pale green or purple, to 5 mm, hairs, or reduced bisexual flowers, these consisting of a reduced pistil surrounded by several stamens. Berries blue or violet, elliptic.
* Broad-leaved forests, mixed forests, bamboo plantations, orchards, in heavily to lightly shaded places, in thin soils on limestone bedrock or in karst areas; sea level to 700 m. Taiwan.
??vernacular name
Tuber whitish, turning grayish brown at exposure, globose or depressed-globose, 2–9 cm high, 3–15 cm in diam., weighing up to ca. 1500 g., seasonally producing numerous, thin, rhizomatous offset tubers, these to 3 cm long and ca. 1 cm in diam. Leaf solitary; petiole 20–100 cm long, 1–2.6 cm in diam. at base, turgid, glabrous, dark green with numerous, tiny, blackish green spots or with larger, ± diamond-shaped, pale grayish green spots, these filled with numerous, dark green, elongate dots; leaf blade 30–120 cm in diam., highly dissected; rachises only in distal half of blade winged, wings sinuous; leaflets ± obovate or elliptic-oval, 5.5–11 × 2.5–4.5 cm, ± succulent, long acuminate, adaxially dark emerald green with a pinkish violet margin, venation impressed adaxially. Inflorescence solitary, long pedunculate; peduncle [??color] as petiole, 38–125 cm long, 1–4 cm in diam. at base. Spathe campanulate, constricted between base and limb, broadly triangular, 13–53 × 12–45 cm, apex acute, base strongly convolute, obliquely urceolate, thickly walled; outside pale green, faintly flushed with purple or dark grayish green with numerous pale whitish green spots, lower ones confluent, veins dark green; inside blackish maroon, covered with numerous shortly ridge-like, laterally compressed, fleshy warts; limb horizontally spreading or obliquely upturned, margin undulate, outside pale green, flushed with purple-brown or dark grayish green with angulate, whitish green spots and margins dirty purple, without spots, inside ± maroon, flushed with green or with numerous small, rounded, sometimes confluent, whitish greenish spots, veins maroon. Spadix emitting a strong smell of old socks or strong compost, ± stipitate, much longer than spathe, 31–88.5 cm, stipe 0.2–1 cm, male and female zone separated by a narrow, sterile zone; female zone slightly obconic or cylindric, 1.6–6.5 cm long, 1.1–3.5 cm in diam. at base, 1.2–3.7 cm in diam. at apex, flowers lax; male zone urceolate, terete or slightly laterally compressed, upper margin straight or very irregular, 3–9 cm long, 0.9–3.7 cm in diam. at base, 2–7 cm in diam. at apex, flowers congested, in between some scattered, purple hairs; appendix very narrowly conic, 25.5–73 cm long, 2–7 cm in diam. (base), entirely purple or with numerous, dirty greenish, small spots, apex obtuse, surface with numerous, laxly disposed hairs, these directed perpendicular to appendix axis, 0.2–1.5 cm, purple, in shallow pockets, producing a clear fluid during female anthesis, base not swollen. Ovaries ± globose, ca. 2.5 mm high, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., orbicular in cross-section, ± gradually tapering to style, lower half white, upper half blackish maroon, 2-loculed, with 1 basal ovule per locule; style maroon, thick, ca. 1 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm in diam.; stigma ± pyramidal, orbicular in cross-section, ca. 1.8 mm high, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., shallowly 2(or 3)-lobed, lobes pale olive-green, rounded, scabrate; male flowers consisting of 3–6 stamens; stamens very shallowly hemispheric, ca. 2 mm, some uppermost stamens intermediate with hairs on appendix, carrying a short hair on connective or reduced to a slightly concave, broad base, carrying a hair (staminode); filaments short, ca. 0.5 mm, connate; anthers ca. 1.5 mm long, 3–3.5 mm in diam., polygonal in cross-section, apex very shallowly rounded, ivory-white, producing a clear fluid from top during female anthesis; connective brownish; pores apical, elongate, oval after anthesis; sterile flowers between male and female zone consisting of 1–7 staminodes, these consisting of a swollen, often depressed, white base and a purple hair 5–10 mm.
* Dense grasslands; 50–100 m. Taiwan.
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus bannaensis H. Li.
Tuber brown, depressed-globose, 3–5 (or more) cm high, 5–30 cm in diam., developing offsets; offsets incompletely known but probably rhizomatous. Leaf solitary; petiole ca. 20 cm (?or longer), glabrous, dirty white with dark green to reddish brown spots; leaf blade to 100 cm in diam.; leaflets elliptic, 6–9 × 2–3 cm, acute-acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, long pedunculate; cataphylls 9–20 cm; peduncle 24–80 cm long, 0.7–1 cm in diam. at base, ivory-white, grayish, or greenish with brown or purple blotches and greenish patches. Spathe concave, base shortly convolute, 8–29 × 7–14 cm, outside green or greenish brown with green spots or purplish red stripes and spots, apex purple, base inside with scattered, shallow, punctiform warts. Spadix emitting an unpleasant, rancid smell, much shorter than spathe, 6.5–18 cm; stipe 0.2–1 cm long, 0.4–1 cm in diam.; female zone slightly obconic or cylindric, 1.3–5 cm long, 0.6–1.4 cm in diam., flowers congested, lower ones often more loosely arranged; male zone obconic, occasionally fusiform, base often constricted, flowers congested, 2–4 cm long, 1.2–3 cm in diam.; appendix stipitate, occasionally sessile, dirty white, ovate or conic, occasionally nearly globose, 5.5–7 cm long, 2–4 cm in diam., often with a few deep, longitudinal grooves or with a few shallow folds, glabrous, base constricted, apex truncate, rounded, or rarely acute; stipe 0.3–1.5 cm long, 0.8–2 cm in diam. Flowers unisexual; ovaries globose or subpyriform, after anthesis (?fertilization) articulate to style, dark purple, ca. 2 mm high, ca. 1.5 cm in diam., 1-loculed, with 1 basal, anatropous ovule; style strongly curved, dark purple, 1–2 mm, slender; stigma superficial, semiglobose, triradiate or flattened, subapical, often transversely expanded beyond style and subbilabiate, ca. 0.4 mm high, 0.7–1 mm in diam., verrucate, verrucae sometimes elongate and "catcher"-like; male flowers consisting of 3–6 stamens; stamens ca. 3 mm; filaments ca. 2 mm, basal half connate, occasionally entirely connate; anthers white, 1–1.5 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm in diam., apex subtruncate; pores apical to sublateral, marginal, elongate. Fl. Mar–May.
Dense climax forests, on limestone rocks; 1000–1500 m. S and W Yunnan [Laos, N Myanmar (Kachin State), N Thailand].
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch var. kiusianus Makino, Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 25: 16. 1911; A. hirtus N. E. Brown var. kiusianus (Makino) Hotta; A. sinensis Belval.
Tuber depressed-globose, to ca. 20 cm in diam., to ca. 12 cm high, [no offset development (Japanese specimens)], or with a few, sessile, globose offsets (China mainland specimens). Leaf solitary; petiole glabrous, to ca. 65 cm long, ca. 4 cm in diam., glossy, dirty olive-green or grayish green, with narrowly oval or irregular whitish or very pale greenish spots and numerous tiny dark green dots; leaf blade 60–90 cm in diam., rachises winged, distal from basal main branchings; leaflets adaxially bright green with a narrow pale violet margin, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 6–20 × 3–4.5 cm, margin undulate, apex moderately to long acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, long pedunculate; peduncle [??color] as petiole, 40–100 cm long (in fruit to ca. 120 cm), 1.5–4 cm in diam. Spathe triangular, base rounded, 9–25 × 4–13 cm, shallowly or clearly constricted between base and limb; limb at first oblique, then reflexing and bending downward, margin reflexed or undulate; outside dark greenish, greenish pinkish, or glossy dark purplish brown, with small, whitish spots, margin with a narrow, reddish violet line; inside pale pinkish with a purplish base, purplish and greenish, or entirely dark brown, with or without a greenish margin, latter sometimes flushed pinkish, sometimes only medially pale green, otherwise with rounded, whitish spots; base outside dark green or dark greenish brown, with small, rounded whitish spots and blackish green veins; base within dark purple and with numerous, ± distant, conical warts, occasionally with small, whitish spots. Spadix sessile or subsessile, shorter than, equal to, or longer than spathe, 9–22 cm; female zone slightly conic, 1–4 cm long, 0.5–2 cm in diam.; male zone cylindric or slightly obconic, 2.5–4.5 cm long, 0.5–2 cm in diam.; appendix fusiform-conic or narrowly fusiform, 4–16 cm long, 1–3 cm in diam. near base, apex acute or obtuse, entirely blackish or with scattered, tiny green spots, or entirely dark greenish, glossy, glabrous or with shallow depressions, base grooved, otherwise naked or with scattered, thin, violet-brown hairs, emerging from depressions, these to ca. 1 cm. Ovaries bright pale green, ± obovoid, angulate in cross-section, ca. 2.5 mm high, ca. 2 mm in diam., 2-loculed; style bright pale green or dark brown, nearly absent, ca. 0.2 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., bifurcate at apex; stigma pale greenish gray, shallowly or distinctly bilobed-sinuous, slightly oval in cross-section, ca. 0.8 mm high, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., minutely papillate. Male flowers consisting of 4 or 5 stamens; stamens pale yellow, ca. 1.5 mm; filaments ca. 0.5 mm, entirely connate; anthers subtruncate or truncate, mostly subrectangular in cross-section, 1–2 × ca. 1 mm; connective brownish; pores apical, elongate. Staminodes between male and female zone isolated or in groups of 2–4, or together with functional stamens as part of lowermost male flowers, consisting of a highly reduced stamen and a long, brown hair on connective, those in groups often forming one common disc-shaped base with grooves corresponding with limits of defunct stamens, those on appendix consisting of only a brown hair and each from a shallow depression. Pollen striate-areolate, released in strings. Infructescence with dried spathe base sometimes remaining, cylindric, 5–22 cm long, 3–4.5 cm in diam. Berries glossy, at first bright green, then turning pinkish purple and finally deep blue, rounded or oval, ca. 1 cm long, 0.8–1 cm in diam., 2-seeded; seeds oval in longitudinal section, one side flattened, rhaphideous, ca. 8 mm long, ca. 6 × 4 mm in diam., coat moderately glossy, black, minutely rugulose. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. May–Jul.
Shaded, semi-shaded, or sun-exposed places, plantations, secondary forests, mixed bamboo-broad-leaved forests, orchards; 300–900 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Zhejing [S Japan].
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus mairei H. Léveillé; A. nanus H. Li & C. L. Long; A. rivieri Durieu ex Carrière [??Riviere]; Brachyspatha konjac (K. Koch) K. Koch ex Ender; Proteinophallus rivieri (Durieu ex Carrière) J. D. Hooker; Hydrosme rivieri (Durieu ex Carrière) Engler; Tapeinophallus rivieri (Durieu ex Carrière) Baillon, (nom. illeg., given in error).
Tuber brown, slightly glossy, depressed-globose, to ca. 20 cm high, to ca. 30 cm in diam., seasonally producing numerous, long rhizomatous offsets with swollen apical part, these to ca. 50 cm long and ca. 3 cm in diam. Leaf solitary; petiole to ca. 100 cm long and ca. 8 cm in diam., glabrous or with scattered punctiform warts at base, background color dirty whitish pinkish or dirty cream colored, often nearly entirely covered by large, elongate, dark green confluent spots and smaller white dots, or with numerous small, blackish green spots, very variable; leaf blade highly dissected, to ca. 200 cm in diam., rachises narrowly winged; leaflets adaxially dull green, elliptic, 3–10 × 2–6 cm, acuminate. Inflorescence long pedunculate (rarely short); peduncle [??color] as petiole, to ca. 110 cm long, ca. 5 cm in diam. Spathe elliptic-lanceolate to broadly ovate-triangular, 10–60 × 10–55 cm, base and limb ± separated by a shallow constriction, margin ± strongly sinuous, apex acute; outside base dirty pale brownish with blackish green spots, or dirty pale whitish grayish with a few scattered blackish green dots, near margin flushed with purple; inside base maroon with or without a paler whitish purplish zone above; base within densely verrucate, verrucae tiny, punctiform; limb erect, undulate and/or longitudinally folded, basal margin spreading, outside uniformly dark purplish brown, or with scattered blackish green spots, inside uniformly dark brown, glossy. Spadix during female anthesis producing a strong smell of rotting meat and producing small clear, slightly viscous droplets, sessile, 15–110 cm; female zone cylindric or narrowly conic, 2–11 cm long, 1–4 cm in diam. at base and to ca. 6 cm in diam. at apex, flowers congested or distant; male zone cylindric, slightly fusiform, or slightly obconic, 2–12 cm long, 1–6 cm in diam., flowers congested; transitional zone between male and female zones occasionally with partly staminodial male flowers and/or pistillodial female flowers or flowers showing all intermediate stages; appendix narrowly fusiform-conic, often laterally compressed and with irregular, shallow longitudinal furrows, 10–85 cm long, 1.5–6 cm in diam., acute, dark purplish brown or paler, densely rugulose, base often with several diamond-shaped, flattened staminodes. Ovaries whitish or pale pinkish, apex purplish, depressed-globose, oval or suborbicular in cross-section, 2–2.5 mm high, 2–4 mm in diam., 2- or 3-loculed; style purplish, 1–5 mm, ± slender, 0.7–1 mm in diam., often distinctly branched at apex; stigma dirty yellowish brown, depressed, strongly undulate, often sunk between enlarged style branches, 2- or 3(or 4)-lobed, oval or triangular in cross-section, ca. 0.5 mm high, 1.5–2 mm in diam., verruculate-scabrate. Male flowers consisting of 3–5 stamens; stamens 2–2.5 mm; filaments pale orangish yellow or whitish, 0.5–1 mm, basally or entirely connate or slightly diverging at apex; anthers dirty whitish grayish, or ± cream colored, truncate or subtruncate, 1–1.5 mm long, 0.8–2 mm in diam., rectangular in cross-section; connective purplish, turning grayish at anthesis, slightly raised; pores apical, oval or reniform. Fl. Apr.
* Open situations or forest margins and thickets, secondary forests; 200–3000 m. Yunnan (wild); Other occurrences are regarded as plants escaped from cultivation.
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus sutepensis Gagnepain; A. ximengensis H. Li.
Tuber dirty pale yellowish, brownish, or orangish, yellow inside, globose, sometimes slightly subcylindric, with a deep central depression, 4–8 cm high (or more), 5–25 cm in diam., weighing up to 750 g. (or more?), seasonally developing several offsets; offsets rhizomatous, long and thin, 2–27 cm long, 0.4–1 cm in diam., apically slightly thickened or not. Leaf solitary; cataphylls 3, to 25 cm, basally pale pink upward, grading into off-white, covered with pale blackish green, elongate spots; petiole glabrous, 20–190 cm long, 1–5 cm in diam. at base, ground color pale green, at base often pale pink or with a reddish brown or reddish hue, with many, smaller and larger, elliptic, partly or nearly entirely confluent, elliptic to narrowly elliptic, blackish green or paler green or rarely reddish brown spots and several, small, white dots, intensity of color and extension of pattern variable; leaf blade 100–200 cm in diam.; rachises broadly winged; leaflets adaxially green or grayish green, abaxially paler green, lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, more rarely elliptic, 11–48 × 2–11 cm, base decurrent, apex acuminate. Inflorescence solitary; peduncle [??colored] as petiole but smaller, 25–100 cm long, 0.8–2 cm in diam. (base). Spathe erect, cymbiform, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 11–40 × 6–26 cm, base convolute, convolute part 4–6 cm, apex acute-acuminate; outside pale green, toward base slightly darker; inside pale yellowish green, base sometimes ± maroon; base inside with many, small, slightly elongate or irregularly ridge-shaped warts. Spadix developing considerable heat at female anthesis and producing a heavy, gaseous, nauseating stench, yellowish white or pale green, nearly as long as spathe, rarely distinctly shorter or slightly longer, 8–35 cm; female part cylindric or slightly obconic, 0.6–5 cm long, 0.6–2.3 cm in diam. (incl. styles), flowers congested; male part cylindric-fusiform or slightly obconic, sometimes slightly laterally compressed, 3.5–13 cm long, 0.8–3 cm in diam., flowers congested; sterile zone between male and female part rarely absent, cylindric, 0.6–2 cm long, 0.8–1.8 cm in diam., staminodes congested; appendix fusiform or fusiform-conic, sometimes slightly laterally compressed, 3–17 cm long, 0.9–5 cm in diam., sometimes with a small stipe-like part, glabrous, apex rounded or ± acute, base occasionally stipe-like, at base sometimes with a few rounded staminodes or staminodial remnants, separated by small grooves. Flowers unisexual, naked; ovaries pale green, occasionally pale magenta-purple near style base, globose or slightly depressed, 1.5–2 mm high, 2–2.5 mm in diam., 1-loculed (rarely ?2-loculed), with one basal ovule; style green or magenta-purple, cylindric or conic, 1–2 mm; stigma globose or semiglobose, ca. 1 mm in diam., entire or with a shallow central depression or shallowly 2- or 3-lobed; lobes pale yellowish white, yellow, or brownish, rounded, scabrate, margin sinuous; male flowers consisting of (1–)3 or 4(or 5) stamens, ivory-white; stamens 2–2.2 mm high; filaments short, 0.75–1 mm, thick, connate, in lowermost flowers greatly enlarged and with reduced thecae, grading into staminodes; anthers with a rounded apex or subtruncate, 1–1.3 mm high, 1–1.75 mm in diam.; pores apical, elongate; connectives often with a clear, slightly sticky, droplet at female anthesis; staminodes often with a droplet as on connectives at female anthesis, ivory-white or creamy-orange, occasionally flushed with pale purple, ovate or diamond-shaped in cross-section, semiglobose, 1–4.5 × 1–3.1 mm in cross-section. Infructescence cylindric, ca. 10 cm. Berries 1-seeded, rarely (?)2-seeded, bright red, ca. 1 cm. Seeds silvery-gray with small, black dots, elliptic-ovoid, 6–9 mm long, 3–5 mm in diam. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Nov–Dec.
Shaded to open, often fire-prone, places in mixed primary evergreen/deciduous forests and deciduous dipterocarp forests, forest margins, bamboo thickets, on granite bedrock, sometimes near streams, lowlands; up to ca. 1500 m. Yunnan [Bangladesh, Laos, N Myanmar, N Thailand].
This plant is used as a food resource by native tribes (Li, 1988, sub A. ximengensis).
??vernacular name
Dracontium paeoniifolium Dennstedt, Schlüssel Hortus Malab. 13: (21, 38). 1818 ("paeoniaefolium"); Amorphophallus campanulatus Decaisne; A. gigantiflorus Hayata; A. microappendiculatus Engler; A. paeoniifolius var. campanulatus (Decaisne) Sivadasan; Arum campanulatum Roxburgh, Pl. Coromandel 3 (1820) 68 (nom. illeg.); J. D. Hooker, Bot. Mag. 55: t. 2812. 1828; A. rumphii Gaudichaud; Candarum rumphii (?Gaudichaud) Schott in Schott & Endlicher, Melet. Bot. 17. 1832 (nom illeg.); Hydrosme gigantiflora (Hayata) S. S. Ying.
Tuber dark brown, depressed-globose, ca. 20 cm high, to ca. 30 cm in diam., weighing up to ca. 15 kg.; root scars prominent, annulate; offsets produced every season, thick and rhizomatous, to ca. 10 cm long, ca. 4 cm in diam. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole to ca. 2 m long and ca. 20 cm in diam., background pale to dark green or blackish green, usually with large and small pale blotches and numerous tiny dark dots; large blotches often confluent, especially near base; shallowly corrugate to strongly echinate-verrucate; leaf blade highly dissected, to ca. 3 m in diam.; rachises narrowly or broadly winged almost to base; leaflets adaxially mid-green, abaxially mid-green or pale green, orbicular, oval, ovate, obovate, elliptic, elliptic-oblong, elliptic-lanceolate, or lanceolate, 3–35 × 2–12 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescence shortly pedunculate; peduncle 3–20 cm long, 1–8 cm in diam., usually paler and more glabrous than petiole. Spathe campanulate, broader than long, 10–45 cm long, 15–60 cm in diam., base and limb often separated by a shallow constriction; limb spreading, strongly undulate, base outside very variable, background ranging from pale green to dark brown, usually both large and small, orbicular paler spots, base inside lower part deep maroon, upper zone dirty whitish or very pale pinkish, limb outside as base but with more prominent maroon flushes, especially near margin, limb inside usually glossy dark maroon, base within densely verrucate, verrucae variable, mostly conical, fleshy. Spadix giving off a stench of rotting meat, sessile, shorter or longer than spathe, 7–70 cm; female zone cylindric, 3–25 cm long, 1–12 cm in diam., flowers congested or slightly distant; male zone cylindric or strongly obconic, 2.5–15 cm long, 1–10 cm in diam. at base, 1–20 cm in diam. at apex, flowers congested; appendix very variable, glossy dark maroon, rarely pinkish or yellow [??appendix or whole spadix], inflated, globose, depressed-globose, oval, or triangular-conic (pyramidal), 1.5–30 cm long, 1.2–30 cm in diam. (slightly above base), minutely granulate, glabrous or with various folds and/or irregular shallow depressions, base often with flattened, staminodial structures, apex obtuse or ± acute. Ovaries entirely pale green or largely maroon with a whitish base, depressed, orbicular in cross-section, 1.5–2.5 mm high, 3–5 mm in diam., 2- or 3-loculed; style maroon, 3–15 mm, slender, 1–1.5 mm in diam.; stigma pale or deep yellow, oval or triangular in cross-section, large, 3–5 mm high, 4–7 mm in diam., often strongly laterally compressed, then cordate in longitudinal section, verruculate, shallowly or deeply 2- or 3-lobed, lobes rounded or conic, sometimes with a strong groove on outward side. Male flowers consisting of 4–6 stamens; stamens 4–6 mm; filaments ca. 0.5 mm, connate; anthers off-white, cylindric, 3.5–5.5 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., subtruncate; pollen psilate. Infructescence long pedunculate; peduncle stretching strongly after fertilization, 20–100 cm, becoming uniformly tan, with myriads, narrow, transversal cracks; fruiting part cylindric, 10–50 cm long, 3–8 cm in diam. Berries closely set or slightly distant, ripening from green, via yellow to bright red, elongate, 1.5–2 cm long, 8–10 mm in diam. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Oct–Nov.
Secondary conditions, secondary forests or highly disturbed areas, in dappled shade or fully exposed; sea level to 800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Indochina; N Australia, Madagascar, Malesia, Polynesia].
This taxon is extensively cultivated as a tuber crop serving as animal feed.
??vernacular name
Tuber brown, somewhat glossy, depressed-globose, at least 9 cm in diam., root scars slightly raised, no offsets observed. Leaf solitary; petiole 80–200 cm long, 2.5–7 cm in diam., glabrous, turgid, uniformly pale green or background pale grayish green with a clear bluish flush near base and on subterraneous part, and with whitish spots, often broader than long, irregularly shaped, and scattered over entire surface with short, longitudinal, blackish dots, these in lower part often raised; leaf blade highly dissected, 80–200 cm in diam.; rachises winged only distal of basal main branchings, sometimes some nodes swollen and forming intercalary bulbils; leaflets elliptic-lanceolate to lanceolate, 8.5–24 × 3.5–6 cm, long acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, long pedunculate; peduncle as petiole, 22–50 cm long (but probably longer), ca. 1 cm in diam. Spathe (all dimensions based on relatively small specimens) erect, oval, 8–20 cm long, 5–17 cm in diam., strongly concave, base shortly convolute, apex arching over spadix or erect; outside green with a few transversal, whitish spots; inside whitish green with small, punctiform or slightly elongate verrucae; outside limb dark green with an obscure blackish purplish flush and a few scattered, small whitish dots; inside bright green with a few small, whitish spots. Spadix sessile, shorter than or nearly as long as spathe, 7.5–17 cm; female zone cylindric or slightly obconic, 1–1.5 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam., flowers congested; male zone slightly or strongly obconic, 1.5–4 cm long, 1.5–2 cm in diam. at base and 1.6–3 cm at apex, flowers congested; appendix conical, oval-elliptic, or narrowly fusiform, 4.5–12 cm long, 2.2–5 cm in diam., obtuse, white, with many shallow, often longitudinally confluent depressions and with or without scattered tiny, punctiform pustules, base with sterile stamens, gradually merging to form appendix wall. Ovaries bright pale green, depressed-globose, ca. 2 mm high, 2.5–3 mm in diam., 2-loculed; style whitish, straight, short, 0.8–1 mm long, ca. 0.8 mm in diam.; stigma dirty pale yellowish brownish, depressed, large, ca. 1.5 mm high, 2–2.5 mm in diam., orbicular or oval in cross-section, verruculate, entire, with an acroscopic shallow depression, or shallowly or distinctly bilobed, lobes rounded. Male flowers consisting of 4 or 5 stamens; stamens 3–3.5 mm long, 1–1.5 mm in diam.; filaments ca. 1.5 mm, connate; anthers 1.5–2 mm, truncate; pores apical or subapical, elliptic, small, with a groove running from every pore to margin of anther; connective large, raised. Fl. May.
Dense tropical forests, moist, shaded places; 800–900 m. SE Yunnan [N Vietnam].
??vernacular name
Tuber depressed-globose, to ca. 10 cm in diam., without offset development. Peduncle ca. 10 cm long, ca. 8 mm in diam., glabrous, dark olive-green with fine, darker, short striations/spots. Spathe erect, concave, broadly ovate, ca. 11 × 10 cm, margins incurved, obtuse, outside base pale greenish with small, punctate blackish green dots, center very pale pinkish with similar dots, upper part dirty creamish with scattered, grayish black dots, inside base pale pink with numerous, white verrucae, upper part dirty cream; spathe on second day open to base. Spadix subsessile, shorter than spathe, ca. 8.5 cm; female zone cylindric, upper margin very irregular, 1–2 cm long, ca. 1.3 cm in diam., flowers congested or just touching; male zone slightly fusiform, 2.5–4 cm long, ca. 11.5 cm in diam. (middle), flowers mostly separated but in upper part congested, occasional flowers transformed into conic-pyramidal staminodes; appendix ivory-white, shortly conic, massive, 3.2–4 cm long, ca. 1.8 cm in diam., glabrous, base irregular, apex obtuse. Ovaries depressed, orbicular in cross-section, 2–2.5 mm high, ca. 4 mm in diam., pale green with very thin, scattered pinkish, short stripes in upper half, 2-loculed, with 1 basal ovule per locule; style ivory-white, short but distinct, ca. 0.8 mm long, ca. 1.1 mm in diam.; stigma pale dirty yellow, disciform, rounded in cross-section, ca. 1 mm high, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., densely verrucate, with a shallow central depression. Male flower consisting of (2 or)3(or 4) stamens; stamens ca. 2 mm; filaments ivory-white, ca. 0.8 mm, basally connate; anthers dirty ivory-white, truncate, ca. 1 × 2 mm, rectangular in cross-section; pores apical, elliptic; staminodes representing one stamen each. Fr. Jun.
* Dense primary evergreen valley forests on limestone; 200–2400 m. Yunnan.
??vernacular name
Amorphophallus kerrii N. E. Brown.
Tuber dark brown, white or yellow inside, depressed-globose, to 9 cm high and 13 cm in diam., weighing up to 500 g., root scars with an annular thickening, seasonally developing several offsets; offsets sessile, rounded or elliptic, ca. 2.5 cm long and to 1.2 cm in diam. Leaf solitary; cataphylls 3, 6–35 cm, dark grayish green, largely covered with pale pinkish, rhombic spots; petiole glabrous, medium to dark olive-green or dark olive-brown with several rhombic or narrowly elliptic, pale whitish greenish spots, 10–80 cm, 0.5–2.5 cm in diam. (base); leaf blade highly dissected, to 190 cm in diam.; rachises broadly winged except below basal branching points, latter and basal branching point may develop into intercalary bulbils after disturbance; leaflets adaxially dark green, often with a bluish sheen when young, margin often narrowly violet, abaxially paler, elliptic, 10–40 cm long, 5–13 cm in diam., base broadly decurrent, apex acuminate. Inflorescence solitary, long pedunculate; cataphylls as with leaf; peduncle colored as petiole, 13–60 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam. (base). Spathe erect, concave, arching over spadix, broadly ovate, 9–29 × 4–20 cm, base shortly convolute, apex obtuse or acute, inside base glabrous or with a few scattered, punctiform warts; outside white or pale greenish white, rarely dark green, sometimes near base with paler, occasionally ringlike spots, or sometimes flushed with pale pinkish, margin sometimes lined pinkish; inside pale greenish white without spots; limb outside dirty creamish, sometimes with faint spots, margin sometimes pale pinkish violet, inside ± cream colored or pale greenish white, margin sometimes pale pinkish violet. Spadix creamy white or pale pinkish, much shorter than spathe, 3–18 cm; stipe 0.5–2.5 cm, pale green with whitish spots; female zone cylindric, slightly conic or obconic, 0.8–3.5 cm long, 0.5–2 cm in diam., flowers congested but in lower part sometimes loosely arranged; male zone conic or fusiform-cylindric, rarely obconic, sometimes (partly) laterally compressed, 1–4 cm long, 0.6–3.5 cm in diam., flowers congested; appendix ovate, conic, or triangular-ovate, rarely subcylindric, inflated or strongly laterally compressed, 3–11 cm long, 1.5–5 cm in diam., glabrous or verruculate, rarely entirely echinate, often with a few longitudinal shallow or deep, broad folds, or irregularly folded throughout, base strongly truncate, apex obtuse, rarely acute, usually with a few broadly conic staminodes. Flowers unisexual. Ovaries green, pale green, brownish green, or purplish, near style insertion sometimes dirty creamish, globose, subglobose, or depressed, orbicular or angulate in outline, 2–2.5 mm high, 2–4 mm in diam., 2-loculed; style straight or curved, green or dirty pale pinkish, narrowly to broadly conic, base (articulation) thickened, 1–2.5 mm long, 0.3–1 mm in diam.; stigma pale yellowish or dirty brownish, variable, usually distinctly broader than style diam., disciform to subhemispheric, more rarely superficial, punctiform, orbicular or oval in outline, with a shallow central depression to clearly 2-lobed, verrucate; lobes rounded, 0.4–0.6 mm high, 0.6–1.2 mm in diam. Male flowers consisting of 3–5 stamens; stamens 3–3.5 mm; filament 0.5–2 mm, basally or up to 2/3rd of length connate; anthers creamy white, 1.5–3 mm long, 1–2 mm in diam.; connectives flat or with a ridge-like extension, perpendicular to long axis, either small or very large, maroon or dark brown; pores apical, elongate. Infructescence cylindric or subglobose, 4–11 cm long, 3.5–5 cm in diam., dried male zone and appendix often remaining, as well as dried spathe. Berries 1- or 2-seeded, at first green, at maturity turning blue and finally violet, at apex with dried style and stigma remaining. Fl. Apr–May.
Shaded places in primary, evergreen or mixed evergreen/deciduous forests, on metamorphic bedrock, in rich soils, or secondary forests, thickets, forest margins; 100–3300 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [Laos, N Thailand, N Vietnam].
??vernacular name
Tuber subglobose or depressed-globose, ca. 12 cm high, to ca. 14 cm in diam., producing short, globose offsets. Leaf unknown. Inflorescence long pedunculate; peduncle ca. 56 cm long, 1.5–2.3 cm in diam., glabrous, pale green with a few blackish green, small, oblong spots, more near base. Spathe erect, outside green, inside dark purple, ovate, ca. 20 × 15 cm, base shortly convolute; limb outside green, inside pale green, base within slightly papillose, apex acute and with involute margins. Spadix sessile, shorter than spathe, ca. 14 cm; female zone ca. 2.5 cm long, ca. 2 cm in diam.; male zone ca. 3.5 cm long, ca. 2.2 cm in diam.; sterile zone between male and female zones ca. 2 cm long, ca. 2.5 cm in diam., entirely staminodial, staminodes congested; appendix cylindric, ca. 5.5 cm long, ca. 2.2 cm in diam., base rugulose, apex acute and papillate, remaining surface glabrous. Ovaries green, ovoid, ca. 2.5 mm in diam., 2-loculed; style pale green, ca. 1.5 mm; stigma brown, depressed, shallowly 3- or 4-lobed. Stamens ca. 1 mm, subglobose, pores apical. Staminodes yellow, fusiform, ca. 6 mm long, ca. 5 mm in diam.
* Secondary forests and shrubs in valleys; 800–1800 m. S Yunnan (Jinping).
Species incertae sedis
The holotype material was destroyed and Engler’s protolog does not give enough clues as to the identity of the species to which the name refers. It is no doubt a member of the Amorphophallus yunnanensis-alliance but the differences between species recognized in this group are too subtle to leave room for any guessing about the identity of A. stipitatus. So as not to confuse matters, this name is here treated as of uncertain identity.
The authors consider this name not established because the requirement of Art. 36 (ICBN, 2006 "Vienna Code") is not fulfilled. The prolog given by Tao is a mixture of Latin and English. The code requires “a Latin diagnosis” and not a mixture of one or more modern languages. Dan Nicolson is of the opinion that a percentage of non-Latin is admissible (pers. comm.); a similar view was held by Dick Brummitt and David Boufford (pers. comm.; for further discussions see Plant Press 45, Jan. 1994 and Plant Press 45, Feb. 1994). We consider the discussion about the acceptance of a percentage of non-Latin in a diagnosis where “a Latin diagnosis” is required quite disturbing, especially since non-English users of ICBN will not be able to read between subtle English lines. ICBN must be unambiguous at an international level and the phrase “a Latin diagnosis” should be clear to all to mean that it means 100% in Latin. We consider this phrase to have that meaning. We, therefore, consider the name A. tienmushanensis an invalid name. The name is however accepted in Index Kewensis [and/or do you mean IPNI??] but we consider this an ill-advised entry.
½®ÄÏÐÇÊô jiang nan xing shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Herbs, tuberous. Cataphylls several. Leaves 2, simple; petiole sheathing; leaf blade hastate-sagittate or sagittate. Inflorescences 1(or 2), pedunculate; peduncle long or short. Spathe ultimately marcescent, convolute, base (tube) separated from limb by a constriction; spathe tube oblong or ovate; limb initially erect, cymbiform, concave or arched, later flopping forward or actively reflexing, ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate. Spadix sessile, shorter than to subequalling spathe; female flower zone cylindric; male flower zone shorter; sterile flowers (staminodes) usually present between female and male zones and also above male zone; appendix dark purple or yellow, cylindric-conic, cylindric, or clavate. Flowers unisexual, naked. Male flower: stamens 3 or 4, nearly tetragonal, short; connective convex; anthers obovoid, shorter than filaments, opening by an apical pore or longitudinal slit; sterile flowers ± thickened, verrucose, shortly conic, filiform, these between female and male zones recurved, and at upper part of male zone reflexed upward. Pistillate flower: ovary oblong, 1-loculed; stigma sessile; ovules few on 2 or 3 parietal placentas. Berries obovoid, few seeded. Seeds albuminous; embryo axile.
Twenty-eight species: N Africa, Europe, W Asia; one species in China.
[please insert key to species if 2 spp to be accepted. Boyce treats only 1 species]
½®ÄÏÐÇ jiang nan xing
Herbs, tuberous. Tuber depressed-globose, 4–7 cm wide, 2.5–3 cm thick. Petiole pale green with brownish green, rather diffuse, longitudinal stripes, terete, 12–35 cm long, 4–5 mm in diam.; leaf blade deep to mid-green, sagittate-hastate to oblong-sagittate, 8–16 cm long, 5–13 cm wide, apex acute to rather obtuse. Inflorescence not scented. Peduncle exceeding the leaves, mid-green, terete, 16–46 cm long, 5–7 mm in diam. Spathe exterior mid-green, interior white, 14–20 cm; tube oblong-cylindric, 3–3.7 cm long, 1.5–2 cm in diam., constricted apically; limb erect, externally mid-green, internally slightly paler with very faint purple flushing along outer 1/3 of limb, narrowly lanceolate, 11–17 cm long, 2.5–3 cm wide, acuminate. Spadix ca. 2/3 as long as spathe, 11–14 cm in total; appendix shortly and strongly stipitate, dull cream, heavily marbled with reddish brown, darkening to purplish brown in basal 1/3 stipe purple, cylindric-fusiform, 8.8–10 cm long, 6–8 mm in diam. Sterile flowers (staminodes) in 3 or 4 whorls, forming a zone 5–7 mm; bristles flexuous, pale purple, filiform, 3–4 mm; bases cream colored, compressed-conic, verrucose; lower 0–0.5 mm, cream colored, verrucose, with vestigial staminodes bases. Staminate flowers in a roughly quadratic zone 6–8 mm long, 5.5–7.5 mm in diam.; anthers and connectives mid-purple. Pistillodes in ca. 4 whorls, forming a zone 3.5–4.5 mm; bristles flexuous, pale purple, filiform, 2.5–3.5 mm; bases cream colored, bulbiform to conic, verrucose. Pistillate flowers in an oblong-cylindric cluster 12–15 mm long, 7–9 mm in diam., ovaries pale lime-green below, light green above, globose-oblong, 2.5–3 mm; stigma cream colored. Fruiting spike oblong-cylindric, 5–6 cm long, 2–2.5 cm wide; berries oblong-pyriform, 5–10 mm long, 3–4.5 mm in diam. Fl. Apr–May.
Soil pockets in rocky hillsides, beneath low scrub; 1100–2500 m. ?Xinjiang [Afghanistan; C Asia [??list adjacent C Asian countries – see FOC Guidelines], SW Asia (N Iran)].
The Chinese specimens were not seen by one of us (Boyce). The description is from P. Boyce (The Genus Arum 141–142. 1993).
As reported in The Genus Arum, (P. Boyce), Arum jacquemontii has a wide distribution, occurring from Iran through Afghanistan and northern India to China (map 17). Arum korolkowii as reported in FRPS is, in fact, A. jacquemontii.
??Chinese name
Arum griffithii Schott.
Herbs, tuberous, sprouting in late autumn from a discoid, vertically orientated tuber 2–5 cm across, 2–2.5 cm thick. Petiole mid-green, stained dull purple, terete, 10.5–28 cm long, 2.5–4.4 mm wide. Leaf blade dark to mid-green, sagittate to sagittate-hastate, 11–30 × 4–12 cm, apex acute. Inflorescence not scented. Peduncle exceeding leaves, pale green below, deep green above, terete, 11–32 cm long, 5–7 mm wide. Spathe 12–22 cm; tube exterior green, interior white, oblong-cylindric, 2.5–4 cm long, 1.2–1.6 cm wide, slightly constricted apically; limb erect at first but soon flopping forward, externally mid-green with faint purple staining, internally dull purple, deeper along middle, brownish purple to purple apically, paler below, narrowly lanceolate, 9–18 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, acuminate. Spadix 2/3–3/4 as long as spathe limb, 9–20 cm in total length; appendix dull yellow to orange-brown, purple or brownish purple, base paler, cylindric, tapering basally, 6–17 cm long, 3–7 mm wide. Staminodes in 2 or 3 whorls forming a zone 3–5 mm; bristles flexuous, glossy deep violet, filiform, 2–2.5 mm; bases dark purple, barely conic, verrucate. Interstices: upper 1.5–2 mm, cream colored, smooth; lower 2.5–3 mm, cream colored, longitudinally ridged. Staminate flowers in an oblong zone 6–7 × 4–5 mm; anthers and connectives maroon. Pistillodes in 3 or 4 whorls forming a zone 3–4 mm; bristles glossy deep violet, subulate-filiform, 3–4.5 mm; bases dark purple, bulbiform, verrucate. Pistillate flowers in an oblong-cylindric cluster 15–17 mm long, 5–6 mm wide; ovaries pale greenish yellow, oblong, 2–3 mm; stigma pale grayish mauve. Infructescence cylindric, 4–4.5 cm long, 1.8–22 cm wide; berries oblong, 4–9 mm long, 3–4 mm wide. Fl. Apr–May.
Among rocks in damp soil pockets and crevices, occasionally along damp field edges; 1600–3650 m. Xinjiang [Afghanistan, N India, Nepal, N Pakistan; SW Asia (N Iran)].
Although similar to Arum korolkowii, A. jacquemontii is readily distinguished by its dull purple, not striped petioles, the purple spathe limb, longer spadix appendix and purple, not green, staminode and pistillode bases. Further, the pollen exine of A. jacquemontii is spinulose and not scabrose as in A. korolkowii. Arum jacquemontii grows further south and east, and at higher elevations than A. korolkowii.
??vernacular name
LI Heng; Wilbert L. A. Hetterscheid
Herbs, seasonally dormant. Underground part a long or short tuberous rhizome, or a depressed-globose tuber. Leaves entire, sagittate-hastate, 3-lobed or -partite to pedatisect. Inflorescence simultaneous with or preceding the leaves; peduncle short or long. Spathe divided into a strongly convolute basal portion with a ± strong apical constriction and a spreading lanceolate to ovate-triangular limb. Spadix ca. as long as or longer than spathe, with 4 zones: a lower pistillate zone, an intermediate sterile zone with staminodes all over or only at base, a staminate zone and an appendix that may be sessile or stipitate. Pistillate flowers 1-loculed with 1 or 2(or 3) basal ovules. Staminodes variable, spatulate to filamentous or variously reduced. Male flowers with 1–3 stamens opening by slits or pores, connective sometimes prolonged. Fruiting part with spathe remaining or caducous; berries ovoid, 1(or 2)-seeded; seeds albuminous.
??#worldwide and world distribution; 13 species recorded for China but expected to be a considerable underestimation in view of the high species numbers in adjacent Vietnam and Thailand (five endemic to China).
[Hetterscheid commented: The most frustrating thing is that this re-arrangement of Typhonium-Sauromatum based on molecular research hasn't had its taxonomic implications officially published yet, which results in strange separations between the genera in the FOC as it stands. I am trying to make a note for that in the flora. Is that o.k.? It may be that by the time the flora is published this whole taxonomic thing has settled and then we can easily but in a very late stage, remedy it. OR I must already make a version of the manuscript including the new taxonomy.........]
Recent molecular investigation of the tribe Areae suggests that Typhonium sensu Hetterscheid & Boyce (2000) is polyphyletic and several species (incl. several treated below) must be transferred to Sauromatum. The latter genus in its new monophyletic circumscription is shown not to be the direct sister genus to Typhonium, s. str. Sauromatum in the sense as here treated, with only three species, is paraphyletic.
1a. Sterile zone between male and female zones entirely covered by staminodial structures, with or without a grooved upper part.
2a. Spathe outside densely hirsute, staminodes numerous, crowded above female zone, clavate, upper part of sterile zone grooved; leaf blade pedate, densely hirsute .................................. 7. T. hirsutum
2b. Spathe outside smooth; leaf blade smooth.
3a. Lower staminodes distant, spatulate, horizontal, upper part upcurved; upper staminodes few or absent, terete or aristate, downcurved; spathe base outside angulate; appendix flagelliform, base often fusiform and deeply grooved .............................................................................. 5. T. flagelliforme
3b. Lower staminodes clavate or terete.
4a. Appendix shortly stipitate, diam. equal to male zone or less ...................... 8. T. horsfieldii
4b. Appendix contiguous with male zone, base truncate with diam. larger than male zone.
5a. Underground part a short, thick rhizome; leaf blade entire, ovate or cordate to hastate, to 45 cm 6. T. giganteum
5b. Underground part a depressed-globose tuber; leaf blade very variable, simple, ovate-lanceolate, cuneate or hastate or 3–5-lobed, or pedatisect with 5–9 lobes, to 21 cm 4. T. diversifolium
1b. Sterile zone between male and female zones largely smooth and terete, except for lower part carrying staminodes.
6a. Staminodes vermiform, thin, long, irregularly curving and twisting in all directions.
7a. Staminodes numerous, lower ones covering most of female zone, spathe limb broadly triangular, underground part a short, tuberous rhizome ................................... 12. T. trilobatum
7b. Staminodes few, female zone readily visible, spathe limb lanceolate, underground part a long cylindric [??long, cylindric OR narrowly cylindric] rhizome ............... 9. T. hunanense
6b. Staminodes different, when filiform then not curving in all directions.
8a. Spathe limb broadly triangular, or basal part triangular and upper part lanceolate, purple.
9a. Basal part of spathe limb triangular, upper part narrowed, lanceolate; leaf entire, linear or deeply 3-lobed, lobes linear ..................................................... 11. T. trifoliatum
9b. Spathe limb broadly triangular, not narrowed to apex; leaf entire, triangular to triangular-hastate or triangular-sagittate or ± deeply 3-lobed, lobes ovate or ovate-lanceolate.
10a. Staminodes downcurved ........................................................ 13. T. roxburghii
10b. Staminodes upcurved ..................................................................... 3. T. blumei
8b. Spathe limb lanceolate, pale purple or ± cream colored.
11a. Staminodes all directed vertical, parallel to spadix axis ....... 1. T. albidinervum
11b. Staminodes at least partly oblique or horizontally spreading.
12a. Staminodial flowers present just below base of appendix, a naked axis part between these and male zone, staminodes above female flowers 3–4 mm 2. T. baoshanense
12b. Staminodes absent above male zone, staminodes above female zone 6–7 mm 10. T. jinpingense
??chinese name
Underground part a short tuberous rhizome, ca. 2 cm, producing annual offsets. Petiole pale green or pale dull brownish, 15–25 cm; leaf blade ovate-cordate to ovate-hastate, 4–13 × 3.5–8 cm, base cordate, apex acute. Peduncle 2–5 cm. Spathe outside yellowish green, with reddish stripes and spots, inside ± cream colored, base ovoid or conical, 1.5–1.8 cm long, 1–1.2 cm in diam., distinctly constricted at apex; limb arching forward, purplish brown or pale brown outside, dark to pale brown inside, margins sometimes ± cream colored, apex pale green, ovate-lanceolate, 9–15 cm, ca. 1.5 cm wide at base, tapering to apex. Spadix ca. as long as spathe; female zone conical, 3–4 mm long, 3–4 mm in diam. at base; sterile zone 1.3–2.5 cm, with 2 or 3 whorls of staminodes at base, the rest naked and terete; male zone cylindric, 5–6 mm long, 2–3.5 mm in diam.; appendix brownish purple or pale brown, filiform, 9–16 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam. at base. Ovaries pale green, broadly cylindric, ca. 1 mm; stigma sessile. Anthers yellow; staminodes solitary or 2 or 3 fused with their bases, ± cream colored to yellowish, base violet or dark pink, fusiform-clavate, 3–4 mm. Infructescence obconical, with spathe base persistent; berries pale green, obconic, ca. 6 mm. Fl. May.
Guangdong, Hainan; introduced in Guangdong and Yunnan gardens [N Thailand].
??chinese name
Underground part a short tuberous rhizome, irregularly shaped, ca. 3 cm long, ca. 2 cm in diam., developing several small globose offsets with leaves. Petiole greenish, 8–14 cm, smooth; leaf blade 2–10 × 2–10 cm, variable, ovate, hastate, sagittate to 3-lobed, deeply cordate at base, apex acute, lateral lobes (when present) ovate-oblong, ca. 4.5 × 3 cm. Inflorescence appearing with the leaves; peduncle whitish, hidden in the soil, 1.3–4.5 cm. Spathe pale green outside, [??]ca. 18 cm long, ca. 2 cm long and ca. 1.5 cm in diam., base ellipsoid; limb purple on both surfaces, margins and upper part pale green, lanceolate, to 15 × ca. 3 cm, base convolute, tapering to apex. Spadix sessile, ca. as long as spathe or slightly longer, 18–20 cm; female zone conic, ca. 5 mm long and ca. 7 mm in diam. at base; sterile zone to 2.5 cm, basal part with staminodes, the rest naked, terete; male zone cylindric, ca. 5 mm long and ca. 3 mm in diam.; appendix dark purple, filiform, ca. 14.5 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam. at base, base with 2 verticils of dysfunctional stamens. Ovary yellowish, ovoid; stigma brown. Stamens yellow; anthers subsessile. Sterile male flower at base of appendix subglobose or fusiform, without pollen; anthers yellow, connective purple. Staminodes yellow, fusiform, 3–4 mm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., obtuse. Fl. Jun–Jul. 2n=10
* Ca. 1700 m. Yunnan (Baihualing, Baoshan).
??chinese name
Underground part a broad and flattened rhizome, to 5 cm long, to 1.8 cm high, to 2.5 cm in diam., producing numerous, small, fusiform offsets. Petiole green, 20–40 cm; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, entire, cordate-hastate, ovate or deltoid in outline, 7–10 × 7–9 cm, terminal lobe ovate, basal lobes ovate to deltoid. Inflorescence appearing alongside the leaves; peduncle pale green, 9–11 cm. Spathe green, base convolute, ellipsoid to ovoid, 1.6–4 cm long, 8–15 mm in diam., distinctly constricted at apex; limb spreading, inside greenish purple to dark purple, ovate, 12–18 × 4–5 cm, long cuspidate. Spadix erect, subequalling spathe; female zone conic, 1.5–3 mm long, 3–4 mm in diam. at base; male zone 4–9 mm, anthers orange; sterile zone 1.7–4 cm, lower 7–8 mm covered with densely congested staminodes, rest naked, terete; appendix narrowly conical, 10–13 cm, basal part corrugate, upper part smooth, tapering to sharply acute apex, base truncate or obliquely truncate, usually with a stipe 5–7 mm. Ovary cream colored; stigma sessile, reddish or pale pinkish. Staminodes ascending or variously curved, yellow or lower part reddish, narrowly fusiform, ca. 4 mm. Stamens yellow, subsessile. Fl. May–Jul. 2n = 52.
Croplands, grasslands, in between rocks; below 1200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam; introduced into Nepal, Philippines, Pacific islands; Africa, Neotropics].
??chinese name
Typhonium austrotibeticum H. Li; T. diversifolium var. huegelianum (Schott) Engler; T. foliolosum (Schott) Engler; T. huegelianum Schott.
Underground part a subglobose tuber, 1–1.5 cm high, 0.5–1.2 cm in diam., producing annual offsets. Petiole 10–30 cm; leaf blade simple and ovate-lanceolate, 2–22 × 1–25 cm, cuneate to hastate, 3–5-lobed or pedately 5–9-sect, lobes elliptic to linear. Inflorescence appearing just before or alongside the leaves; peduncle 3–14 cm. Spathe base oblong-ovoid, 2–4 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam.; limb outside green, sometimes flushed with purple or purple all over, inside dark purple or greenish with dark purple veins and flushes, oblong-lanceolate, 4–13 × 2–5 cm, acuminate to shortly caudate. Spadix shorter than spathe, 4–12 cm; female zone cylindrical, 0.5–1.5 cm long, 4–7 mm in diam.; sterile zone 1–3 cm, base swollen and with long staminodes, rest fusiform, with verrucate staminodial structures; male zone cylindrical, 0.6–1.3 cm long, 1.5–7 mm in diam.; appendix blackish purple, broadly to narrowly cylindric, 1–7 cm long, 2–8 mm in diam., obtuse or subacute. Ovaries lower half white, upper half purple, ellipsoid; stigma sessile, white. Lower staminodes clavate, with only upper part distinctly and abruptly swollen, basal part filiform, whitish with purple flushes, clavate part yellow with a purple tip or purple; staminodial structures consisting of narrowly elliptical, shallow ridges with verrucate-corrugate surface, white, pale purple, or violet.
Open grasslands, meadows, alpine, damp, open ground; [2290 m in Bhutan] 3300–3700 m. W Sichuan, Xizang (Jilong), Yunnan (Dayao, Santai Xiang) [Bhutan, Cambodia, NE and NW India, Myanmar, Nepal].
??chinese name
Typhonium cuspidatum (Blume) Decaisne.
Underground part a short tuberous rhizome, depressed[-??], 1–2 cm. Petiole green, 15–30 cm; leaf blade 5–25 × 0.5–18 cm, extremely variable, linear, lanceolate, elliptic, or hastate with spreading basal lobes. Inflorescence appearing alongside the leaves; peduncle 5–20 cm, thin. Spathe green, base convolute, ovoid, globose, or depressed, 1.5–3.5 × 1.2–2 cm, constricted at apex, outside with one or a few keels; limb green on both sides or base flushed with purple, 7.5–25 cm, basal part convolute, tubular, upper part expanded and sharply flexed horizontally, lanceolate, tapering to long acuminate apex. Spadix shorter, ca. as long as or slightly longer than spathe; female zone subcylindric, slightly fusiform, 1.5–1.8 cm long, 8–10 mm in diam.; male zone ca. 5 mm; sterile zone 1–2 cm, entirely covered with staminodes, these distant; appendix subsessile, 16–17 cm, base swollen and often deeply grooved, upper part filiform, erect, horizontal, or downcurved. Ovaries pale green, elongate, angulate. Staminodes dimorphic; lower ones ca. 6 mm, with a horizontal white base, upper part sharply upcurved, spatulate-linguiform and with or without a purple apex; upper staminodes downcurved, white, subulate, aristate. Berries pale greenish, 2- or 3-seeded. Fl. Apr–May.
In shallow water by streams, water fields [??rice paddies or ??ponds], moist meadows; sea level to 400 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, SE Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, NE and S India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, N Thailand; N Australia].
??chinese name
Typhonium giganteum var. giraldii Baroni; T. giraldii (Baroni) Engler; T. stoliczkae Engler.
Underground part a rhizome, 5–8 cm long, 2–5 cm in diam., producing numerous annual fusiform offsets. Petiole green, with or without numerous purple spots, 20–60 cm; leaf blade ovate, cordate to hastate, 15–45 × 9–25 cm, margin entire, apex acuminate. Inflorescence preceding or simultaneous with the leaves; peduncle 13–17 cm. Spathe erect, base convolute, oblong-ovate, 4–8 cm; limb erect or recurved, ovate, to 15 cm, margin sinuous, apex acuminate. Spadix sessile or nearly so, slightly shorter than spathe, to 14 cm; female zone cylindric, 1–1.5 cm long, ca. 8 mm in diam.; sterile zone 2–3 cm, covered by distant staminodes of different types; male zone ca. 2 cm long, ca. 8 mm in diam.; appendix sessile, cylindric, to 6 cm long, ca. 5 mm in diam. at base, base slightly attenuate, apex obtuse. Ovary basal part whitish, upper part purple, cylindric, apex truncate, 2-ovuled; stigma sessile, gray, disciform. Male flowers sessile; anthers ± cream colored, with pinkish flushes, ovoid, opening by apical pore. Lower staminodes with clavate upper part, middle ones with subulate upper parts, upper ones with upper part reduced to a stump. Fruiting part elongate, naked, ca. 5 cm long, ca. 3 cm in diam.; berries crowded, violet-purple, keeled, apex acute. Fl. Jul.
* Grasslands, field sides, streamsides, grassy slopes; below 1500 m. Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, S Xizang; cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Jilin, and Yunnan as a medicinal plant.
??chinese name
Arisaema hirsutum S. Y. Hu, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23: 454. 1968.
Herbs, cormous, with single-celled hairs ca. 0.5 mm. Underground part a depressed-globose tuber, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam., producing numerous annual, subglobose, angulate offsets. Petiole 20–25 cm; leaf blade pedately 5–7-foliolate; leaflets almost sessile; terminal leaflet elliptic, 7–31 × 2.5–10 cm, apex acuminate; lateral leaflets elliptic, oblique at base, outermost one ca. 2/3 the length of terminal one. Inflorescence appearing alongside first developing leaf; peduncle very short, 1–1.5 cm. Spathe hirsute outside, smooth inside; basal part convolute but lower 1 cm with fused margin, ca. 4 cm long, ca. 2 cm in diam., slightly constricted at apex; limb laterally incurved, lanceolate-ovate, 8–13 × 5–8 cm. Spadix shorter than spathe; female zone broadly cylindric-conical, to 6.5 mm long, to 10 mm in diam.; sterile zone to 3.5 cm, lower 0.5–1 cm densely covered with staminodes, rest naked, grooved; male zone 1–1.7 cm long, ca. 0.8 cm in diam.; appendix sessile or subsessile, brown or grayish brown, narrowly conical, to 10.5 cm long, to 6 mm in diam. at base, base truncate. Ovary subcylindric, 1-loculed, with 2 or 3 ovules; stigma white or ± cream colored, disciform. Lower staminodes pale pinkish purple or dark brownish purple, clavate, to 7 mm, apex obtuse. Infructescence naked, globose, to 4 cm in diam. Berries with distinct angulate upper part, ca. 1 cm long, ca. 0.5 cm in diam., style remnant sharply acute, ca. 1 mm. Fl. May, fr. Jul.
Secondary evergreen forests, tea plantations; 500–1100 m. S Yunnan [N Thailand].
??chinese name
Sauromatum horsfieldii Miquel, Fl. Ned. Ind. 3: 196. [??year]; Arisaema submonoicum Gagnepain; Typhonium calcicolum C. Y. Wu ex H. Li, Y. Shiao & S. L. Tseng; T. hongyanense Z. Y. Zhu; T. fallax N. E. Brown; T. kerrii Gagnepain; T. kunmingense H. Li; T. kunmingense var. alatum H. Li ex H. Peng & S. Z. He; T. kunmingense var. cerebriforme H. Li ex H. Peng & S. Z. He; T. larsenii S. Y. Hu; T. omeiense H. Li; T. pedatum Schott; T. pedatum (Schott) Engler, (comb. illeg. non Schott).
Underground part a subglobose to depressed-globose tuber, producing annual offsets. Petiole variable in color, uniform, striped, or spotted, ranging from green to purple, 35–60 cm; leaf blade adaxially mid to dark rich velvety green, with or without reddish main vein or splashed with golden spots along main vein, abaxially pale to gray-green, sometimes with scattered reddish purple spots, pedatisect, with 7–13 lobes; lobes elliptic to lanceolate, margin flat or sinuous, entire or occasionally crenate, apex acute. Peduncle 4.5–20 cm. Spathe outside pale or mid green, dull mid to dark brown, with or without a few reddish or blackish brown spots or stripes, inside white or whitish green, base convolute, ovoid, occasionally with one or a few shallow keels, apex ± constricted; limb slightly arching, outside pale or mid green, dirty greenish, dirty pale brownish, with or without a few indistinct darker spots, inside whitish, pale green, with or without a few scattered blackish purple spots, ovate to oblong-ovate, cymbiform, 6–17 × 4–6 cm, often keeled at midrib, acuminate to caudate. Spadix shorter than spathe; female zone cylindric or slightly conical, 2.5–10 mm long, 4–8 mm in diam.; sterile zone narrowly fusiform-conical, 2–6 cm long, 3–7 mm in diam. at base, entirely covered by staminodes; male zone cylindrical, 6–10 mm long, 2–7 mm in diam., upper flowers often sterile and differently shaped; appendix subsessile or more distinctly stipitate, cream colored or more rarely grayish brown with purple spots, cylindric or rarely fusiform, 1.5–4.5 cm long, 2–6 mm in diam., slightly tapering to obtuse apex, smooth or strongly corrugate, base attenuate to stipe; stipe sometimes ridged-verrucate. Ovary ovoid to oblong-ovoid, 1-loculed, 1- or 2-ovuled; stigma very small, in a depression of apex of ovary or ringlike surrounding depression. Male flowers white, upper ones often sterile and subclavate to spatulate or occasionally aristate. Lower staminodes with rhombic, flat base and aristate to clavate process, latter strongly bent upward, white, clavate part yellowish white or occasionally dark red; subbasal staminodes exclusively aristate, strongly pointing upward parallel to spadix axis, ± cream colored; upper staminodes fused into vertical ridges with numerous, irregular short processes, often arranged in ridges, white. Fruiting part with spathe base remaining; berries pale green when mature, obovoid to ellipsoid, corrugate and shallowly grooved.
Evergreen, bamboo, or secondary forests, grasslands, between rocks; 100–3100 m. Guangxi, Guizhou (Anshun, Majo, Qianxi), Sichuan, NE, SE, and W Yunnan; Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
??chinese name
Rhizome cylindric, 3–6 cm long, 4–10 mm in diam., usually curved and branched. Petiole 11–26 cm; leaf blade green, sometimes purple, oblong-sagittate to ovate, upper part ovate, 6–14 × 5–6 cm, base cordate or truncate, apex abruptly acuminate or acute; basal lobes, if present, spreading, ovate, deltoid, or oblong. Peduncle 6–9 cm, slender. Spathe yellowish, with purple spots, 6–10 cm, base convolute, ovoid, 2–3 cm, constricted at apex; limb spreading or slightly recurved, purple, lanceolate, 4–6 cm, long acuminate. Spadix shorter than spathe, 5–7 cm; female zone ca. 3 mm; sterile zone 1.5–2 cm, basal 5–7 mm with densely congested staminodes, rest naked; male zone cylindric, 6–8 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diam.; appendix sessile, erect, narrowly conical, 2–3.9 cm long, 3–4 mm in diam., base truncate. Ovaries subglobose, 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; stigma subsessile, violet. Staminodes variously curled, filiform, 3–4 mm. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun.
* Bamboo forests, thickets; ca. 100 m. Hunan.
??chinese name
Underground part a short, tuberous rhizome, 2–2.5 cm long, 0.7–1 cm in diam., producing annual offsets. Petiole green, 10–17 cm long, ca. 0.1 cm in diam., smooth; leaf blade cordate, 5–8 × 4–10 cm, base usually cordate-hastate or deeply cordate. Peduncle ca. 1 cm. Spathe pale green, dark purple at apex, base ovoid, ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 0.5 cm in diam.; limb slightly arching, whitish with purple base, narrowly lanceolate, ca. 11 cm long, ca. 1 cm wide at base, apex long acuminate. Spadix slightly longer than spathe, to ca. 14 cm; female zone ca. 0.5 cm; sterile zone ca. 2.4 cm, densely covered with staminodes at base, rest naked; male zone ca. 0.5 cm; appendix erect, purple, cylindrical, ca. 10 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam. Ovary with short style and dark purple stigma; male flowers yellow. Staminodes erect or spreading, yellowish, clavate, 6–7 mm. Fl. late Apr–Aug.
* Yunnan (Jinping).
??chinese name
Underground part a short, tuberous rhizome, ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 1.2 cm in diam. Petiole 6–12 cm; leaf blade rarely entire and then linear, usually deeply 3-lobed or 3-partite; segments sessile, linear; terminal segment 8–10 cm × 3–8 mm, acuminate; lateral segments horizontally spreading, 1.7–4.5 cm × 3–4 mm. Inflorescence appearing after the leaves; peduncle 8–10 cm. Spathe dark purple, base convolute, ovoid, ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 1.2 cm in diam., apex constricted; limb ovate-lanceolate, ca. 17 cm long, 5–6 cm in diam., upper half narrowed, linear, recurved. Spadix shorter than spathe, 13–17 cm; female zone ca. 5 mm; sterile zone ca. 1.4 cm, lower 1–2 mm covered with staminodes, rest naked; male zone 8–18 mm; appendix shortly stipitate, suberect, 10–13 cm, base swollen, 3–5 mm in diam., base subtruncate. Ovaries ovoid, 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; stigma disciform. Staminodes downcurved, filiform. Berries ovoid, 1-seeded. Fl. and fr. Jul–Aug.
* Hebei, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shanxi.
??chinese name
Arum trilobatum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 965. 1753.
Underground part a short, tuberous rhizome, subglobose or subcylindric, producing few annual offsets or splitting up. Petiole green or variously flushed with purple, 25–40 cm; leaf blade cordate-ovate in outline, usually deeply 3-lobed, rarely 5-lobed; central lobe ovate, 10–15 × 6–11 cm, acuminate, sometimes mucronate; lateral lobes 8–13 cm. Inflorescence appearing after the leaves; peduncle 5–10 cm, elongating in fruit. Spathe outside green, inside green, to 30 cm, base convolute, ovoid or ellipsoid, 2.5–3.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam., constricted at apex; limb spreading, outside green, inside dark purple to reddish purple, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 15 × 5–8 cm, acuminate. Spadix shorter than spathe; female zone slightly conical, 7–10 mm; sterile zone 2–3 cm, lower half densely covered with staminodes, upper half naked; male zone 1.5–2 cm; appendix shortly stipitate, glossy purple or reddish, narrowly conical, 5–12 cm long, 4–7 mm in diam., base truncate, apex acute or subacute. Ovary yellowish green; stigma sessile, dark or mid purple, disciform. Stamens pink. Staminodes strongly curled but mostly directed downward and covering most of female zone, filiform, 7–12 mm. Fruiting part with spathe remaining; berries at first green with purple spots, white when mature, ellipsoid, 1- or 2-seeded. Fl. May–Jul.
Tropical secondary forests, thickets, grasslands, roadsides; below 700 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka; introduced: W Borneo, Philippines, Singapore; W Africa, Neotropics, Trinidad].
??chinese name
Underground part a short, tuberous rhizome, subglobose or globose. Petiole 10–35 cm; leaf blade dark green adaxially, yellowish green abaxially, reniform-hastate, triangular in outline, shallowly or deeply 3-lobed; terminal lobe ovate, (5–)9–17 × 4–14 cm, acuminate; lateral lobes spreading, obliquely ovate or narrowly ovate. Inflorescence appearing after the leaves; peduncle creamy-red with dark purple dots, 2–9 cm. Spathe outside whitish or pale green with purple striae, inside purple, base ovoid, 2–3.5 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam.; limb outside purplish mixed with dirty green flushes or striae, or purple all over, inside deep rich purple, ovate-lanceolate, abruptly tapering from below middle, usually twisted at tip, 13–15 × ca. 5 cm. Spadix subequaling spathe; female zone 4–5.5 mm; sterile zone 1.5–2.2 cm, lower 5–7 mm densely covered with staminodes, rest naked; male zone 7–12 mm; appendix dark purple, narrowly conical, 12–15 cm long, 3–4 mm in diam. at base, base truncate with a pale red stipe ca. 2 mm. Ovaries white or yellowish, ovoid; stigma purple, 1-loculed, 1-ovuled. Male flowers consisting of 2 or 3 stamens, yellow; anthers sessile, opening with apical pore. Staminodes downcurved, yellow or pale yellow, subcylindric, 8–9 mm, acute. Berries pale green at first, white when mature, ovoid or ellipsoid, 1-seeded. Fl. and fr. May–Aug.
Yunnan (introduced?) [S India, C and S Malesia, Sri Lanka; introduced: NE India, New Guinea, Philippines; E Africa, Australia, South America].
??chinese name
LI Heng; Wilbert L. A. Hetterscheid
Herbs, seasonally dormant; underground part a depressed-globose tuber. Leaves long petiolate, pedatifid. Inflorescence appearing before or simultaneous with the first emerging leaf, shortly pedunculate. Spathe divided in a lower, closed basal part, constricted at apex; limb lanceolate. Spadix sessile or shortly stipitate, ca. as long as spathe, with 4 zones; a lower pistillate zone, an intermediate sterile zone with staminodes all over or only at base, a staminate zone and a filiform, or cylindric appendix. Ovaries 1-loculed; stigma sessile, disc-shaped; ovules basal, 2–4, erect. Male flower consisting of 1 or 2 stamens; anthers sessile, connective thin, cells dehiscing by terminal pores. Lower staminodes clavate, upper staminodes (when present) ridge-shaped with numerous irregular, flaky warts. Fruiting part naked (S. venosum); berries purple (S. venosum), obpyramidal, rugose, apex concave; seeds globose, apex acute, albuminous.
Three species in China (with Sauromatum interpreted in the strict sense) (one endemic).
1a. Sterile zone above lower staminodes ridged-grooved, upper ridges smooth or more basal ones with broadly conical projection in their lower half; spathe to 80 cm, limb inside with ± cream colored background almost entirely covered by numerous, orbicular, confluent dark purple spots to entirely dark purple .............................................................................................................. 1. S. venosum
1b. Sterile zone above lower staminodes ridged-grooved, all ridges with numerous, irregular, flaky verrucae throughout or lower ones with irregularly curved bristles, upper ones with irregular small warts throughout, spathe at most ca. 4 cm, inside ± cream colored.
2a. Ridges on sterile zone with numerous, irregular, flaky verrucae throughout; spathe limb lanceolate 2. S. brevipes
2b. Lower ridges on sterile zone in their lower part with a variously curved bristle, upper grooves with irregular small warts; spathe limb narrowly oblong-elliptical .................... 3. S. gaoligongense
??chinese name
Arum venosum Aiton, Hort. Kew 3: 315. 1789; Desmesia venosa (Aiton) Rafinesque; Jaimenostia fernandopoana Guinea & Gómez Moreno; Sauromatum abyssinicum Schott; S. angolense N. E. Brown; S. guttatum (Wallich) Schott; S. guttatum var. pulchrum (Miquel) Engler; S. guttatum var. simlense (Schott) Engler; S. guttatum var. venosum (Aiton) Engler; S. nubicum Schott; S. nubicum var. angolense (N. E. Brown) Engler; S. pulchrum Miquel; S. punctatum K. Koch; S. simlense Schott; Typhonium venosum (Aiton) Hetterscheid & P. C. Boyce.
Tuber depressed-globose, to ca. 9 cm high and ca. 15 cm in diam., producing numerous annual offsets, these globose or depressed-globose. Petiole yellowish green, with rounded purplish brown spots, 20–100 cm; leaf blade 9–11-pedatifid; central lobe oblong or oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, 10–40 × 4–20 cm, acuminate; lateral leaflets elliptic, gradually smaller toward distal end of rachis. Inflorescence appearing before the leaves; peduncle greenish white, with or without a few brown spots, 3–7 cm, sometimes elongating during fruiting. Spathe base outside dull dark violet, inside rich reddish purple, ellipsoid, 5–10 cm long, 2–4 cm in diam.; limb base convolute, ca. 10 cm, upper part outside as base but slightly darker and a few violet longitudinal stripes, inside ground color yellowish, almost entirely covered by numerous, orbicular to elliptic, confluent dark purple spots, lanceolate, 30–70 × 8–10 cm, acuminate. Spadix slightly shorter or ca. as long as spathe; female zone subcylindric, 2–2.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam.; sterile zone 8–8.5 cm, lower 2–2.5 cm sparsely covered with long staminodes, upward grooved and with a few distant conical projections, lower part whitish, upper part pale brownish violet; male zone 1–2 cm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam.; appendix at first erect, finally recurved, pale brown to pale violet or lead colored, terete, to 30 cm long, ca. 1 cm in diam. at base, obtuse. Ovaries violet or pale purple, obovoid, 2–4-ovuled. Staminodes yellow, clavate, 4–10 mm. Stamens yellow. Fruiting part globose or subcylindric, naked, to ca. 9 cm in diam.; berries crowded, bright purple, cylindric, 5–10 mm long, 2–4 mm in diam., angulate, apex truncate. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jul.
Primary evergreen forests, meadows by rivers, secondary thickets, path sides; 1300–2000 m. Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, NE and NW India, Myanmar, Nepal; introduced: Africa].
??chinese name
Typhonium brevipes J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 6: 511. 1893.
Tuber globose, 1–1.5 cm in diam., producing numerous, tiny, annual bulbils. Petiole pinkish or dull purplish red, 15–30 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam.; leaf blade adaxially green, 5–9-pedatifid; lobes ± fused at base; central lobe linear-lanceolate or narrowly elliptical, 6.5–25 × 1–5 cm, margin undulate, with or without a purple midrib; outermost lobes progressively smaller. Inflorescence(s) appearing alongside developing leaves; peduncle pale, 2–2.5 cm, green. Spathe base outside ochre or yellow-brown with purple spots or faint pinkish spots, inside ± cream colored or dark pink, closed, subglobose, 1.4–3.5 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam.; limb inside ± cream colored with a purple zone at top[??apex or adaxially], base partly closed, partly convolute, margins sinuous, upper part arching and twisting, outside and inside as spathe base, or grayish, lanceolate, 10–15 × 1.2–2 cm. Spadix: ca. as long as spathe; female zone subcylindric, ca. 6 mm; sterile zone 4–6 mm, with a few staminodes at base, rest grooved-ridged and set with irregular, pale purple warts; male zone 3–5 mm; appendix pink to yellow, with or without a pinkish base, slender, filiform, 5–14 cm long, 0.6–3 mm in diam. at base, obtuse. Ovaries green or ± cream colored, depressed-obovoid, 2-ovuled. Staminodes clavate, ca. 4 mm. Fl. Jun.
Mountain grasslands; 1500–2700 m. S Xizang [Bangladesh, India (Sikkim), Nepal].
??name
Typhonium gaoligongense (Z. L. Wang & H. Li) Hetterscheid & P. C. Boyce.
Tuber depressed-globose, ca. 2 cm high, 2.5–3.5 cm in diam., producing several annual offsets. Petiole uniformly green or dark purple, to 40 cm, lower part often developing intercalary, irregular bulbils; leaf blade deeply 5–13-pedatifid; central lobe elliptic to obovate, to 12 × 5 cm; lateral lobes progressively smaller. Inflorescence appearing before leaves; peduncle largely subterraneous, yellowish green with a few scattered purple spots, 4–5 cm long, 3–6 mm in diam. Spathe outside purplish brown, inside whitish, base closed, triangular-ovate, to 3 cm long, to 2.8 cm in diam., tapering to constricted apex; limb outside brownish purple with a few darker spots, inside pale purple, narrowly oblong, lower part strongly convolute, ca. 7 × 2.5 cm, slightly arching, long acuminate. Spadix shorter than spathe, ca. 6 cm; female zone cylindric, ca. 4 mm long, 5–6 mm in diam.; sterile zone narrowly conical, ca. 3 cm, carrying staminodes in lower half, these upward progressively shorter and finally disappearing, upper part grooved, verruculose; male zone oblong, ca. 1 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam.; appendix stipitate, clavate, ca. 1.6 cm, apex narrowly fusiform-conical, rugose. Ovaries obovoid, 1-loculed, 2-ovuled. Male flowers 1-staminate, purple, pores apical. Staminodes clavate, upward changing to aristate and upcurved.
* Broad-leaved evergreen forests, shaded ravines; ca. 2200 m. W Yunnan (Gaoligong Mountains (endemic), Baoshan, Longling, Tengchong).
In all respects, this species is similar to Typhonium horsfieldii except for the closed spathe base.
??chinese name ban xia shu
LI Heng; Josef Bogner
Atherurus Blume, Rumphia 1: 135. 1837 (1835), nom. rej.; Hemicarpurus Nees.
Herbs, perennial, seasonally dormant; tuber cormlike, subglobose or rhizome cylindrical; tubercles usually formed around main tuber, on tuber around base area of petioles, or at rhizome ends; bulbils usually at lower, middle, or upper portion of petioles, sometimes at both petiole and at base of leaf blade. Leaves 1–5; petiole green, usually unspotted, sometimes spotted; sheath fairly long, very short, or nearly absent; bulbils present or absent; leaf blade simply cordate, ovate, oblong, deeply trifid, or trisect, or pedatisect; leaflets oblong-elliptic to ovate-oblong; primary lateral veins of leaf blade or of each leaflet pinnate, forming a submarginal collective vein, with 1 or 2 distinct marginal veins also present, higher order venation reticulate. Inflorescence solitary, appearing with leaves; peduncle green, shorter or slightly longer than petiole. Spathe persistent, slightly to strongly constricted between tube and blade except in P. pedatisecta; tube convolute, narrowly ellipsoid to ovate, almost closed within by a transverse septum, except in P. pedatisecta, gaping at base; limb arching, gaping, green to purple, oblong-elliptic, boat-shaped, ca. 2 × or more as long as tube. Spadix much longer than spathe; female zone adnate to spathe, separated from male zone by spathe septum, except in P. pedatisecta, and by short, free, naked portion of spadix axis; male zone free, cylindric, short; terminal sterile appendix long exserted from spathe, often sigmoid, narrowly subulate. Flowers unisexual, perigone absent; male flowers 1- or 2–4-androus; stamens sometimes united congenitally in pairs or groups of 4, short, laterally compressed; anthers sessile, connective slender, thecae ellipsoid, 2-celled, dehiscing by apical slit, rarely each pollen sac opening by a pore. Pollen extruded in amorphous mass, inaperturate, spherical or subspheroidal, small to medium sized, exine spinulose. Female flower (gynoecium, pistil) with ovary ovoid to ovoid-oblong, 1-loculed; ovule 1, orthotropous, funicle very short; placentation basal; stylar region attenuate; stigma small, hemispheric to discoid. Berries green, yellowish green, or whitish, oblong-ovoid; seeds obnapiform to ellipsoid; testa irregularly verrucose-rugulose or smooth; embryo axile, elongate, or very small and subglobose; endosperm copious. 2n = 26, 28, 52, 54, 72, 78, 104, 115, 116, 128.
Nine species: E Asia (China, Japan, and Korea), with its center of diversity in E China (Anhui, Fujian, and Zhejiang); two species regionally naturalized in Europe, North America, and Australia; eight species in China (seven endemic).
Zhu, G., Li, H. & Li, R. 2007. A synopsis and a new species of the E Asian genus Pinellia (Araceae). Willdenowia 37: 503–522.
1a Leaf blade entire.
2a. Leaf blade peltate, ovate or oblong ................................................................... 4. P. peltata
2b. Leaf blade not peltate.
3a. Petiole lacking bulbils.
4a. Leaf blade deltoid-ovate or broadly ovate, base deeply cordate, 6–33 × 4–22 cm 1. P. polyphylla
4b. Leaf blade ovate or oblong, base obtuse or shallowly cordate, 5–19 × 1.5–6 cm 2. P. integrifolia
3b. Petiole or base of leaf blade bearing bulbils.
5a. Tuber globose; leaf blade sagittate-oblong, cordate-ovate, base deeply cordate; bulbils present at base of petiole and at base of leaf blade .............................................................. 3. P. cordata
5b. Rhizome cylindrical; leaf blade broadly sagittate; bulbils at base of petiole ..... 5. P. fujianensis
1b. Leaf blade compound, trifoliolate or pedate.
6a. Leaf blade always pedate, leaflets 6–11; bulbils absent ............................... 9. P. pedatisecta
6b. Leaf trifoliolate or pedate with 5 leaflets.
7a. Leaf blade only deeply tripartite, anterior lobe broadly ovate or ovate-oblong, sessile; bulbils absent 6. P. tripartita
7b. Leaf blade trisect, sometimes pedate with only 5 leaflets, leaflets oblong or lanceolate.
8a. Petiole lacking bulbils, bulbils emerging only from tuber; lateral leaflets usually bifid .... 7. P. yaoluopingensis
8b. Bulbils present at petiole below middle, or both at lower part of petiole and at base of leaf blade 8. P. ternata
??chinese name da ban xia
Tuber depressed-globose, irregularly depressed, to 6 cm in diam., with 1–4 stolons, 4–7 cm[??the tuber or the stolons]; stolon often bearing globose tubercles 5–10 mm in diam. at end. Leaves 1–4; petiole greenish or flesh-red, 10–60(–70) cm; leaf blade deltoid-ovate to broadly ovate, 6–33 × 4–22 cm, papery, primary lateral veins 5–15 per side, base deeply cordate, apex acuminate. Inflorescence with peduncle shorter than petiole. Spathe erect, greenish or yellowish green, constricted, 5–8 cm; tube funnelform, 1–2.5 cm × ca. 0.5 cm; limb broadly lanceolate, 3.5–5 × 0.8–1.2 cm. Spadix longer than spathe; female zone 1.5–2 cm, adnate to spathe; male zone 1–1.5 cm; sterile zone between female and male flowers 1–1.5 cm; appendix greenish to yellowish, tortuous, 6–11.5 cm. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil ca. 2.4 mm; ovary ovoid, ca. 2 mm long and 1.3 mm in diam.; stigma subsessile, small, ca. 0.4 mm in diam.; style very short; thecae of male flowers ellipsoid, opening by a slit. Berries green to whitish, ovoid; seed 1, globose, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul–Sep.
* Secondary forests, rock slopes, fields; up to 800 m. Sichuan.
Pinellia polyphylla differs from P. cordata in having a larger tuber to 6 cm in diam., with 1–4 stolons and petioles without bulbils.
??chinese name shi zhi zhu
Tuber depressed-globose, 1–1.3 cm in diam. Leaves 1–3; petiole 5–15 cm, slender, base sheathing; leaf blade entire, ovate, oblong, or oblong-lanceolate 5–19 × 1.5–6 cm, primary lateral veins 6 or 7 per side, base obtuse, rarely shallowly cordate, apex shortly acuminate to acute. Inflorescence with peduncle shorter than petioles; peduncle 6–10 cm. Spathe constricted, (6–)7–9 cm; tube 0.8–1.2 cm; limb curved, lanceolate, 7–8 cm, long acuminate. Spadix 8–12 cm; female zone 5–10 mm, adnate to spathe; male zone 5–10 mm; sterile zone between female and male flowers 5–10 mm; appendix pendulous, incurved, filiform, 4–9 cm. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil 0.8–0.9 mm; ovary ovoid, ca. 0.6 mm long and 0.4 mm in diam.; style distinct, ca. 0.3 mm; stigma subhemispheric, ca. 0.18 mm in diam., broader than style; thecae elongate, ca. 0.7 mm, opening by a long slit. Berries pale green to whitish, ovoid. Fl. Sep.
* Slopes, moist areas by streams; lower than 1000 m. Chongqing, W Hubei (Yichang), E Sichuan (Xuyong).
Pinellia integrifolia is characterized by its ovate or oblong leaf blades, its obtuse or shallowly cordate leaf bases, and by petioles lacking bulbils.
??chinese name di shui zhu
Pinellia browniana Dunn.
Tuber depressed-globose, 1–1.5 cm in diam. Leaves 1–3; petiole green or purple, 12–25 cm; leaf blade green adaxially, greenish or purple abaxially, cordate-oblong, cordate-ovate, or cordate to sagittate, 4–25 × 2–7.5 cm, primary lateral veins 9 or 10 per side, base deeply cordate, apex long acuminate; bulbils present at basal portion of petiole and at base of leaf blade (apex of petiole), ovoid. Inflorescence with peduncle shorter than petiole, 3.7–18 cm. Spathe green, purplish yellow, or violet, constricted, 4–7 cm; tube 1–1.3 cm long and in diam.; limb erect or slightly incurved, elliptic, 3–4.5 × 1.2–3 cm, apex obtuse or acute. Spadix 9–23 cm; female zone (0.8–)1–1.2 cm, adnate to spathe; male zone 5–7 mm; sterile zone between female and male flowers 7–8 mm; appendix violet-green, tortuous, 6.5–20 cm. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil ca. 2.5 mm; ovary ellipsoid-oblong, ca. 2 mm long and ca. 1 mm in diam.; style short, ca. 0.3 mm long and 0.5 mm in diam.; stigma discoid, 0.6–0.7 mm in diam.; thecae elongate, ca. 1.8 mm, opening by a slit. Berries ovoid. Fl. Mar–Jun, fr. May–Sep. 2n = 26*, 72*.
* Forests, along streams, moist meadows, cliffs, rock debris; below 800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.
Pinellia cordata is characterized by its small size and by having bulbils at both the petiole and leaf blade bases. Its tuber is poisonous and is used for the treatment of detoxification of viper bites, lumbago, and for allergic reactions; externally to treat traumatic injuries, abscesses, neck lymphosarcoma, breast mastitis, and for draining of pus.
??chinese name dun ye ban xia
Tuber subglobose, 1–2.5 cm in diam. Leaves 2 or 3; petiole 27–33 cm; leaf blade deep green, peltate, ovate or oblong, 10–17 × 5.5–12 cm, primary lateral veins (5 or) 6–8 per side, base deeply cordate, apex shortly acuminate. Inflorescence with peduncle 7–15 cm, shorter than petiole; peduncle 5–8 cm. Spathe yellowish green, constricted, 4–5 cm; tube obovoid, ca. 8 mm; limb opening, 3–4 × 0.5–0.8 cm, apex obtuse to acute. Spadix 11–13 cm; female zone ca. 0.8 cm, adnate to spathe; male zone ca. 0.6 cm; sterile zone between female and male zone ca. 0.35 cm; appendix ca. 10 cm. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil obovoid, 0.25–0.3 mm long and 0.12–0.15 mm in diam.; stigma sessile, very small; thecae elongate. Berries pale green to whitish, ovoid, acute at apex; seed globose. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 78*.
* Forests, grassy slopes, on rocks or between rocks. Fujian, Zhejiang.
Pinellia peltata differs from all of the other species of the genus by its subglobose tuber, and its peltate leaves, which are ovate to oblong-ovate and shortly acuminate at apex.
??chinese name min ban xia
Stem an obovoid rhizome, to 3.5 cm long and 1.4 cm in diam.; nodes more than 5, swollen; internodes very short, 2–3 mm; annual part rooting; cataphylls 2 or 3, ca. 1.5 cm, long acuminate. Leaves 2 or 3; petiole 10–45 cm, bearing bulbils at base; leaf blade broadly sagittate; anterior lobe deltoid-ovate, 7–13.5 × 4.5–10 cm, apex long acuminate; basal lobes divaricate, subtriangular, 4–7 cm × 2.5–3.5 cm; primary lateral veins 6 or 7(or 8) per side. Inflorescence with peduncle 8–20(–25) cm; peduncle shorter than petioles, to 14(–15) cm. Spathe reddish to yellowish violet, constricted, ca. 5.5 cm, tube ca. 1.5 × 0.1 cm; limb erect, navicular, lanceolate, 3.5–4 × ca. 1.4 cm. Spadix ca. 11 cm; female zone ca. 1.3 cm with 9 or 10 pistils, adnate to spathe; male zone ca. 7 × 3 mm; sterile zone between female and male flowers 5–7 mm; appendix outcurved, ca. 8 cm, slender. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil ca. 1.2 mm; ovary ellipsoid, 0.7–0.8 mm in diam.; style slender, ca. 0.25 mm long and 0.15 mm in diam.; stigma discoid, ca. 0.3 mm in diam. Berries ovoid; seed 1, ovoid, ca. 0.4 mm in diam. Fl. Apr, fr. Sep.
* Forests, on rock sides, moist areas. Fujian.
Pinellia fujianensis is similar to P. cordata but differs in having an acute rhizome, to 3.5 cm long, leaf blade broadly sagittate, and petioles bearing bulbils at base.
?? chinese name
Atherurus tripartitus Blume, Rumphia 1: 137. 1835; Arisaema tripartitum Engler; Pinellia tripartita var. atropurpurea Makino.
Tuber subglobose, ca. 2.5 cm in diam; cataphylls lanceolate, to 10 cm. Leaves 2–5; petiole green, 30–35 cm; leaf blade green, tripartite; leaflets broadly ovate to ovate-oblong; anterior leaflet ca. 15 × 4–7 cm, apex ca. 1.5 cm; lateral leaflets smaller; primary lateral veins 8–12 per side on each leaflet, forming a distinct marginal collective vein, also with 2 thinner collective veins along margin. Inflorescence solitary; peduncle to 25 cm, shorter than petiole, slender. Spathe whitish green, slightly constricted, 7–9(–10) cm; tube oblong to subcylindrical, ca. 3.5 × 1–1.25 cm, almost closed within by a transverse septum, gaping at base; blade gaping, boat-shaped, oblong, ca. 4 × 2.5 cm. Spadix 20–25 cm; female zone ca. 3 cm, adnate to spathe; male zone 1.8–2 cm; sterile zone between female and male zone 0.6–0.7 cm; appendix long exserted from spathe, sigmoid, 15–20 cm, base ca. 3 mm in diam., smooth. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil 1–1.2 mm; ovary ovoid, 0.9–1 mm long and wide; style distinct, 0.2–0.3 mm, attenuate; stigma subhemispheric; thecae elongate, opening by a slit. Berries 1-seeded, pale green to whitish, ovoid. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Jun–Sep. 2n = 26, 52.
Dense broad-leaved forests, forest margins, roadsides. Hongkong [Japan; also cultivated and widely naturalized in Australia and S Europe].
Pinellia tripartita was considered endemic to Japan for a long time; it is first reported here from Hong Kong (C. Wright 508, P). This species differs from P. yaoluopingensis in having broadly ovate or ovate-oblong, sessile leaflets and by a tuber lacking tubercles. It is also easily distinguishable from P. ternata by petioles lacking bulbils.
This species is used ornamentally.
?? chinese name o luo ping ban xia
Tuber subglobose, 1.3–3 cm in diam., bearing bulbils at apex. Leaves 1–4; petiole deep green, with purple spots, 12–25 cm; leaf blade trifoliolate, sometimes also pedate; leaflets 3–5; central leaflet oblong-elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 5–10 × 3–4.5 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate or acute; lateral leaflets sessile, smaller, 5.5–7.3 × ca. 4 cm; with 4 or 5 primary lateral veins per side, forming a collective vein along margin. Inflorescences 1 or 2; peduncle usually longer than petiole, 22–36 cm. Spathe green, constricted, 7–8 cm; tube 2–3.5 cm × 6–8 mm; limb oblong, 3–4 × 2–3 cm, apex obtuse. Spadix 16–20 cm; female zone 2–2.5 cm × 3–5 mm, adnate to spathe; male zone 5–7 × 3–4 mm; sterile zone between female and male flowers 5–6 mm; appendix recurved, sigmoid, green, 13–18 cm. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil 1–1.1 mm; ovary broadly ovoid, ca. 0.9 mm long and in diam.; style distinct; stigma discoid, ca. 0.25 mm in diam.; thecae elongate, ca. 1.4 mm, each pollen sac opening by a pore. Berries conical, obtuse; seed 1. Fl. May, fr. Jul–Sep. 2n = 26*.
* Broad-leaved forests; ca. 1000 m. Anhui (Jingde, Yuxi), Jiangsu (Nanjing).
This species differs from Pinellia ternata in having a tuber with tubercles around the petiole bases and by lacking bulbils elsewhere.
?? chinese name
Arum ternatum Thunberg ex Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14. 827. 1784; Arisaema loureiroi Blume; A. macrourum Kunth; A. ternatum (Thunberg) Schott; Arum atrorubens Sprengel (1826), not Linnaeus (1753); A. bulbiferum Salisbury; A. bulbosum Persoon ex Blume [??ex Kunth]; A. fornicatum Roth; A. macrourum Bunge; A. subulatum Desfontaines; A. triphyllum Houttuyn, Natuurl. Hist. Deel 2. Planten 29: 183 ex parte, nec L. 1774–1783; Hemicarpurus fornicatus Nees; Pinellia angustata Schott; P. koreana K. H. Tae & J. H. Kim; P. ternata var. angustata (Schott) Engler; P. ternata var. giraldiana Engler; P. ternata var. subpandurata Engler; P. ternata var. vulgaris Engler; P. tuberifera Tenore; [Pinellia zinguiensis Li Li, nom. nud., Proceedings of VI International Aroid Conference, Kunming 44 (Abstract). 1995]; Typhonium ?tuberculigerum Schott.
??chinese name ban xia
Tuber globose, 1–2 cm in diam. Leaves 2–5; petiole 15–20 cm, base sheathing; bulbils present in sheath, at lower or middle portion of petiole, and at base of leaf blade; leaf blade trifoliolate, sometimes pedate with 5 leaflets; leaflets green adaxially, greenish abaxially, oblong-elliptic or lanceolate, base cuneate, apex acuminate; anterior leaflet 3–10 × 1–3 cm; lateral leaflets (3–)4–7.5 × 1.8–2.3 cm, with 7–9(or 10) primary lateral veins per side, forming a collective vein along margin. Inflorescence with peduncle longer than petiole, 25–35 cm; peduncle 15–25 cm. Spathe greenish or whitish green, rarely purplish, slightly constricted, 6–7 cm; tube narrowly cylindric, 1.5–2 cm; limb green and usually violet at margin, oblong, 4–5 × ca. 1.5 cm, apex obtuse or acute. Spadix 9–10 cm; female zone ca. 2 cm, adnate to spathe, male zone 5–7 mm; sterile zone between female and male flowers ca. 3 mm; appendix erect or sigmoid, green to violet, 6–7(–8) cm. Female flowers densely arranged; pistil 2.1–2.2 mm; ovary ovoid, ca. 1.8 mm long and 1–1.1 mm in diam.; style distinct, attenuate; stigma very small, ca. 0.2 mm in diam., not broader than style; thecae elongate, ca. 1.2 mm, opening by a slit. Berries yellow green to whitish, ovoid, with persistent stigma and style, 1-seeded. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Jul–Sep. 2n = 28, 54, 72, 104, 115, 116, 128.
Grasslands, secondary forests, wastelands, cultivated lands; below 2500 m. Widely distributed in China excluding Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Xizang [Japan, Korea; naturalized in Australia, Europe, North America].
Pinellia ternata is a highly variable species in morphology and cytology. It differs from other Pinellia species by having bulbils at different parts of the petiole; bulbils on each petiole may be 1, 2, or 3. Fourteen sheets of specimens in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh (E), have been studied and counted: 6 specimens have bulbils at the lower portion of the petiole; 5 specimens show bulbils at the median portion; one specimen has 3 bulbils located at the lower and median portion and at top of petiole; another specimen has 2 bulbils at the top and lower portions (6 May 1975, M. ToGash s.n. from Tokyo); and one has two bulbils found at the top and the median portion of the petiole. After examining the variability in position and number of bulbils, we suggest that Pinellia ziguiensis Li Li (nom. nud.), with bulbils at both the top and lower portions of petiole, must be a synonym of P. ternata. For the same reason, Engler's four variants (P. ternata var. angustata (Schott) Engler var. vulgaris Engler, var. subpandurata Engler, and var. giraldiana Engler) may not represent any independent systematic taxa. Pinellia koreana has been described from Korea differing in pedate leaf blades with five leaflets, but strong growing plants sometimes producing pedate leaf blades, and therefore, this is only a further synonym of P. ternata; it was collected at the Mt. Chiri, Korea, 480 m, flowering 10 June 1999 (K.-H. Tae 99-001 (holotype TUT).
Tubers of the species are used in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of coughs, for reducing phlegm, stopping vomiting, and externally for treatment of breast mastitis and otitis media. The plant is also used ornamentally.
?? chinese name hu zhang
Pinellia cochinchinensis (Blume) W. Wight; P. tuberifera Tenore var. pedatisecta (Schott) Engler; P. wawrae Engler.
Tuber subglobose, to 4 cm diam., with some surrounding tubercles. Leaves 1–3 or more; petiole greenish, 20–70 cm, lower portion sheathing; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 6–11, sessile, lanceolate, base cuneate, apex acuminate; central leaflet 15–18.3 cm, following ones smaller; outermost ones 4–5 cm; primary lateral veins 7–12 per side, forming an inner collective vein, an outer second collective vein near margin. Inflorescence with peduncle 20–50 cm, green; peduncle to 35 cm. Spathe green outside, greenish to whitish inside, lanceolate in total, not constricted between tube and limb, inside transverse septum absent, 10–19 × 1.5–2 cm, base slightly convolute, apex long acuminate. Spadix 14–20 cm; female zone 1.5–3 cm, adnate to spathe; male zone cylindric, 5–8 mm; sterile zone between female and male flowers short, 4–5 mm; appendix suberect, greenish to whitish, ± cylindric, 10–15 cm long, 2–3 mm in diam. at base, upward becoming filiform. Female flowers very densely arranged; pistil 2.1–2.2 mm; ovary green, obovoid, ca. 1.9 mm long and 1.2–1.3 mm in diam.; stigma subsessile, white, orbicular, papillose; thecae yellow, elongate, ca. 1.3 mm, opening by a slit. Berries pale to whitish green, ovoid, 4–5 mm long and 3–5 mm in diam., 1-seeded; seed brown, obovoid, ca. 3.5 × 2.5 mm; funicle robust. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul–Sep. 2n = 26*.
* Forests, valleys, shaded areas; lower than 1000 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, NE Yunnan, Zhejiang.
Pinellia pedatisecta is the only species of Pinellia with always pedate leaf blades and lacking the transverse septum inside its spathe. It is easily distinguished from other species by having a spathe lacking a constriction between the tube and blade. Its poisonous tubers are used in medicine for treating enlarged lymph nodes and urinary tract infections.
天南星属 tian nan xing shu
Li Heng (李恒), Zhu Guanghua (朱光华); Jin Murata
Herbs with tuber or rhizome, paradioecious (sex depending on nutrition and therefore variable from one year to anther). Tuber usually renewed seasonally and producing some tubercles at base, these separated from old tuber at end of growth season. Rhizome usually cylindric, with many nodes, not renewed every year, usually proceeding evergreen or wintergreen leaves. Roots usually growing at apex of tuber around cataphylls or at new nodes of rhizome. Cataphylls 3–5, herbaceous or membranous, surrounding basal part of shoot. Pseudostem consisting of basal cylindrical part of petiole present or absent. Leaves 1–3, long petiolate; leaf blade trifoliolate, palmate, pedate or radiate; petiole stout, mottled, smooth or verrucose. Inflorescence borne with or before leaves, solitary, pedunculate, emerging from pseudostem in tuberous or some rhizomatous plants or separately from petiole and directly surrounded by cataphylls in some rhizomatous plants. Peduncle erect, stout, usually shorter than, sometimes equaling or longer than petiole. Spathe tubular below, expanded limb above, deciduous, withering or rarely semipersistent; mouth of the spathe tube often widely spreading outward, whether or not [thru-out check use of this phrase] with an auricle on each side, margins of mouth ciliate or not; spathe limb occasionally with a long tail at apex. Spadix sessile, unisexual or bisexual; bisexual spadix female below, male above, neuter flowers [??term okay] sometimes present on appendix; appendix variable in shape, base stipitate or not, apex sometimes ending in long filiform flagellum. Ovaries [??simplify to ovary but maybe doesn’t matter] 1-loculed with several basal ovules; style usually indistinct; stigma peltate, papillose. Synandria of 2–6 fused stamens, sessile or on a united filament; anthers dehiscing by 2 apical pores or a single horseshoe-shaped slit or circumscissile into a ring. Neuters (sterile flowers) filiform, subulate. Berries reddish, several seeded.
About 180 species: NE Africa, Arabian peninsula, Asia, E North America, and Mexico; 77 species in China (??#endemic).
Many Chinese species of Arisaema are of medicinal importance. For example, the tuber of A. flavum is used to treat fractures, traumatic injuries, and swellings; the tuber of A. franchetianum is used to treat enlarged lymph nodes, intestinal parasites, and snake and insect bites; the tubers of A. consanguineum, A. heterophyllum, and A. yunnanense are used to treat coughs, epilepsy, and tetanus. Many species of Arisaema have been found to possess anticancer properties.
The following taxa were recorded in FRPS but are in fact not distributed in China: Arisaema amurense Maximowicz var. serrulatum Nakai, nom. illeg. (FRPS 13(2): 174. 1979; A. amurense f. denticulatum Makino; A. amurense var. denticulatum (Makino) Engler; A. nikoense Nakai), A. angustatum Franchet & Savatier (p. 171), A. decipiens Schott (p. 168), A. erubescens (Wallich) Schott (p. 189; Arum erubescens Wallich), A. griffithii Schott (p. 148), A. griffithii var. verrucosum (Schott) H. Hara (p. 149; A. verrucosum Schott), A. japonicum Blume (p. 179), A. propinquum Schott (p. 140), A. serratum (Thunberg) Schott var. viridescens Nakai (p. 180), A. sikokianum Franchet & Savatier (pp. 174–175), and A. sikokianum var. serratum (Makino) Handel-Mazzetti (p. 175; A. sazensoo (Burger ex Kunth) Makino var. serratum Makino).
1a. Plant basically evergreen; underground stems rhizomatous, purplish inside; pseudostem absent or present; leaves arranged spirodistichously ............................................................. 1. A. sect. Anomala
1b. Plant basically deciduous; underground stems tuberous or rarely rhizomatous, whitish inside; pseudostem present; leaves arranged quincuncially or spirodistichously.
2a. Summer dormant; underground stems rhizomatous ............................. 7. A. sect. Decipientia
2b. Winter dormant or semi-evergreen; underground stems tuberous or rarely rhizomatous.
3a. Spadix appendage sessile, or if stipitate leaf blade radiate.
4a. Leaves arranged spirodistichously, leaf blade radiate; spadix appendage sessile or rarely stipitate 12. A. sect. Sinarisaema
4b. Leaves arranged quincuncially, leaf blade trifoliolate or pedate; spadix appendage sessile.
5a. Spadix appendage with neuter flowers at least in female inflorescence, or if not leaf blade trifoliolate and spadix bisexual.
6a. Axillary buds solitary; leaf blade trisect ....................................... 2. A. sect. Fimbriata
6b. Axillary buds accompanying accessory buds; leaf blade
pedatisect
..................................................................................................... 3.
A. sect. Clavata
5b. Spadix appendage without neuter flowers, unisexual or bisexual.
7a. Spadix appendage gradually tapered to apex, usually filiform, exserted from spathe, recurved or sigmoidly curved ......................................................................... 4. A. sect. Tortuosa
7b. Spadix appendage subglobose, not exserted from spathe .............. 5. A. sect. Dochafa
3b. Spadix-appendage stipitate; leaf blade trisect or pedatisect.
8a. Leaves arranged spirodistichously .................................................. 11. A. sect. Pistillata
8b. Leaves arranged quincuncially.
9a. Leaves palmate or rarely radiate; ovary spindle-shaped .......... 6. A. sect. Tenuipistiliata
9b. Leaf blade trisect, or rarely palmate; ovary bottle-shaped.
10a. Leaf blade trifoliolate or palmate; inflorescence
exceeding leaf blade
.......................................................................................... 10.
A. sect. nepenthoidea
10b. Leaf blade trifoliolate; inflorescence below leaf blade.
11a. Appendix apex usually flagelliform, much exceeding spathe, pendulous, lower part thick and base expanded into a stipitate disk; anthers dehiscing by hippocrepiform or lunate slits 8. A. sect. Arisaema
11b. Appendix obclavate, nearly erect or slightly recurved, obtuse at apex and gradually narrowed at base into a stipe; anthers dehiscing by rounded or oblong pores 9. A. sect. Franchetiana
Chinese pinyin
Plants with rhizome. Rhizome reddish purple inside. Leaves spilodistichously arranged; leaf blade trifoliolate or pedate, rarely simple. Spadix bisexual or rarely unisexual when mature; appendage sessile, terete, attenuate upward, or long and pendulous above, usually with numerous filiform neuters.
About 20 species: wet tropical and subtropical Asia; 11 species in China (??#endemic).
1a. Pseudostem distinct (more than 10 cm long).
2a. Leaf blade pedate or rarely trifoliolate; neuter flowers occurring partly on spadix appendage.
3a. Spathe basically green, mouth of spathe tube not auriculate ................... 8. A. grapsospadix
3b. Spathe basically green, or dark purple dotted with paler purple, mouth of spathe tube auriculate 9. A. hainanense
2b. Leaf blade trifoliolate; neuter flowers covering whole of spadix appendage.
4a. Neuter flowers more than 10 mm long .............................................. 5. A. hippocaudatum
4b. Neuter flowers less than 7 mm long.
5a. Rhizome stout, more than 3 cm in diam.; spathe semitranslucent, without white mark 1. A. petelotii
5b. Rhizome less than 2.5 cm in diam.; spathe opaque, with
white mark
................................................................................................... 7.
A. rubrirhizomatum
1b. Pseudostem absent or very short (less than 5 cm long).
6a. Budlike structure present at axil of neuter flowers ..................................... 2. A. tsangpoense
6b. Budlike structure absent at axil of neuter flowers.
7a. Spadix appendage apex simple or nearly so.
8a. Spathe tube mouth widely auriculate, spadix appendage
with neuter flowers
............................................................................................................ 11.
A. bannaense
8b. Spathe tube mouth without auricles, spadix appendage without neuter flowers 10. A. petiolulatum
7b. Spadix appendage apex blushlike, covered with numerous neuter flowers.
9a. Spathe basically purplish, tube thick ..................................................... 4. A. lihenganum
9b. Spathe tube basically green, tube slender.
10a. Spathe blade with single white mark at base ..................................... 6. A. pingbianense
10b. Spathe totally greenish, without marks ................................................ 3. A. menglaense
Chinese pinyin
Plants dioecious. Rhizome thickly cylindric, lying underground or half underground, 7–18 cm long, 4–6 cm in diam., dark brown outside, purplish in section. Pseudostem to 40 cm, encircled by several cataphylls. Leaves usually 2; petiole green or purplish green, 10–20 cm long, lower 20–30 cm sheathing, sheath apex obtuse and rounded, encircling peduncle; in plants with 2 leaves, petiole bases overlapping and forming a pseudostem, pseudostem 26–28 cm; leaf blade green, trifoliolate. Central leaflet elliptic to ovate, to 30 × 17 cm, base rounded, with petiolule 1–4 cm; lateral leaflets similarly petiolulate, oblique ovate, apex acuminate. Peduncle 7–12 cm, with coloration as petiole, slightly longer than petiole. Spathe green, without stripes, semitranslucent. Spathe tube narrowly infundibuliform, 4–7 cm, mouth 2–3 cm wide; limb deltoid-ovate, to 7 × 5 cm, apex acute and cuspidate. Spadix bisexual when mature: appendix basically green, 4–6 cm, slender, covered with rather numerous filiform neuter flowers, brushlike. Berries reddish, ovoid, ca. 5 mm in diam. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Oct–Nov.
Humid forest floors and gravel slopes in shade; 800–1000 m. S Yunnan [Vietnam].
藏布南星 zang bu nan xing
[Copied from original description:] Plants perennial, evergreen. Rhizome ca. 5 cm long and 2.5 cm in diam., with numerous branches; roots whitish, 6–8 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam. Pseudostem absent; petioles and peduncles wrapped in separate cataphylls. Leaves 1–4 present simultaneously; petiole dull dark brown to violet, with light brown transverse markings, cylindrical, ca. 25 cm long and 0.5–1 cm in diam.; leaf blade pedate with 3–5 segments; leaflets greenish, membranous and petiolulate, lanceolate, apex acute ending in a short arista; central leaflet ca. 15 × 5 cm, lateral veins numerous, base cuneate; petiolule to 3 cm; lateral leaflets 12–15 × 3–4 cm, base obliquely cuneate; petiolules to 5 mm. Peduncle whitish, cylindrical, ca. 2 × 0.5 cm, much shorter than petiole, surrounded by 3 cataphylls; cataphylls light brown, oblong, 2, 4 and 6 cm long, respectively. Inflorescence unisexual. Spathe tube white-green, cylindrical, ca. 3 × 1.5 cm, with numerous green longitudinal stripes, throat margin widely recurved. Spathe limb green, with darker, longitudinal veins, ovate-lanceolate, arched over tube, ca. 7 × 4 cm, apex acuminate ending in a tail ca. 1 cm. Spadix either male or female; pistillate spadices sometimes topped by a few stamens. Male fertile part cylindrical, ca. 2 × 0.5 cm; stamens loosely arranged, each consisting of 3–6 anthers, stipitate; thecae yellowish, subglobose, dehiscing by oblong pores. Female fertile part conical, ca. 1.5 cm long and 1 cm in diam. at base; ovaries congested, green, fusiform, 1-loculed, each locule containing 3 basal ovules, fusiform and slightly curved; stigma discoid, borne on a short style. Spadix appendix sessile, purple, narrowly conical, protruding from spathe tube but not exceeding spathe, ca. 4 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam. above fertile part and ca. 1 mm across at apex, with ca. 20 fleshy, dusty brown, filamentlike projections, 1–2 mm in diam., scattered from base to apex. Projections 1–1.5 cm in lower portion but much longer, to 7 cm, toward apex of appendix, with budlike excrescences in axils of upper projections in both staminate and pistillate spadices.
* Forests; ca. 900 m. SE Xizang (Mêdog).
勐腊南星 meng la nan xing
[Copied from Original description:] Plants perennial, evergreen, bisexual or male. Rhizome erect, light brown outside, violaceous in section, oblique or horizontal, cylindric, 5–6 cm long, 2.5–3 cm in diam., with numerous nodes bearing buds, roots 10–15 cm. Pseudostem nearly absent, ca. 0.5 cm at most. Cataphylls 5, to 5–8 × 1.5–2 cm, membranous, flesh colored, two encircling petiole and peduncle, three enclosing inflorescence. Leaves 1 or 2, developing from different buds; petiole cylindric, viridescent with inconspicuous white spots, ca. 45 cm long, 5–8 mm in diam.; leaf blade green, trifoliolate. Central leaflet elliptic, ca. 21 × 11 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate with 1 cm acumen, petiolule ca. 1.7 cm; lateral leaflets obliquely lanceolate, ca. 20 × 8 cm, base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate with acumen 0.9–1 cm, petiolule ca. 1.5 cm long; lateral veins 7–9 on each side, connective vein 4–9 mm from margin. Peduncle green, cylindric, shorter than petiole, ca. 20 cm long, ca. 5 mm in diam. Spathe (bisexual and male) green, with numerous longitudinal veins; tube funnel-shaped, ca. 7 cm long, 1.5–3 cm in diam., throat margin recurved to 8 mm wide; limb erect, oblong, ca. 6.5 × 4 cm. Bisexual spadix ca. 3.5 cm, female portion ca. 1.5 cm; pistils densely arranged; ovary greenish, obovoid, ca. 2.5 mm, 1–2 mm in diam., 1-loculed; stigma subsessile, greenish, circular; placentation basal; ovules 4, erect; male portion ca. 2 cm; synandria sparse, purple; stalk ca. 2 mm; stamens 3, each comprising 2 anther cells; anther cell subglobose, ca. 1 mm in diam., dehiscing by an apical slit; appendix sessile, erect, narrowly coniform, ca. 5.5 cm long, 1–4 mm in diam., usually exserted from spathe tube ca. 1 cm, lower part purple, upper green, wholly covered by filiform neuter flowers; neuter flowers erect, green, 5–10 mm. Male spadix ca. 3 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam., appendix ca. 5 cm, covered by filiform neuter flowers, synandria and neuter flowers as in bisexual spadix. Fl. Dec–Feb.
* Tropical seasonal forests; 1000–1100 m. S Yunnan (Mengla).
This species is very close to Arisaema omkoiense Gusman (Syst. Geogr. Pl. 71: 3. 2001, described from Thailand) and A. pingbianense.
A Chinese record of Arisaema smitinandii S. Y. Hu (H. Li, Aroideana 30: 45. 2007) is referable to A. menglaense.
Chinese pinyin
Plants to 50 cm tall. Rhizome creeping horizontally, purplish to brownish outside, red-purple inside, subcylindrical, to 13 cm long, ca. 4 cm in diam., branching. Cataphylls to 20 cm, encircling each petiole and peduncle. Leaf 1, expanding simultaneously with inflorescence; petiole to 30 cm, lacking pseudostem, purplish brown, mottled with green; leaf blade 3-foliolate; leaflets subequal in size, to 25 × 15 cm, petiolule 3.5–4.5 cm; central leaflet oblong-elliptic, base rounded-cuneate, apex acuminate and caudate; lateral leaflets oblique. Peduncle separate from petiole, 11–20 cm, encircled closely by cataphylls. Spathe tube white to pale green, narrowly infundibuliform, 4.5–6 × 7–9 cm when opened; limb upper half dark red-purple, lower half white, narrowly deltoid to narrowly deltoid-ovate, 15–20 × 5–6.5 cm, acuminate. Spadix bisexual after sex change; male portion 10–20 × ca. 8 mm, female portion 20–30 × ca. 10 mm; appendix sessile, 13–16 cm, slender, exserted from mouth of spathe and pendulous, basal part white, dark red-purple above, from base to apex with numerous filiform sterile flowers 3–5 cm. Staminate flowers basically white. Pistillate flowers green, bottle shaped.
* Limestone crevices under bushy evergreen forests; ca. 1000 m. W Guangxi (Pingmeng).
Chinese pinyin
[Copied from original description:] Plants dioecious, Tuber unknown. Leaves 2; petiole green, marked with purple, 5.5–6.5 cm, with a long sheath at base; blade shiny green adaxially, paler and evidently veined abaxially, divided into 3 leaflet segments; terminal leaflet elliptic, 9.5–10 × 3.2–3.5 cm, aristate at apex, with a tip 8–11 mm; lateral ones slightly smaller. Peduncle erect, overtopping the leaves. Spathe green tinged except for white center, ca. 12 cm, with lower margins incurved or ± overlapping to form a cylindrical tube to 6 cm long and 2.7 cm in diam., scarcely or slightly auriculate at its mouth; spathe limb subovate-lanceolate, ca. 8 × 4 cm, apex aristate and recurved. Spadix subsessile. ca. 16 cm; staminate spadix green, subterete, gradually attenuate upward, ca. 4 cm, loosely flowered; appendix extending beyond mouth of the spathe tube, greenish, horsetail shaped, recurved, ca. 12 cm, ± with many filiform, subulate sterile flowers, lower sterile flowers scattered, 3–4 mm; upper ones numerous and crowded, 3–5.5 cm. Male flowers stipitate, usually diandrous; stipe 0.2–0.9 mm; thecae ellipsoid, 0.4–0.7 mm.
* Limestone crevices on hilltops; 600–700 m. Guangxi (Du’an).
屏边南星 ping bian nan xing
Plants dioecious. Rhizome thin and prolonged, 10–15 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam., nodes swollen and globose. Cataphylls 3, pale green with violet spots, encircling peduncle. Leaves 2, different seasons from different rhizome nodes; petiole green, cylindric, to 20 cm long, 3–4 mm in diam., base shortly sheathing; leaf blade trifoliolate, green, membranous; central leaflet elliptic, 9–13.5 × 4–5.5 cm, base cuneate, petiolule ca. 1.7 cm; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate-lanceolate, base oblique with petiolule 3–6 mm, apex acuminate with acumen 1.5–2 cm; lateral veins 5–7 each side, connective vein remote from margin for 1–2 mm. Inflorescence peduncle encircled by cataphyll, green, cylindric, shorter than petiole, ca. 15 cm. Spathe tube subcylindric, 4–4.5 × ca. 1 cm, throat margins spreading outward; spathe limb green, oblong, lower part with a rounded white area ca. 1.5 cm in diam.; limb 3.5–4 cm, apex abruptly acuminate with a filiform tip. Spadix male or bisexual, sessile, staminate flowers sparsely arranged; appendix nearly filiform, ca. 3 cm, upper 1 cm covered with numerous filiform neuter flowers. Synandria of 2 or 3 fused stamens; anthers brown to creamy white, globose, dehiscing by 2 apical pores. Neuter flowers slightly recurved, brown or green, filiform, 2–3 mm. Fl. Dec.
* Secondary evergreen forests; 1000–1600 m. SE Yunnan.
红根南星 hong gen nan xing
Type: China. Yunnan: Malipo, Xiajinchang, alt. 1700–1850 m, limestone area along stream, 21 Feb 1994, S. K. Wu, Y. P. Yang, J. Murata & T. Kawahara 243 (holotype, TI; ??isotype, KUN).
Haec species Arisaemati hippocaudato S. C. Chen & H. Li et A. victoriae V. D. Nguyen similis sed ab eis appendice spadicis ex ore tubi spathae non exserta atque floribus neutris brevibus minus quam 7 mm longis differt.
Arisaema calcareum H. Li, p.p. (excluding type).
Plants dioecious. Rhizome erect, oblique, or horizontal, dark brown outside, purple in section, cylindric or conical, 2–5 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam. but usually very robust in nature. Cataphylls 3, encircling petioles and peduncle, yellowish with green spots, lanceolate, membranous, outermost one 1–2 cm, innermost 18–19 cm. Leaves 2 or 1, female plants always with 2 leaves, males usually with 1 leaf; petiole purplish green with pale green spots, 30–50 cm, lower 20–30 cm sheathing, sheath apex obtuse and rounded, encircling peduncle; in plants with 2 leaves, petiole bases overlapping and forming a pseudostem 26–28 cm; leaf blade green, leathery, trifoliolate. Central leaflet elliptic or oblong to lanceolate, 12–26 × 5–12 cm, base cuneate, with petiolule 1–4 cm; lateral leaflets sessile or with short petiolule 1–4 cm; blade oblong-lanceolate or obliquely ovate, 10–20 × 3.5–11 cm, apex acuminate, usually with filiform tip 2–3 cm. Peduncle 30–50 cm, with coloration as petiole, slightly longer than petiole. Spathe green, with a white area ca. 2 cm in diam. at lower part of limb. Spathe tube 3–5 cm long, 1.5–1.8 cm in diam., throat spreading outward; limb deltoid-ovate, 5–7 × 3.5–5 cm, apex acute. Spadix basically unisexual; female portion ca. 2.2 × 1.5 cm, male portion ca. 3.5 cm × 5 mm, rarely with a few male flowers above; appendix dark purplish, 4–5 cm, slender, from base to apex covered with rather numerous filiform or subclavate neuter flowers, brushlike. Ovaries obconic, ovules 2–4; synandria of 5 stamens, sessile; anthers ovoid, dehiscing by 2 apical slits. Berries reddish, ovoid, ca. 5 mm in diam.; seed 1, yellowish, ca. 3.5 mm in diam., rugose. Fl. Feb–May, fr. ???.
* Evergreen forests, thickets, in limestone mountain area; 1000–1600 m. SE Yunnan.
毛笔天南星 mao bi tian nan xing
Arisaema quinquefoliolum Hayata; A. nanjenense T. C. Huang & M. J. Wu.
Rhizome oblong-ovoid, 3–5 cm long, 1.5–2.2 cm in diam. Leaves 2, sometimes 3; petiole 18–30 cm including pseudostem 23–25 cm, dull purplish green, mottled with dark purple and orange; leaf blade 3- or 5-foliolate; leaflets base rounded to cuneate, margin entire or nearly so, apex acute to acuminate, often mucronate at tip; central leaflet elliptic to lanceolate, petiolule 1–2.5 cm; lateral leaflets lanceolate to oblong, oblique at base, petiolule 3–10 mm. Spathe greenish on both surfaces with a semilunar white spot in throat; tube cylindrical, (3–)4–6 cm long, 1–1.7 cm in diam.; limb triangular-ovate, 1.5–2 cm wide, apex acute. Spadix bisexual in mature plants, female zone ca. 2.5 cm × 5 mm, male zone ca. 1.8 cm long, 4–5 mm in diam., sparsely with staminate[??]; appendix narrowly pyramidal, 6–7 cm, apex filiform and recurved, upper 1.2–2 cm densely covered with filiform neuter flowers ca. 3 mm. Ovaries obliquely conic-ovoid; stigma subsessile, pilose; ovules 4; synandria of 3 stamens; anthers dehiscing by 2 apical pores. Berries red; seeds 2 or 3, reticulate-rugose. Fl. Mar, fr. Jul.
* Low to medium elevations. S Taiwan.
黎婆花 li po hua
Rhizome cylindric, ca. 5 cm long, 2–3 cm in diam. Pseudostem 10–30 cm. Leaves 2; petiole dull green, unmarked or mottled with brown-purple, to 20 cm; blade pedate, papery; leaflets dull green adaxially, pale green abaxially; central leaflet elliptic, 14–16 × 6–8 cm, base broadly cuneate, apex abruptly acuminate, sometimes caudate, petiolule 1–2 cm; lateral leaflets 13–15 × 5–6 cm, subsessile or with petiolule 5–10 mm; outermost ones obliquely elliptic, ca. 10 × 3 cm. Peduncle green, equaling or longer than petiole for 3–5 cm. Spathe tube green, with longitudinal white stripe on back up to base of limb, funnelform, 4–5.2 cm, mouth obliquely truncate, outcurved for 2 mm; limb dark purple with purplish spots, or green with purple reticulation, or totally olive-green, ovate, 4–4.7 × ca. 2.7 cm, acuminate and caudate at apex. Spadix bisexual when mature; female portion 2–2.5 cm, male portion 1–1.5 cm; synandria lax; anthers 1–3, stipitate, anther cells oblong, dehiscing by lateral slits; appendix erect or sometimes recurved at apex, narrowly cylindric or fusiform, 4–5 cm × 1.5–2.5 mm, base sessile, lower 3–4 mm zone with many erect filiform neuter flowers 3–4 mm. Fruiting portion of spadix 4–5 cm; berries reddish, ovoid, ca. 6 × 4 mm; seed ?1. Fl. Jun, mature fr. Nov.
* Evergreen rainforests in valleys and on slopes; 400–2100 m. Hainan.
三匹箭 shan pi jian
Arisaema inkiangense H. Li; A. inkingense var. maculatum H. Li.
Plants dioecious, evergreen. Rhizome pale yellow outside, purple or violet in section, cylindric. Cataphylls withering, yellowish red to creamy red, narrowly lanceolate, membranous. Leaf 1; petiole encircled by a cataphyll, pale, unspotted, base sheathing for 1.5 cm; blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, papery, trifoliolate; terminal leaflet elliptic, 9–25 × 5.8–10 cm, base obtuse or shortly cuneate, apex acuminate with a tubular tip, petiolule ca. 2 cm; lateral leaflets elliptic-lanceolate, 8–20 × 3.5–9.5 cm, obliquely rounded at base, petiolule 5–10 mm. Peduncle encircled by 2 cataphylls, separated from petiole, terete, 15–20 cm long, 2–5 cm in diam. Spathe tube greenish white, with ca. 1 cm white base, ca. 5 cm × 8 mm, throat margin narrowly auriculate, outward recurved, auricle 8 mm wide; limb arching, green with a large rounded white area at base, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 × 3 cm, membranous, with a tail ca. 5 mm. Spadix bisexual in mature plants, unisexual (male) in small plants. Bisexual: basal female portion cylindric, ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 5 mm in diam. at base, densely flowered; ovaries oblong; style short but distinct; stigma capitate, pilosulose; ovules 2–4, basal, erect; continual male portion 1.5 cm with sparse male flowers; synandria of 2 or 3-stamens; anthers sessile, or filaments ca. 1 mm; anther cells subglobose, opening by an apical slit; appendix erect, sessile, green, narrowly cylindric, without neuter flowers, apex slightly rugose. Unisexual spadix: male portion ca. 2 cm, ca. 3.5 mm in diam. with a stipe ca. 2 mm; appendix as in bisexual spadix, whether or not 2 or 3 subulate neuters in lower part. Fl. Oct–Nov.
Dense forests, in mountain valleys; 400–1700 m. Yunnan [NE India, N Myanmar].
版纳南星 ban na nan xing
Plants evergreen. Rhizome robust, 8–9 cm long, 3–4 cm in diam., producing many offsets at surface, yellowish outside, whitish inside; offsets subglobose, 5–10 mm in diam., chained to main rhizome; rhizome nodes indistinct and not constricted, rooting on whole surface and at different directions. Leaves 3–5, separately arranged on rhizome back, perhaps from different seasons; petiole cylindric, 28–40 cm long, 4–14 mm in diam., pale green with dark green striae and whitish spots, or pinkish brown, with black, dark brown short striae and sparse spots, encircled by cataphylls; leaf blade slightly green adaxially, pale green abaxially, subpapery, trifoliolate; leaflets entire, base obtuse, apex acuminate with a an acumen 1–2 cm; terminal leaflet petiolulate, elliptic to oblong, 14–24 × 6–10 cm, base cuneate to rounded, petiolule 2.8–4.6 cm, green scatted with pale brown and black spots; lateral leaflets lanceolate, oblique, 12–24 × 4.5–10 cm, base oblique-rounded, petiolule 5–10 mm; cataphylls 2 or 3, as petiole, 5–20 cm, deciduous. Peduncle 1, separated from petiole, encircled in cataphylls, ca. 30 cm, coloration as petiole, emerging in February and March. Spathe green; tube ca. 6 × 1.5 cm; throat margins spreading, narrowly auriculate, slightly recurved; spathe limb arching, obovate, ca. 5 × 4 cm, apex acuminate or acute. Spadix bisexual and unisexual (male): in bisexual spadix, female portion in lower part, cylindric, ca. 2 cm × 7 mm, male portion ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam., sparsely covered by staminate flowers; appendix erect, green, [- OR or] white, cylindric, ca. 3 cm long, 1.5–3 mm in diam., apex slightly swollen, verrucose. Male spadix: male portion ca. 6.7 cm, base ca. 6 mm in diam., staminate flowers dense, violet to creamy yellow, of 2–4 stamens, subsessile; appendix cylindric, ca. 4.2 cm × 3 mm, base usually with some staminate flowers, apex subclavate, rugose, ca. 4 mm in diam.; ovaries pale green, ovoid; style short; stigma pale white, discoid; berry yellowish red, obovoid, ca. 54 mm. Anthers ovoid, subglobose, 2-celled, dehiscing by an apical united slit. Fl. Feb–Mar, fr. Oct.
* Primary tropical rainforest; 700–1000 m. S Yunnan.
This species is very close to Arisaema pattaniense Gagnepain (A. garrettii Gagnepain), from Thailand.
线花组 xian hua zu
Arisaema [unranked] Fimbriata Engler, Pflanzenr. 73(IV. 23): 151. 1920.
Tuber subglobose. Leaf blade trifoliolate. Spadix appendage sessile, attenuate upward, appendage with neuter flowers at least in female inflorescence or if lacking, spadix bisexual.
About 14 species: tropical and subtropical Asia; six species in China (??#endemic).
1a. Epiphyte; leaves appearing much later than inflorescences; spathe with long filiform tail to 60 cm 17. A. lackneri
1b. Geophyte; leaves coetaneous with inflorescences; spathe without tail.
2a. Spadix bisexual when mature; neuter flowers absent ...................................... 12. A. lidaense
2b. Spadix unisexual; neuter flowers present at least in female inflorescences.
3a. Spathe totally green, mouth auriculate ............................................................... 16. A. sinii
3b. Spathe color contrasted with white and green, mouth not auriculate.
4a. Spathe with white mark at base of spathe blade .................................... 15. A. calcareum
4b. Spathe blade color transversely demarcated between lower white portion and upper green portion.
5a. Spathe blade deltoid-ovate, not narrowed at base ........................... 13. A. penicillatum
5b. Spathe blade ovate, narrowed at base ................................... 14. A. austroyunnanense
Chinese pinyin
Plants to 30(–40) cm tall, but usually smaller. Tuber depressed-globose, 1–2 cm in diam., with distinct axillary buds. Cataphylls 2 or 3, surrounding pseudostem, purplish green, without distinct marks. Leaf usually 1, expanding earlier than inflorescence. Pseudostem green, much shorter than free part of petiole, (3–)5–12(–15) cm; free part of petiole 15–23 cm; leaf blade 3-foliolate; leaflets subsessile, subequal in size; terminal one narrowly elliptic, 7–14(–16) × 2–4.5(–5.5) cm, base attenuate, apex long acuminate; lateral ones oblique. Inflorescence bisexual after sex change. Peduncle usually shorter than petiole (much shorter in bisexual inflorescence), 8–15 cm, downcurved when fruiting. Spathe green with white patch on back of mouth, 4–9 cm; tube narrowly cylindrical, 2.5–5 cm, not expanded at mouth; limb ovate to broadly ovate, 1.5–4 cm, acuminate. Bisexual spadix narrowly cylindrical, female part to 1.4 cm, male part to 10 mm; appendix green, usually without projections, upright or weakly incurved, gradually narrowed to apex, not exserted from spathe, 3–4.5 cm. Staminate flowers with white or purple anthers. Pistillate flowers green, ellipsoid, congested. Infructescence pendulous. 2n = 24* (Murata et al., 2003).
* Limestone crevices; ca. 1300 m. SE Yunnan (Wenshan).
画笔天南星 hua bi nan xing
Arisaema matsudae Hayata.
Tuber globose, 1–2(–3) cm in diam. Cataphylls lanceolate, ca. 8 cm. Leaves 2; petiole 25–30 cm, below middle sheathing; leaf blade trifoliolate; terminal leaflet petiolulate, elliptic, ca. 14 × 6 cm; lateral ones subsessile, shorter than terminal, oblong-lanceolate, ca. 10 × 4 cm, base oblique, apex acuminate; connective vein remote from margins for 0.3–2 mm. Peduncle ca. as long as or longer than petiole. Spathe tube pale green, cylindric, 4–6 × 1.2–2 cm, throat margins spreading but not recurved; limb transversely demarcated between lower white portion and upper green portion, oblong, 2–5 cm, acuminate with tip. Spadix unisexual; female one: female portion pyramidal, green, ca. 1.5 cm; appendix green, narrowly cylindric, 4–5 cm × 2–3 mm, base ca. 2 cm and apex 8–10 mm, covered with broadly filiform neuter flowers (1.5–2 mm); male spadix: male portion narrowly conic, 3–4 cm, with sparse male flowers; appendix filiform, 3–4 cm, at apical 1–1.5 cm covered with filiform or subulate neuter flowers (1–2 mm). Synandria of 3 stamens; anthers ovoid, opening by longitudinal apical slits. Ovaries ovoid, apex constructed into a short style; stigma capitate; ovules 5. Fl. Apr–Jun.
* Understories of dense forests; below 1000 m; Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan.
A Chinese record of Arisaema laminatum Blume (Bentham, Fl. Hongk. 342. 1861) is referable to A. penicillatum.
滇南星 dian nan xing
Subterranean stem unknown. Cataphylls green, acute. Leaf 1; petiole green, long sheathing; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets green adaxially, glaucous abaxially; terminal leaflet ovate-oblong, ca. 8 × 6 cm, base obtuse, apex abruptly acuminate, petiolule ca. 1.5 cm; lateral leaflets ovate-lanceolate, 9–10 × 4.8–5 cm, base rounded, oblique, apex acuminate; petiolule ca. 5 mm. Peduncle ca. as long as petiole, slender. Spathe small, ca. 6.5 cm in total; tube pale green, funnelform, ca. 2.8 cm, throat margins obliquely truncate, not auriculate, ca. 1.5 cm in diam. at mouth; limb erect, dark green, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3 × 1.5 cm, apex acuminate with a short tail at tip, base slightly constricted, with a white ca. 5 mm high basal zone. Male spadix slender; male flowers sparse; synandria of 2–4 stamens, subsessile; anther cells subglobose, opening by an apical slit. Appendix erect, ca. 2.2 cm, slender, with scattered, several, short, subulate neuter flowers from base to apex. Neuter flowers less than 1 mm. Fl. May.
* Tropical forests; ca. 800 m. S Yunnan.
Chinese records of Arisaema balansae Engler (H. Li, Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 8(3): 99. 1988) and A. ramurosum Alderwerelt van Rosenburgh (Gusman & Gusman, Gen. Arisaema, 220. 2006; Gusman, Aroideana 30: 43. 2007, p.p., as to Vietnamese element) are referable to A. austroyunnanense.
金江南星 jin jiang nan xing
Arisaema jinshajiangense H. Li.
[Description tentatively copied from Gusman & Gusman, 2006:] Plants deciduous, to 120 cm tall and 60 cm wide. Subterranean stem a subglobose or cylindrical tuber, 2.5–6 cm in diam. Pseudostem green, to 45 cm. Cataphylls 3, flesh colored, longitudinally striped and mottled, lanceolate, 2–40 cm, apex obtuse for the shortest. Leaves 2, subopposite; petiole light green, plain or stained with purple, to 60 cm; blade trifoliolate; ß=90º[??]; leaflets green, adaxially with impressed, thin and light green veins and a broad, white-green central midvein, abaxially paler, sometimes flushed carmine; margins undulate and dentate with white or red, irregularly spaced teeth, base convex and petiolulate, apex acuminate. Central leaflet subrhombic, shorter than lateral ones, 20–50 × 10–25 cm, base cuneate, with a petiolule to 4 cm long. Lateral leaflets ovate, 20–55 × 10–25 cm, with a petiolule to 2 cm. Inflorescence emerging when the leaves unfold and held nearly at foliage level. Peduncle pale green, shorter than petioles, 10–20 cm long and ca. 1 cm in diam. Spathe tube green with white stripes, basally white, cylindrical, ca. 7 cm long and 1.5 cm in diam.; mouth margins straight. Spathe limb downcurved, green with conspicuous white stripes and a white spot at throat level, oblong-lanceolate, ca. 6 × 2.5 cm, apex long acuminate. Spadix appendix slightly exserted from tube, erect, cylindrical, 6–8 cm long and ca. 5 mm wide, pale green, ending in a capitate apex, rounded and pale brown; slightly constricted near base and covered with scattered curved, horn-like projections 3–5 mm, often bifid and brown at apex. Spadix fertile zone “male” or “female.” Female part ca. 2.5 cm; pistils densely arranged; ovaries ovoid, ca. 2.5 mm long and ca. 2 mm in diam., each ovary containing ca. 2 ovules; stigma penicillate, borne on a short style. Fruiting spike borne on an erect peduncle. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Oct.
* Among shrubs. Yunnan.
瑶山南星 yao shan nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, ca. 2 × 1.5 cm, renewed seasonally, proceeding a whorl of roots and a few globose offsets at apex around petioles. Cataphylls 2 or 3, whitish green, 5–12 cm, membranous, apex acuminate. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole light green, basal 10–12 cm sheathing, 20–30 cm, without any spots; leaf blade green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, trifoliolate; leaflets sessile, apex acuminate, with a short tail at tip; connective vein distinct, remote from margin for 3–7 mm; terminal leaflet rhombic, 8–15.5 × 6–13 cm, base cuneate; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate-rhombic, 9–18 × 6–11 cm, base obtuse on outer side, attenuate on inner side. Peduncle emerging from petiole sheath, shorter than petiole, green without any spots, 21–25 cm, forecurved after flowering. Spathe pale green; tube white at base, funnelform, 3.3–5 cm × 10–15 mm, throat margins auriculate, recurved outward; limb arching downward [or recurved outward], ovate, 4–6 × 2.6–3.9 cm, with longitudinal white lines inside, auriculate, apex occasionally with a tubular tail 5.5–7.5 cm. Spadix unisexual. Female one: female portion green, conic, ca. 1.5 cm × 8 mm; ovaries densely distributed, globose; stigma sessile and rounded with serrate margin; appendix sessile, erect, pale green, cylindric, ca. 2.5 cm × 3.5 mm, attenuate to base, usually with a few subulate neuter flowers ca. 3 mm at base. Male spadix: male portion 1–1.5 cm, proceeding violet staminate flowers. Synandria of 2 or 3 stamens, violet; anther 2-celled, cells globose, dehiscing by apical pore; appendix as that in female spadix, erect, 2.2–3 cm, naked. Infructescence forecurved or pendulous. Fl. May.
* Evergreen forests, secondary pine forests, grasslands in limestone areas; 1000–2600 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan.
Chinese pinyin
Arisaema menghaiense J. T. Yin, H. Li & Z. F. Xu.
[Copied from Original description of A. menghaiense:] Epiphytes, perennial, dioecious, herbaceous. Tuber depressed-globose, ca. 5 × 10 cm, renewing seasonally, purple outside with brown spots 1–1.5 mm diam.; roots whitish, 2–7 cm long, 1–2 mm in diam. Leaf solitary (from fruiting plant); petiole green, without spots, cylindrical, 20–30 cm long, ca. 1 cm in diam., smooth; leaf blade greenish, membranous, trifoliolate; leaflets petiolulate; terminal leaflet ovate, ca. 20 × 10 cm, base cuneate, apex acute; lateral veins numerous; connective vein 2–3 mm remote from margin; petiolule ca. 15 mm. Lateral leaflets obliquely ovate-lanceolate, ca. 21 × 8 cm, base obliquely cuneate, apex acuminate with filiform tail 5–8 mm; petiolule 8–11 mm. Inflorescences unisexual, appearing before the leaf; cataphylls 3, pale green, oblong, 18–23 cm, membranous, apex obtuse; peduncle white, terete, ca. 26 × 0.3 cm (male), ca. 25 × 1 cm (female); male spathe tube green, cylindrical, ca. 6 × 1.5 cm, throat margin broadly auriculate, strongly outward recurved; limb arched, greenish purple, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 × 5 cm, apex acuminate with a purple tail to 60 cm; female spathe tube whitish green, cylindrical, slightly constricted near throat, ca. 5 × 1 cm; throat obliquely truncate; limb erect, whitish green, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 4 × 3.5 cm, apex acuminate, with a greenish tail to 25 cm. Male spadix with basal fertile portion cylindrical, ca. 3.8 × 0.5–0.6 cm, densely flowered; synandria subsessile, purple; anthers 4–6, subglobose, dehiscing by an apical slit; appendix sessile, greenish, cylindrical, ca. 3.8 × 0.3 cm, apex obtuse, with a few subulate neuter flowers in lower part; female spadix with basal portion cylindrical, ca. 2.2 × 0.8 cm, densely flowered; ovaries green, 1-loculed, ovoid; stigmas subsessile, discoid; ovules 5–6, basal, erect; appendix as in male spadix. Fruiting spadix cylindrical, ca. 5.2 × 1–1.5 cm; appendix ca. 4.5 cm.
About 1800 m. S Yunnan (Menghai) [N Myanmar].
Chinese pinyin
Arisaema [unranked] Clavata Engler, Pflanzenr. 73(IV. 23): 171. 1920.
Underground stems tuberous, whitish inside, axillary buds with accessory buds. Leaves quincuncially arranged, normal leaves pedate. Spadix appendage sessile, with modified sterile flowers on lower part.
Six species: C China to Japan; four species in China (??#endemic).
1a. Appendix narrowly fusiform, attenuate upward, slightly bent outward ........... 20. A. hunanense
1b. Appendix cylindrical, erect, apex rounded, capitate or creased.
2a. Appendix slender, erect, apex abruptly capitate and echinate, slightly exserted from spathe tube 21. A. clavatum
2b. Appendix stout, not capitate, long exserted from spathe tube.
3a. Appendix smooth ........................................................................ 18. A. duboisreymonida
3b. Appendix twisted and creased in upper section ........................................... 19. A. ilanense
云台南星 yun tai nan xing
Arisaema duboisreymondiae Engler; A. zanlanscianense Pampanini.
Tuber subglobose, ca. 2 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3, greenish brown, membranous, apex obtuse. Leaves 2; petiole green, 24–35 cm, basal 10–18 cm sheathing and forming pseudostem, free portion 13–30 cm; leaf blade pedate, leaflets 7–9, oblanceolate or oblong to elliptic, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acuminate, sessile to subsessile, rachis between central and lateral leaflets 1–2.5 cm, rachis between outer leaflets 5–10 mm, these rachises ending with two outer sessile leaflets; central leaflet 7–20 × 2.5–5 cm, subsessile; outermost leaflets 5–12 × 1.5–2.5 cm. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 13–17 cm, exserted from pseudostem 3–5 cm. Spathe greenish white with 3–5 white stripes inside or in female dark purple with pinkish white stripes, ca. 15 cm in total; tube funnelform, 5.5–6 × 2–2.5 cm (mouth); limb oblong or oblong-ovate, 7–8 × 3–3.5 cm, acute at apex with an acumen 5–10 mm. Spadix unisexual; male portion ca. 2 cm; synandria lax; anthers 2–4, anther cells globose, dehiscing by apical pores; female portion ca. 2 × 1 cm; ovaries green; style short; stigma punctate. Appendix sessile, erect, greenish or purplish, cylindrical, 4–7(–14) cm long, 2–5 mm in diam., lower part covered with a few acute neuter flowers. Fl. Apr–May.
* Bamboo forests, evergreen forests, thickets; below 1800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Zhejiang.
宜兰南星 yi lan nan xing
Tuber depressed-globose, 1.3–3 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3–5, whitish to greenish, fleshy, apex mucronate. Leaves 2; petiole terete, 20–55 cm, basal 10–30 cm sheathing and forming pseudostem; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 7–15, sessile, oblanceolate to elliptic, base cuneate, apex acuminate; terminal one 10–22 × 2–4.5 cm, longer or equal to adjacent one. Peduncle 11.5–37 cm, free portion 1.5–7 cm, usually much shorter than petiole. Spathe pale greenish yellowish outside, dark purple inside; tube cylindrical, slightly auriculate at mouth, 6–9 × 1.3–2 cm, pale to greenish yellow outside, dark purple inside, gradually becoming pale to reddish brown below; limb ovate, 6–10 × 3–5 cm, apex acute or sometimes acuminate. Spadix unisexual, 1.5–2.4 cm in male, 1.5–3.4 cm in female; appendix slightly exserted, clavate, 9–15 cm, upper portion dark purple to black, bent outward or slightly downward, lower portion reddish, gradually narrowed toward floriferous part or sometimes stipitate at base with some echinate neuter flowers. Fl. Feb–Mar.
* Broad-leaved forests; 1600–1900 m. N Taiwan.
湘南星 xiang nan xing
Tuber depressed-globose, ca. 2 cm in diam. Cataphylls to 15 cm. Leaves 2; petiole 45–55 cm, lower 1/2 part sheathing and forming pseudostem; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 7–9, oblanceolate; terminal leaflet shortly petiolulate, larger than lateral ones; rachis between central and lateral leaflets 4–6 mm. Peduncle shorter than petiole, free portion 3–6 cm. Spathe reddish inside; tube cylindric, ca. 7 × 2 cm, mouth slightly recurved, not auriculate; limb ovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 cm, long acuminate. Spadix unisexual, male ca. 1.5 cm, female ca. 2.5 cm; ovaries elliptic, ca. 3 mm; style short; stigma small, pilose. Appendix sessile, suberect or slightly recurved, narrowly pyramidal, 4–7 cm × ca. 4.5 mm at middle, narrowed to apex and to base, basal 1.5 cm usually with acute neuter flowers 4–5 mm, in female spadix, smooth in male. Fl. Mar–May.
* Forests, stream sides; 200–800 m. Guangdong, Hunan, E Sichuan (or is this actually Chongqing??).
棒头南星 bang tou nan xing
Tuber subglobose or ovoid-globose, 2–4 cm in diam. Cataphylls green, to 20 cm, membranous, apex obtuse or acute. Leaves 2; petiole green, 40–60 cm, lower one 1/2 sheathing; blade pedate; leaflets (7–)11–15, sessile, oblong or oblanceolate, papery, base cuneate, margin entire, apex abruptly acuminate and caudate; central 5 leaflets nearly equal, 10–19 × 3–6 cm, outward gradually shortened, outermost one 2–4 × 0.5–1.5 cm; rachis between leaflets 5–15 mm. Spathe green, sometimes purplish, with white stripes or not, 7.5–16 cm in total; tube cylindric or narrowly funnelform, 3.5–8 × 1.3–2.5 cm, mouth obliquely truncate or rounded, not recurved; limb oblong, 5–8 × 3–3.5 cm, apex acute. Spadix unisexual; male cylindric, 1.2–1.7 cm × ca. 3 mm; synandria purple; anthers 2 or 3; anther cells globose, dehiscing by apical pores; female conic or elliptic, 2–2.5 cm × 7–8 mm; ovaries greenish, obovoid; ovules 3 or 4; stigma semiglobose, ca. 1 mm. Appendix sessile, green to purple, narrowly cylindric, 2.6–7 cm, slender, ca. 1.5 mm in diam., basal 2–3 cm or whole length sparsely covered with acute and hooked neuter flowers (1–3 mm), apex abruptly swollen into a clavate-head 3–10 × 2–4 mm, densely clavate-echinate. Fl. Apr–Jun.
* Bamboo thickets, broad-leaved forests; 600–1400 m. N Guangdong, W Hubei, Sichuan.
天南星组 tian nan xing zu
Plants with tuber or rarely with robust rhizome. Leaf usually solitary; leaf blade trifoliolate, or unusually quinate. Spathe tube sometimes lamellate inside, limb forecurved, usually widened as wings, sometimes galeate. Spadix appendage basally swollen into a disk and stipitate, upper part usually filiform and long exserted from spathe, or subcylindrical and not exserted from spathe. Anther cells united at apex, dehiscing by a single horseshoe-shaped slit.
About 17 species: mostly in Himalayan region and SW China; 15 species in China (??#endemic).
1a. Lateral veins of leaflets numerous, parallel (2n = 20) ...................................... 26. A. costatum
1b. Lateral veins not parallel (2n = 28, so far as known).
2a. Middle leaflet obovate, obcordate, or obdeltate, shorter than wide.
3a. Spadix appendage not or slightly exserted from spathe.
4a. Spadix appendage subcylindrical, apex rounded ................................... 33. A. asperatum
4b. Spadix appendage filiform ................................................................. 32. A. bonatianum
3b. Spadix appendage distinctly exserted from spathe.
5a. Inflorescence ca. as high as leaf blade ....................................................... 34. A. wilsonii
5b. Inflorescence distinctly below leaf blade.
6a. Spadix appendage basally densely rugose .............................................. 31. A. handelii
6b. Spadix appendage smooth throughout.
7a. Spathe smaller, tube 1.5–3.5 cm ......................................................... 36. A. parvum
7b. Spathe larger, 3–5 cm ......................................................................... 35. A. elephas
2b. Middle leaflets elliptic, ovate, or rhombic, longer than wide and ca. as long as lateral lobes.
8a. Underground stems rhizomatous or spathe mouth galeate-auriculate; all leaflets petiolulate.
9a. Spathe blade not winged sideways; stems thickly rhizomatous ............... 30. A. speciosum
9b. Spathe blade winged sideways and galeate-auriculate.
10a. Underground stems rhizomatous, cylindric .......................................... 23. A. dahaiense
10b. Underground stems tuberous, subglobose .............................................. A. lingyunense
8b. Underground stems tuberous; spathe mouth not galeate-auriculate; leaflets basically sessile.
11a. Spathe tube lamellate inside.
12a. Spathe blade not winged sideways .............................................................. 27. A. utile
12b. Spathe blade winged sideways and vexillate ....................................... 28. A. vexillatum
11b. Spathe tube not lamellate inside.
13a. Spathe blade ovate-lanceolate, apex long acuminate to
caudate
25.
A. intermedium
13b. Spathe blade obovate, apex cucullate or trilobed.
14a. Leaflets covered with golden scales abaxially; spathe
blade cucullate
..................................................................................................... 24.
A. pianmaense
14b. Leaflets without trichome;
spathe blade distinctly 3-lobed
................................................................................................. 29.
A. tengtsungense
凌云南星 ling yun nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber subglobose, 3–7 cm in diam., with many small tubercles. Leaf solitary, emerging after anthesis; petiole ca. 30 cm; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets with petiolule 1–1.5 cm; terminal leaflet rhombic, ca. 24 × 14 cm; lateral leaflets oblique, outer side often 2 × as wide as inner side, ca. 20 × 13 cm, base cuneate at inner side, rounded at outer side. Peduncle shorter than petiole, ca. 25 cm long, ca. 5 mm in diam. Spathe purple with white lines; tube funnelform, ca. 8 × 2.5 cm, without lamella inside; limb incurved, galeate, lateral margins delegated into broad wings, with whitish reticulate networks on both sides, ca. 20 × 20 cm, base constricted, apex rounded with an acumen 3–4 cm. Spadix unisexual; male portion cylindric and [??] cm 9 mm; synandria of 2 or 3 stamens; anthers stipitate, dehiscing by horseshoe slit; female portion conic, ca. 3 × 2 cm; ovaries cylindric, ca. 5 mm; style short; stigma discoid; ovules 2, erect, basal, fusiform; appendix purple, flagellate, ca. 44 (female) to 143 (male) cm in total, lower 13–14 cm subcylindric, ca. 1.5 cm in diam., base attenuate, not truncate, stipe ca. 1.8 cm × 8 mm (in female), ca. 4 mm × 3 mm (male), upward filiform part ca. 30 (female) to 130 cm, pendulous. Berries red. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Jul.
Swamps by mountain streams; 1400–3000 m. Guangxi [W Myanmar].
会泽南星 hui ze nan xing
Arisaema dulongense H. Li.
Plants dioecious. Rhizome horizontal, outside pale brown, inside yellowish, cylindric, 7–8 × 5.5–8 cm, bearing some offsets around pseudostem. Cataphylls 2 or 3, deciduous, transparent, pink, 30–60 cm, membranous. Leaf 1; petiole violet, upward greenish, smooth and not spotted, ca. 80 cm long, ca. 3 cm in diam. at base; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets petiolulate, green adaxially, greenish abaxially, papery, usually covered with hairs, petiolules 2–3.5 cm; terminal leaflet narrowly ovate, to 25 × 18 cm, base rounded, apex acuminate with a long tail; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate, to 18 × 17 cm in outline, base outside ca. 2 × as wide as inside, auriculate. Peduncle basal, erect, pinkish green, not spotted, to 25 cm. Spathe dark purple with whitish longitudinal lines; tube cylindric, 8–9 cm long, 2–3 cm in diam., throat margins slightly recurved, smooth on both sides; limb galeate, oblong, 8–10 cm, apex acuminate, tip with an acumen 2.5–5 cm; lateral sides widened, membranous, as wings, with whitish reticulate networks, whitish longitudinal lines from tube connected at middle of limb. Spadix unisexual. Male spadix: staminate portion cylindric, ca. 4 cm × 3–8 mm (ca. 8 mm in diam. at base), dark violet; synandria violet consisting of 3 or 4 stamens; connected filament violet, ca. 1.5 mm; anthers cells fused, violet, dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; appendix violet, lower part narrowly pyramidal, base truncate with a stipe ca. 8 mm, upward filiform, to 50 cm or more in total, smooth, pendulous. Female spadix: female portion cream colored, subconical, ca. 2.2 × 1.3 cm; ovaries pale green, cylindric; stigma sessile, pale green; appendix as in male spadix, but somewhat longer. Fl. Mar–Apr. 2n = 26 (as A. dulongense).
Evergreen forest margins; 1400–2600 m. NE and NW Yunnan (Dulong Jiang, Huize) [N Myanmar].
片马南星 pian ma nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, 3–4 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, whitish with purple spots, to 21 cm, membranous, apex acute. Leaf solitary; petiole pale green, with purple spots, terete, 30–50 cm; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets subsessile, adaxially green and with dense papillae, grayish green abaxially, densely covered with crassipellicles [= ?] and sparse golden scales; terminal leaflets elliptic, 15–35 × 8–19 cm, base cuneate, apex acute; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate-oblong, outer base ca. 2 × as wide as inner side, rounded. Peduncle terete, 18–32 cm. Spathe purple with whitish longitudinal lines; tube cylindric, 6–7 × 1.5–2 cm, throat margins slightly recurved; limb obovate-spatulate, 7–8 × 4–5 cm, apex abruptly acuminate with a tail 2–3 cm, strongly downcurved. Spadix unisexual. Male portion of spadix ca. 2 cm; synandria of 2 or 3 stamens, connate filaments distinct; anther purple, fused from 2 cells, dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion in female spadix ca. 2.5 cm; ovaries pale green, subcylindric; stigma sessile, concave; appendix subsessile, purple, lower part narrowly conic, upward tapering and drawn into flagellum, in total 24–30 cm, pendulous, base truncate. Fl. May.
* Mixed forests; ca. 2700 m. W Yunnan (Lushui).
高原南星 gao yuan nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, 2–4 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, green to purple, 16–20 cm. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole green, 15–50 × 1–1.5 cm; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets sessile or shortly petiolulate; terminal leaflet ovate, rhombic, or elliptic, (7–)9–12 × 3–11 cm, base cuneate, apex acute to acuminate; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate or rhombic, as large as terminal leaflet. Peduncle green and unmarked, shorter than petiole, 10–26 cm. Spathe green, rarely dark purple, with green or white lines; tube broadly cylindric, (3–)4–8 × 1.5–2.5 cm, smooth inside, throat margins obliquely truncate, not auriculate; limb dark purple, yellowish green, or green, 7–16 × 2–6.5 cm, apex acuminate-caudate into a tail 2–20 cm. Spadix unisexual; male portion ca. 2 cm; synandria of 4 stamens, yellow, dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion ca. 1.5 cm; ovaries obovoid; style short; stigma small. Appendix dark purple, narrowly flagellate, 15–60 cm in total, lower part swollen fusiform or cylindric, smooth, curving above and exserted from tube, gradually drawn into flagellum, sigmoid and pendulous in upper part. Fl. May (Liking) and ?Sep (?Dulongjiang). 2n = 28.
Mountain slopes, grassy places; 2600–3400 m. S Xizang [India (Darjeeling, Kumaon, Simla), Kashmir, Nepal].
多脉南星 duo mai nan xing
Arum costatum Wallich, Tent. Fl. Napal. 28. 1824.
Plants dioecious. Tuber brown outside, white inside, depressed-globose, 3–5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3, ca. 50 × 25 cm, membranous. Leaf solitary; petiole teeters[??terete], green, often slightly purplish, 30–50 cm, lower 1/4–1/3 sheathing, ca. 1 cm in diam.; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets deep green adaxially, pale green abaxially, shortly petiolulate or subsessile; terminal elliptic or oblong, 16–30 × 9–16 cm, base auriculate and rounded, inner base narrowly cuneate, apex acuminate; lateral veins very numerous and running almost parallel, impressed adaxially, distinctly raised abaxially. Peduncle emerging from sheath, shorter than petiole, 25–45 cm. Spathe dark purple, with white longitudinal lines; tube cylindric, 4–8 cm, slightly costate inside, but in Xizang specimens almost smooth inside, throat margins slightly recurved; limb narrowly ovate-oblong, incurved, apex acuminate with a filiform tail 3–4 cm. Spadix unisexual; male portion 2–3.7 cm; synandria of 3–5 stamens; connected filaments distinct, dehiscing by a horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion 2.4–3.5 cm; ovaries green; style short; stigma white, discoid; appendix dark purple, flagelliform, very long, pendulous from spathe, 20–50 cm, inflated toward base, base truncate, swollen disklike, with a stipe 3–5 mm, smooth throughout. Fl. Jul.
Grasslands in forest areas; 2300–2400 m. Xizang (Nyalam, Lingje [??=Dinggyê]) [Nepal].
网檐南星 wang yan nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, 3–5 cm in diam., with small tubercles. Cataphylls to 9 cm, membranous. Leaf solitary; petiole green with dark purple spots, 20–40 cm, lower 1/3 sheathing; blade trifoliolate; leaflets sessile or subsessile, green with reddish margin; veins raised, often reddish abaxially; terminal leaflet depressed-rhombic or ovate-rhombic, sometimes broader than long, 7–15 × 6–11 cm, base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate, 11–14 × 7–9 cm, base rounded to subtruncate, apex acuminate. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 20–22 cm. Spathe tube purplish brown with longitudinal whitish lines, cylindric, 4–5 × 1.5–2 cm, longitudinally lamellate inside; throat margins slightly recurved; limb strongly incurved, dark purple with white longitudinal and reticulate lines (at margin), obovate, 7–8 × 3–5 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male portion 1.5–2 cm long, ca. 4 mm in diam.; synandria of 2–5; connective filaments distinct, 0.5–1 mm; anther dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion conic, 2.6–6 cm; ovaries green, obovoid; stigma subsessile, dark purple; appendix brown, flagelliform, 11–20 cm, thickened toward base 5–15 mm wide, base truncate and stipitate. Fl. May.
Tsuga forest margins, thickets; 2800–3100 m. Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, Myanmar, Nepal].
细腰南星 xi yao nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber brown outside, white inside, depressed-globose, 1.5–3 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, pink to purple, to 8 cm, membranous. Leaf solitary; petiole greenish, not spotted, terete, 15–18 cm, smooth, not verrucose; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets subsessile, green usually with bluish margins; terminal leaflet depressed-obovate or rhombic, 4–5(–11) × 4–5(–10.5) cm, apex abruptly acuminate or rounded with an acumen 2–3 mm; lateral leaflets larger than terminal one, ovate or rhombic, 8–9(–15) × 4(–9) cm, base cuneate, slightly oblique, apex acuminate. Peduncle greenish as petiole, shorter than petiole, 6–10 cm. Spathe tube dark purple with whitish longitudinal lines, cylindric, 4.5–5 × 1.5–2 cm, throat obliquely truncate, slightly recurved, not auriculate, inside distinctly lamellate, throat abruptly constricted into an intermediate zone 1.5–2 cm wide; limb above intermediate zone strongly dilated, reniform or subcordate, 3–5 × 4–7 cm, purple with whitish reticulate networks, apex rounded with a tubular tail 3–4 cm. Spadix unisexual; male portion cylindric, ca. 2 cm × 5 mm (include flowers); synandria of 3 or 4 stamens; connective filaments purple, distinct; anthers yellowish, globose, dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion green, conic, ca. 1.2 cm × 8 mm, ovate; stigma subsessile, dark purple. Appendix purple, flagellate, 9–11 cm, base swollen, 4–5 mm in diam., truncate and stipitate; stipe 8–10 mm, upper part of appendix filiform, slightly recurved following spadix limb, not pendulous. Fl. Jun.
Thickets, grasslands on slope. 3500–3700 m. S Xizang [E Nepal].
腾冲南星 teng chong nan xing
Arisaema tengtsungense var. pentaphyllum H. Li.
Plants dioecious. Tuber globose, 1–2 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2, whitish pink, short, 2–4 cm, membranous. Leaf solitary; petiole terete, 14–77 cm; leaf blade trifoliolate or extraordinarily quinate; leaflets sessile, green adaxially, pale green abaxially; terminal leaflet elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 5–14 × 3–7 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 6–12 × 3–9 cm, base cuneate at inner side, rounded at outer side. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 7–25 cm, emerging from petiole sheath. Spathe tube purple with white longitudinal lines, funnel-shaped, ca. 7 × 1.9 cm, throat oblique, not auriculate, slightly recurved; limb dark purple with indistinct whitish lines, galeate, oblong in outline, 5–6.6 × 3–3.5 cm, incurved, apex deeply 3-lobed; middle lobe smaller, lanceolate, ca. 5 × 2 mm; lateral lobes oblong, ca. 1.5 × 1.3 cm, apex rounded. Spadix unisexual. Male spadix: male portion cylindric, 1–1.5 cm; synandria of 2 or 3 stamens; anthers subsessile, globose, dehiscing by horseshoe slit; appendix pendulous, flagelliform, 8–15 cm, basal 2–3 cm narrowly conic, 2–3.5 mm diam. at base, base truncate with a slender stipe 3–4 mm. Female spadix not seen by present authors. Fl. Jun–Jul.
Evergreen forests, Rhododendron thickets on mountain summits; 2600–3200 m. W Yunnan (Jingdong, Lushui, Tengchong) [N Myanmar].
美丽南星 mei li nan xing
Arum speciosum Wallich, Tent. Fl. Napal. 29. 1824; A. eminens Schott; A. speciosum var. eminens (Schott) Engler.
Plants dioecious. Rhizome cylindric, 4–10 cm long, 2–4 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, reddish brown, inner one to 15 cm. Leaf solitary; petiole pale green, not spotted, 15–50 cm long, 1–1.5 cm in diam. at base; leaf blade trifoliate; leaflets petiolulate; petiolule pale green, not spotted, 1–1.5 cm, green with narrow red margin; terminal leaflet dull adaxially, ovate or oblong, 11–13 × 4–7 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate or acute; lateral leaflets obliquely oblong to lanceolate, larger than terminal leaflet, 13–16 × 4.5–6.5 cm, base strongly asymmetric (one side cuneate, other deeply cordate), apex abruptly shortly acuminate. Peduncle whitish with tiny brown dots, 2.5–10 cm, much shorter than petiole. Spathe dark purple, with whitish longitudinal lines; tube cylindric, 4–10 × 1–3 cm, throat margins oblique-truncate, slightly outcurved; limb arching over spadix, oblong-lanceolate, 8–20 × 6–8 cm, margins spreading, apically gradually acuminate, drooping(?). Spadix unisexual; male portion cylindric, ca. 2.5 cm × 5 mm; staminate flowers purple; synandria of 3–5 stamens; connected filaments distinct; anther cells dehiscing by a single horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion subconical, ca. 1.7 × 1.2 cm; ovaries angulate-conic; stigma sessile, punctate. Appendix pink to dark purple, to 8 mm in diam., shallowly densely rugose or verrucose, base narrowed into a stipe ca. 1 cm, upward filiform, green to purple, 20–80 cm. Fruiting peduncle erect; berries red, obovoid, [??- OR or] obconic, angulate. Fl. Apr–Jun, fr. Oct.
Broad-leaved forests; 2400–2800 m. S Xizang [Bhutan, NE India, Nepal].
疣序南星 you xu nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, 2–4.5 cm in diam., with many fimbriate roots. Cataphylls 1 or 2, whitish green, flushed purplish, to 17–36 × 1–1.5 cm, membranous, apex acute, sometimes obtuse. Leaf solitary; petiole dark green, unmarked, 17–55 cm, smooth; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets green adaxially, pale green abaxially, margin crisped or shallowly crenulate, petiolulate; terminal leaflet obovate to obcordate, ca. 16 × 20 cm, apex depressed or concave with a short mucro, petiolule 1–3 cm; lateral leaflets depressed-rhombic or obliquely ovate, 19–26 × 15–20 cm, base obliquely rounded or truncate, decurrent with petiolule, apex abruptly acuminate or acute, sometimes with a filiform tail ca. 1.5 cm; petiolule winged, 1–2 cm. Peduncle whitish green to dark green, unmarked, much shorter than petiole, emerging from petiole sheath, 15–20 cm, smooth. Spathe green, purple, or dark green with broad white stripes. Spathe tube funnelform, 5–6 cm long, 2 (base) to 4 (at throat) cm in diam., neither auriculate; limb slightly incurved or suberect, oblong, ca. 15 × 4–6 cm, apex acuminate, sometimes with a filiform tail 2–3 cm. Spadix unisexual. Male spadix: male portion cylindric, 3.4–4 × 1–1.5 cm (including flowers); synandria with stipe 2–3 mm; anthers usually 4, globose, each dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; appendix whitish with purple flagellum, base ca. 1.5 cm in diam., abruptly narrowed into stipe ca. 6 × 5 mm, above basal 1.5–2 cm densely papillose or rugose, at 4–6 cm zone, upward smooth and gradually drawn into flagellum to 38 cm in total, exserted from spathe tube and tortuous, pendulous in upper flagellate part. Female spadix: female portion 3–4.5 cm; ovaries dense; stigma subsessile; appendix not clear to present authors. Fl. May–Jun.
* Picea forests, secondary forests; 2800–3500 m. SE Xizang (Chatty Xian), NW Yunnan (Dêqên, Weixi).
沧江南星 cang jiang nan xing
Arisaema danzhuense H. Li; A. salwinense Handel-Mazzetti; A. smithii K. Krause.
[Copied and emended from original description of Arisaema danzhuense:] Plants perennial, dioecious. Tuber brown outside, subglobose, 1.5–5 cm diam., bearing 5–10 tubercles 0.5–1 cm diam., easily separated from mother tuber. Cataphylls 2 or 3, greenish, oblong-elliptic, to 20 × 5 cm, membranous. Leaf solitary; petiole greenish, cylindric, 40–60 × 0.5–2.5 cm, densely verruculose with whitish spinules, sheathed in proximal 1/3; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets sessile or subsessile, green adaxially with dark purple spots, greenish abaxially, margins purple; midrib and lateral veins raised abaxially, verruculose with whitish spinules; terminal leaflet depressed-rhombic, 15–21 × 16–20 cm, base broadly cuneate, apex acute; lateral veins 7 per side; connective veins 3, 1–15 mm from margin; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate, 20–30 × 15–21 cm, base broadly cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncle emerging from petiole sheath, greenish, 40–50 × 0.7–1.2 cm, verruculose and spinulescent. Spathe greenish or dark purple with white stripes, with ca. 20 longitudinal lamellae 1–3 mm wide; tube cylindric, ca. 5 × 3 cm, throat margins slightly recurved; limb incurved, oblong, ca. 8 × 2–5 cm, apex rounded with acumen ca. 0.5 cm. Spadix unisexual. Female spadix: fertile portion cylindric, ca. 5.5 × 0.7–1.6 cm; flowers dense: ovary oblong-ovate, pale green with green stripes, ca. 5 × 2 mm; ovules 9, subbasal, erect; style short; stigma white, pilose; appendix flagelliform, ca. 14 cm, upper part greenish, filiform, tortuous, smooth, base swollen to 6 mm in diam., truncate and stipitate, stipe ca. 3 mm. Male spadix: fertile portion cylindric, ca. 3 cm long, ca. 0.8 cm in diam.; synandria stipitate; stipe ca. 1 mm; anthers 3–5 (mostly 4), whitish, obovoid, dehiscing by a horseshoe-shaped slit; appendix as in female spadix.
* Mountains, among shrubs on slopes, meadows by rivers; 2800–3000 m. S Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
刺柄南星 ci bing nan xing
Arisaema cochleatum Stapf ex H. Li.
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, ca. 3 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, purplish, to 15–20 cm. Leaf solitary; petiole 30–50 cm, with dense whitish papillose spines, basal 5 cm sheathing; leaf blade trifoliolate; terminal leaflet broadly obovate, 16–23 × 18–27 cm, base cuneate, apex truncate or concave with acute acumen; lateral leaflets rhombic-oblong, 17–28 × 15–22 cm; all leaflets spinose at midrib abaxially. Peduncle 25–60 cm, verrucose, scabrid. Spathe dark purple, with whitish green stripes; tube cylindric, 5–6 cm; throat margins not recurved, neither auriculate; limb suberect, oblanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 8–12 cm, acuminate. Spadix unisexual: male portion in spadix cylindric, ca. 3 cm; synandria lax, shortly stipitate; anthers 2 or 3, yellowish, depressed-globose, dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion conic, 2–3 cm; ovaries subcylindric; stigma sessile, discoid. Appendix cylindric, not flagelliform, 6.5–9 cm, to base abruptly thickened, 2.5–4 mm in diam., base truncate with a stipe 3–5 mm, apex slightly recurved, not pendulous. Fl. May–Jun.
* Forests, thickets; 1300–2900 m. S Gansu, W Henan, W Hubei, NE Hunan, Shanxi, E Sichuan (or is this actually Chongqing??).
川中南星 chuan zhong nan xing
Arisaema wilsonii var. forrestii Engler.
Plants dioecious. Tuber dark brown outside, whitish inside, globose, 5–7 cm in diam, bearing some tubercles around petiole base. Cataphylls 3 or 4, dark purple, with tiny greenish stripes, to 30 × 7 cm, apex obtuse. Leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets sessile, light green adaxially, dull abaxially, margins usually cristate or crenulate, midrib and lateral veins raised abaxially; terminal leaflet depressed-obovate, 15–26 × 18–28 cm, base cordate, apex nearly truncate with a broad and short acumen; lateral leaflets rhombic or obliquely ovate, longer than central one, to 37 × 24 cm, apex abruptly acuminate. Peduncle yellowish green, shorter than petiole, ca. 35 cm, papillose. Spathe purple with yellowish stripes; tube cylindric, 6–8 cm long, ca. 3 cm in diam., throat margins slightly recurved, not auriculate; limb oblong or obovate-oblong, 10–15 × 5–8 cm, apex abruptly acute with an acuminate tail 3–4 cm, incurved. Spadix unisexual; male portion 5.5–6 cm × 6–7 mm; synandria stipitate, lax; anthers 3 or 4, reniform, dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; female portion conic, ca. 2 × 1.3 cm; ovaries green, obconic; style distinct; stigma purple. Appendix robust, greenish dark purple, to 23 cm in total, lower part narrowly pyramidal, ca. 1.4 cm in diam., base truncate with a stipe ca. 10 × 7–8 mm, upward gradually narrowed into flagellum, tortuous, sometimes pendulous. Berries red, oblong, mature one ca. 10 × 7 mm. Fl. May, fr. Jun.
* Broad-leaved forests, forest margins, grassy slopes; 1900–3200 m. Gansu, Sichuan (Emei Shan), SE Xizang, W Yunnan.
The long peduncle of this species which lifts the inflorescence as high as the leaf blade, probably an adaptation to its grassy habitat, makes this species comparable to the Himalayan Arisaema propinquum Schott.
象南星 xiang nan xing
Arisaema dilatatum Buchet; A. rhombiforme Buchet.
Plants dioecious. Tuber subglobose, 2–5 cm in diam. Cataphylls usually 2, reddish brown, to 13 cm, acute. Leaf solitary; petiole green, often verrucose, 20–30 cm long, base ca. 2 cm in diam. Leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets green with cristate margins; terminal leaflet sessile, obovate to obcordate, 5–10 × 6–13 cm, base narrowly cuneate, apex abruptly acute; lateral leaflets obliquely oblong or ovate, 7–14 × 5–10 cm, base broadly cuneate, apex acute. Spathe purple with green or whitish stripes; tube cylindric, 3–5 × 2–2.5 cm, throat margins obliquely truncate, neither recurved nor auriculate; limb incurved or suberect, dark purple, oblong, 7–10 × ca. 4 cm, apex abruptly acuminate. Peduncle green, 11–15 cm, verrucose. Spadix unisexual. Male spadix: male portion cylindric, ca. 3 cm long, ca. 1.1 cm in diam.; synandria stipitate; stipe reddish, 2–3 mm; anthers 2–5, yellow, obovoid, dehiscing by a horseshoe-shaped slit; appendix sessile, to 20 cm in total, tortuous but not pendulous, lower 4–5 cm whitish, cylindric, ca. 8 mm in diam., narrowed to base, base not truncate, abruptly attenuate to male portion, above basal 4–5 cm purplish to dark purple, narrowed into flagellum. Female spadix: female portion cylindric, ca. 2 × 1.2 cm; ovaries green, oblong-ovoid; style green, short; stigma white to purple, pilose; appendix sigmoid, ca. 16 cm, lower part white or pale purple, base abruptly narrowed into a purple stipe ca. 8 × 8 mm. Berries red, oblong; seeds 5–8, pale brown, ovate. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Aug.
Coniferous forests, bamboo forests, meadows, usually among mossy rocks; 1800–4000 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Myanmar].
小南星 xiao nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber globose, 1.2–1.8 cm. Cataphylls 3–4.5 cm long, acute. Leaf solitary; petiole green, 6–18 cm, smooth; leaf blade trifoliolate; terminal leaflet obovate or obcordate, 1.8–5.5 × 2–6 cm, base cuneate usually with red margins, apex truncate or concave, with a short acumen; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate, 3–8 × 3–7 cm, acuminate. Peduncle green, shorter than petiole, 5–12 cm, smooth. Spathe green or purple; tube dark purple, with whitish stripes, cylindric, 1.5–3.5 × 1.3–1.5 cm; throat obliquely truncate, not recurved; limb green or purple, lower part whether or not [??] striped, broadly lanceolate, 3–6 × ca. 3.6 cm, acute or acuminate, incurved. Spadix unisexual. Male portion ca. 6 mm; synandria stipitate; anthers usually 2, yellow, dehiscing by horseshoe-shaped slit; female flower unknown; appendix shorter than spathe, 5–6 cm, slender, base suddenly expanded into a disk, stipitate, upper part recurved. Fl. May–Jun.
* Alpine grasslands, meadows; 3000–3600 m. W Sichuan (Kangding), Yunnan (Dali, Luquan, Yangbi).
Chinese pinyin
Arisaema [unranked] Nepenthoidea Engler, Pflanzenr. 73(IV. 23): 208. 1920.
Underground stems tuberous. Phyllotaxis quincuncial. Leaves trifoliolate or pedate, usually glaucous abaxially. Inflorescence emerged and unfolded before leaves. Spadix appendage terete, base stipitate.
Three species: SW China to E Himalaya; all in China (??#endemic).
1a. Leaves trifoliolate ............................................................................................... 37. A. wattii
1b. Leaves palmate to pedate, with (3–)5–9 leaflets.
2a. Leaves with 7–9 leaflets ............................................................................. 39. A. meleagris
2b. Leaves with (3–)5(–7) leaflets .............................................................. 38. A. nepenthoides
双耳南星 shuang er nan xing
Arisaema biauriculatum W. W. Smith ex Handel-Mazzetti.
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, 2.3–5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3 or 4, green or violet, with purplish spots, to 15–20 cm, apex acute or obtuse. Leaves 2; petiole as cataphylls, yellow-green with dark brown spots consisting of tiny striae, ca. 30 cm; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets sessile, green; terminal leaflet elliptic, 15–21 × 4–9 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate; lateral leaflets narrowly obovate, oblique, ca. as long as terminal one, base auriculate, rounded on outer side, narrowly cuneate on inner side. Peduncle emerging before leaves, ca. as long as petiole. Spathe purplish brown or purplish green, 11–13 cm in total; tube cylindric, 4.5–6.5 × 1–2 cm, throat margins with auricle 1.5–2.5 cm wide, recurved; limb broadly ovate, 6–7 × 3.5–5 cm, base slightly constricted, apex shortly acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male portion 1.5–3 cm; synandria lax; anthers 2, shortly stipitate, purple, dehiscing by apical pore; female conic, 1.5–2.1 cm; ovaries obovoid; basal ovules 4; style short; stigma discoid. Appendix erect, whitish green, cylindric, 2.5–4.5 cm long, 4.5–5 mm in diam., base truncate with a stipe 5–7 mm, middle part slightly constricted, apex obtuse. Berries red; seeds 4, ovoid. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun–Sep.
Mixed broad-leaved forests, mossy evergreen forests, grassy slopes; 2100–3300 m. SE Xizang (Mêdog), Yunnan [India (Assam, Munnipore), NE Myanmar (W slope of Gaoligong Shan)].
猪笼南星 zhu long nan xing [or 潘南星 pan nan xing]
Arum nepenthoides Wallich, Tent. Fl. Napal. 26. 1824; Arisaema pangii H. Li.
Tuber depressed-globose, 6–7 cm in diam. Cataphylls, petioles, and peduncle reddish or greenish, densely covered with dark green, dark brown, or black irregular spots consisting of parallel striae. Cataphylls 3, to 25 cm, obtuse at apex. Petiole 45–55 cm, basal 20–25 cm sheathing, and forming a pseudostem 25–30 cm; leaf blade digitate; leaflets 5(–7), dull green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, terminal one with petiolule 2–3 cm; lateral 2 leaflets sessile; terminal leaflet oblanceolate, 16–20 × 4–5 cm; outermost leaflets 12–14 × 3–4 cm, extremely oblique, narrowly cuneate at inner base, distinctly auriculate semi-ovate at outer side. Peduncle emerging from pseudostem, shorter or longer than petiole. Spathe tube yellowish with brownish or dark brown spots at both sides, cylindric, 3–8 × 1.2–2.5 cm, mouth broadly auriculate, auricles semi-orbicular, to 2 cm wide, acuminate, outcurved; limb arching, yellowish with numerous black spots, triangular-ovate, 3–10 × 2–5 cm, acuminate. Spadix unisexual: male portion ca. 1.5 cm; synandria lax; anthers 1–3, violet, shortly stipitate; anther cells globose, dehiscing by apical pores; female portion cylindric, 2–2.5 cm × 8–12 mm; ovaries dense, green, obovoid; stigma yellowish with some brown spots, subsessile, 2–7.5 × 5–7 mm (base), punctate, obtuse, truncate and stipitate; stipe ca. 10 mm and glabrous in female, ca. 8 mm with a few acute neuter flowers in male spadix. Berries red, globose, ca. 8 × 7 mm, with a black stigma; seeds brown, globose, verrucose. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Oct. 2n = 26.
Tsuga forests, Quercus forests, forest banks and margins; 2700–3600 m. S Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India (Darjeeling, Sikkim), N Myanmar, Nepal].
A Chinese record of Arisaema ochraceum Schott (Lacaita, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 43: 483. 1916) is referable to A. nepenthoides.
褐斑南星 he ban nan xing
Arisaema meleagris var. sinuatum Buchet; A. paichuanense Z. Y. Zhu; A. shimienense H. Li.
Tuber subglobose or depressed-globose, 1–2.5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2, 4–12 cm, membranous, apex obtuse. Leaf solitary, pedate; petiole green with brown spots, 10–23 cm; leaflets 7–9(–12), lanceolate, 3(outermost one) to 10 × 1–2.5 cm, acute at base, margin entire, usually erose, acuminate at apex; central 3 subequal, remote, sessile; outer lateral leaflets dichotomous; rachis between leaflets 5–10 mm. Peduncle green with brown spots, shorter than petiole, 5–15 cm. Spathe purplish brown with numerous dark brown spots, 6–9 cm in total; tube cylindric, 3–4 cm × 8–12 mm, throat auriculate and outcurved; limb suberect, dark purple at apex, ovate to elliptic, ca. 3.5 × 2 cm, apex acute or acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male portion ca. 7 mm; female ovate, ca. 7 × 4 mm; synandria lax; anthers 2–4, sessile; anther cells subglobose, dehiscing by lateral slits; ovaries yellow, obovoid; stigma subsessile, subglobose. Appendix erect, subcylindric, basal part, upper part purple, obtuse at apex, base whitish with purple spots, narrowed into stipe 5–10 mm. Fl. May–Jun.
* Broad-leaved forests, bamboo thickets; 2000–3000 m. Chongqing (Chengkou), Sichuan, Yunnan (Chen-Xiong[??=Chuxiong], Dali).
This species is similar to Arisaema auriculatum in A. sect. Tortuosa in its small size, range of variation of leaf shape, and coloration of the spathe.
象头花组 xiang tou hua zu
Arisaema [unranked] Franchetiana Engler, Pflanzenr. 73(IV. 23): 148. 1920.
Tuber purple outside, globose, base of axillary buds swelling. Leaves 1 or 2; blade trifoliolate. Spadix unisexual; appendix pyramidal or subcylindric, robust, suberect or apex outwardly recurved, base attenuate into a stipe; anther cells opening by an apical pore or slit.
Four species: SW China, N Myanmar; four species (three endemic) in China.
1a. Spathe unfolded before leaf blade, spathe blade shorter than tube, erect or forecurved but not galeate.
2a. Spathe basically white, tube thick; spadix appendage thick ................. 40. A. candidissimum
2b. Spathe basically purple, tube slender; spadix appendage thick ................ 42. A. lichiangense
1b. Spathe unfolded after leaf blade, spathe blade longer than tube, arched and pendulous.
3a. Spathe arched and galeate, enclosing spadix appendage ..................... 41. A. franchetianum
3b. Spathe arched but not galeate, spadix appendage seen from outside ............... 43. A. fargesii
白苞南星 bai bao nan xing
Tuber depressed-globose, 3–5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3 or 4, pinkish brown, sparsely spotted with whitish dots, 5–24 × 4–5 cm, membranous, apex obtuse, convolute, encircling petiole. Leaf solitary; petiole entirely green, 15–35 cm, base ca. 1.2 cm in diam., smooth; blade trifoliolate, papery; leaflets sessile, ovate or nearly orbicular, apex rounded or acute; terminal leaflet 6–8 × 7–9 cm, base shortly cuneate; lateral leaflets slightly oblique, 5–6 × 4–8 cm. Spathe pale green or white with green or purple longitudinal lines; tube cylindric, 3–4 × ca. 2 cm; throat margins recurved; limb ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5–6 × 3–4 cm, apex with a tail 2–3 cm. Spadix unisexual; male spadix: male portion cylindric, 1.6–2 cm × 3–4 mm; staminate synandria of 2 or 3 staminodes; anther cells yellow, subglobose, opening by apical pores; appendix sessile, green to purple, cylindric, 3–4 cm × 2–3 mm, naked, from middle slightly recurved outward, or erect, apex acute. Female spadix: female portion oblong, ca. 2.1 cm; ovaries green, obovoid; stigma subsessile, rounded; appendix suberect or erect, white or pale green, funnel-shaped, subcylindric, ca. 4.5 cm × 5 mm, naked, base attenuate, apex acute, obtuse.
* Quercus forests, valley thickets; 2200–3300 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
象头花 xiang tou hua
Arisaema delavayi Buchet; A. purpureogaleatum Engler.
Tuber renewed seasonally, creamy-red outside, depressed-globose, 1–6 cm in diam., bearing many tubercles around. Cataphylls 2 or 3, pale brown with purplish spots, membranous. Leaf solitary, trifoliolate; petiole creamy-red or pale green without spots, 20–50 cm long, 1–2 cm in diam. at base, abaxially subleathery; leaflets sessile or subsessile; terminal leaflet ovate, broadly elliptic, or subovate, 7–23 × 6–22 cm, base shortly cuneate to rounded, apex abruptly attenuate; lateral leaflets obliquely elliptic, 6–20 × 5–19 cm, base cuneate. Peduncle erect in flowering, recurved at fruiting, brown with white dots, shorter than petiole, 10–30 cm. Spathe dirty purple or dark purple with white or greenish white longitudinal lines; tube cylindric, 4–6 × 1.2–2 cm; throat margins slightly recurved; limb galeate-recurved, 4.5–11 × 3–5 cm, long acuminate with a tubular tail 5–6 cm, whiplike, pendulous. Spadix unisexual. Male spadix: male portion narrowly conic, 1.5–4 cm × 2.5–6 cm long, base attenuate into a short stipe, 4–8 mm in diam., apex 1–2 mm in diam., from middle recurved, sometimes suberect. Female spadix: female portion cylindric, 1.2–3.8 cm × 8–20 mm; ovaries dense, greenish purple, ca. 5 mm; basal ovules 2, erect; stigma convex; appendix as in male spadix. Berries yellowish brown to red, obconic, ca. 12 × 5 mm. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Sep–Oct.
Forests, thickets, grasslands; 900–3000 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan [N Myanmar].
丽江南星 li jiang nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber renewed seasonally, brown outside, yellowish white inside, subglobose, 3–4.5 cm in diam., usually with tubercles. Cataphylls 3, brown with purple dots, membranous, inner one 7–15 cm, purplish brown with whitish spots. Leaf solitary; petiole purplish brown with some whitish dots, 20–37 cm long, basal 4–5 cm sheathing; leaf blade green, subleathery, trifoliolate; leaflets sessile, sometimes shortly petiolulate, broadly ovate or subrhombic, base broadly cuneate or rounded, margin entire, apex acute or abruptly acuminate; terminal leaflet 6–15 × 6.5–13 cm; lateral leaflets smaller, 5.5–13 × 4.5–10 cm, base oblique. Peduncle purplish brown with tiny whitish dots, shorter than petiole, 13–24 cm. Spathe purple or purplish red, with whitish or greenish longitudinal lines, 7–10 cm in total, tube broadly cylindric, ca. 2.5 × 1.3–1.5 cm; throat margins slightly recurved; limb erect or slightly recurved, ovate-lanceolate, 3.5–4 cm, long acuminate, with a connective whitish intramarginal line along upper part. Spadix unisexual; male spadix: male portion cylindric, 9–15 mm long, 2–3 mm in diam.; synandria of 1 or 2 stamens; anthers sessile or upper ones subsessile; anther cells purple, globose, opening by an apical pore; appendix erect, 3–4 cm long, 1–2 mm in diam., basal part whitish pink, upward purple, base attenuate into a stipe 3–4 mm, tip obtuse, outwardly recurved. Female spadix: female portion subconical, ca. 10 × 6–7 mm; ovaries green, obconic; basal ovules 3, erect; stigma discoid, sessile; appendix 6–7 cm long (including stipe), base swollen, 3–4 mm in diam, attenuate into stipe ca. 10 × 1 mm, lower part whitish purple and upward dark purple. Fl. Jun–Jul.
* Pinus forests, deciduous broad-leaved forests in valley, secondary thickets; 2400–3200 m. SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
螃蟹七 pang xie qi
Arisaema bogneri P. Boyce & H. Li.
Plants dioecious. Tuber subglobose, 3–5 cm in diam., with a few tubercles. Cataphylls 3, brown, inner one ca. 15 cm. Leaf solitary, trifoliolate; petiole 20–40 cm, base 6–7 mm in diam., lower 1/4 sheathing; leaflets sessile, membranous; terminal leaflet rhombiform or ovate-oblong to ovate, 12–32 × 9–27 cm, base shortly cuneate or combined with lateral leaflets, apex acute; lateral leaflets obliquely elliptic, outer side semi-ovate, 9–23 × 6–16 cm. Peduncle emerging from petiole sheath, slender and shorter than petiole, 18–26 cm. Spathe purple with whitish longitudinal lines; tube subcylindric, 4–8 cm long, 1.5–2 cm in diam.; throat margins recurved and auriculate; limb arching or suberect, narrowly triangular, 6–12 × 4–4.5 cm, long acuminate with a tail 1–4 cm. Spadix unisexual; male portion cylindric, 2.5–3 cm × 4–5 mm; synandria of 2–4 stamens; anther cells ovoid, opening by an apical pore; female portion ca. e cm [??]; ovaries angulate; stigma subsessile, papillose. Appendix in both spadices robust, narrowly conic, 4.5–9 cm long, lower part 7–15 mm in diam., base attenuate onto a short stipe, not truncate, upward long acuminate, apex obtuse, ca. 5 mm diam. at base, suberect or slightly recurved. Fl. May–Jun.
* Forests, thickets, in rocks; 900–1600 m. S Gansu, W Hubei, NE Sichuan (or is this actually Chongqing??), NW Yunnan (Gongshan).
曲序组 qu xu zu
Arisaema [unranked] Tortuosa Engler, Pflanzenr. 73(IV. 23): 185. 1920; Flagellarisaema Nakai.
Underground stems tuberous. Phyllotaxis quincuncial. Leaves 1 or 2(or 3); blades trifoliolate or pedate. Spathe limb erect or incurved, usually ovate. Spadix appendix elongate, sigmoid, tortuous, base gradually attenuate and sessile, without neuter flowers; anther cells dehiscing by apical lunate slit or by pore.
About 18 species: E Asia, North America; 12 species in China.
Add 47. A. prazeri to the key!
1a. Spathe basically purplish.
2a. Flowering in autumn; spathe mouth not auriculate ....................................... 53. A. thunbergii
2b. Flowering in spring; spathe mouth widely auriculate.
3a. Spathe blade basally narrowed, not united with oblong auricles, showing 3-lobed appearance 48. A. auriculatum
3b. Spathe blade basally expanded and united with expanded part of spathe mouth, showing single cordate appearance ............................................................................................. 55. A. cordatum
1b. Spathe basically green or white.
4a. Spathe white (2n = 22).
5a. Leaf blade trifoliolate; mature spadix bisexual ........................................... 52. A. odoratum
5b. Leaf blade pedately 5–7(–9)-foliolate; mature spadix female .......................... 54. A. mairei
4b. Spathe green.
6a. Terminal leaflet much smaller than adjacent lateral
leaflets (2n = 28)
50.
A. heterophyllum
6b. Terminal leaflet ca. as large as or larger than adjacent lateral leaflets.
7a. Spadix bisexual when mature ............................................................... 49. A. tortuosum
7b. Spadix female when mature.
8a. Leaflets 3–5, linear; ovary spindle shaped ...................................... 44. A. bathycoleum
8b. Leaflets 3, 5, or more, lanceolate to oblong; ovary bottle shaped.
9a. Inflorescence ca. as high as leaf blade; spadix appendage filiform, long exserted from spathe (2n = 16). ..................................................................................................... 51. A. aridum
9b. Inflorescence higher than leaf blade; spadix appendage attenuate, forecurved, slightly exserted from spathe (2n = 24, 48).
10a Leaf blade trifoliolate (2n = 48) .................................................. 45. A. yunnanense
10b Leaf blade 5-foliolate (2n = 24) ........................................... 46. A. quinquelobatum
银南星 yin nan xing
Arisaema bathycoleum Handel-Mazzetti; A. lineare Buchet.
Plants dioecious. Tuber renewed seasonally, depressed-globose, 1–2 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2, creamy-green, membranous, acute. Leaves 1 or 2, encircled by cataphylls; petiole green without spots, 9–25 cm, without sheath in vegetative plants, with sheathing petiole in flowering plants; leaf blade green, papery, entire, trifoliolate, or pedately 5-foliolate; entire blade variable, linear to narrowly oblong, 15–18 × 0.5–4 cm, base narrowly cuneate to shallowly cordate, apex acute to acuminate; trifoliolate leaf: leaflets sessile or subsessile, narrowly lanceolate or elliptic, terminal, 4–12 × 0.5–2.5 cm. Peduncle emerging from petiole sheath, green as petiole, usually longer than petiole, 15–28 cm. Spathe green or pale green; tube funnelform, 5–6 × 1–2 cm; throat margin obliquely truncate, slightly recurved, not auriculate; limb ovate-lanceolate, concave, acute or acuminate. Spadix unisexual. Male spadix: male portion cylindric, ca. 2.2 cm × 4 mm; staminate flower of 2 or 3 stamens; anthers violet, globose, 2-celled, dehiscing by apical pore; appendix sessile, pale green, basal narrowly cylindric, upward filiform, to 20 cm long, base ca. 3 mm in diam., naked, recurved or twining. Female spadix: female portion cylindric, 2–2.5 × ca. 0.7 cm; ovaries yellowish green, narrowly ovoid, style short; stigma capitate; appendix recurved, usually purple, much shorter than that in male spadix, 4–5 cm. Berries red, 1–4-seeded. Fl. Jun, fr. Aug.
* Pinus forests, grassy slopes, alpine grasslands; 1600–3400 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.
山珠南星 shan zhu nan xing
Arisaema taliense Engler; A. taliense Buchet var. latisectum Engler.
Plants dioecious. Tuber renewed seasonally, pale brown outside, white inside, depressed-globose or globose, 0.5–4 cm in diam., with some offsets above; offsets sessile, globose. Cataphylls 2, green, sometimes purplish, 3–25 cm, papery, apex obtuse. Leaves 1(or 2); petiole encircled by cataphylls, green, without spots, basal 2/3 sheathing in flowering plants, unsheathed in vegetative plants, 40–70 cm; leaf blade green on both surfaces, base cuneate or obtuse, apex acuminate, trifoliolate; terminal leaflet elliptic, sometimes ovate, 10–19 × 5–12 cm, base cuneate or obtuse, apex acuminate, petiolule 0–1.5 cm; lateral leaflets sessile or shortly petiolulate, ovate to lanceolate, 9–15 × 5.5–9 cm, base obliquely cuneate. Peduncle emerging from petiole sheath, green without spots, longer (male) or shorter than petiole, 20–75 cm. Spathe green, with 5 longitudinal white lines, from middle of tube to base of limb; tube 2–2.5 cm long, 1–1.4 cm in diam.; throat margin obliquely truncate, not auriculate; limb arching from base, ovate, ca. 5 × 3.5 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male spadix: male portion pale green, pyramidal, 1.5–2 cm long, base 3–5 mm in diam. (including male flowers); synandria of 2 or 3 stamens; anther cells violet, globose, opening by an apical pore; appendix pale green, cylindric, narrowed upward, 3.5–6 cm long, base 2–2.5 mm in diam., recurved outward or downward, naked. Female spadix: female portion conic, ca. 1.5 cm; ovaries green, obconic; ovules 3, basal; style ca. 0.5 mm; stigma depressed-globose; appendix as in male spadix. Berries red, subcylindric; seeds 2 or 3, ovoid [??] globose. Fl. May–Jul mature, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 48.
Pinus and Pinus-Quercus forests, grassy slopes, roadsides, thickets; 700–3200 m. Sichuan, Yunnan [N Myanmar].
Chinese pinyin
Type: China. Yunnan: Lijiang, Hutiaoxia (虎跳峡, “Tiger Leaping Gorge”), alt. 1860 m, 20 Jun 1995, J. Murata, X. Cheng, H. Takahashi, J. Ohno & H. Murata s.n. (holotype, TI; isotype, ??).
Haec species quoad inflorescentiam eadem ac Arisaema yunnanense Buchet est, sed ab eo foliis 5-foliolatis et chromosomatum numero diploideo 2n = 24 differt.
Plants paradioecious, 10–40 cm high. Tuber depressed-globose, 1–5 cm in diam.; phyllotaxis quincuncial; tuberlet one in each axil of leaves. Leaves 1 or 2; pseudostem usually greenish, without spots, 6–28 cm, mouth part narrowly expanding, collarlike; petiole 4–15 cm; blade palmately 5-foliolate; leaflets green, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 4–13.5 × 1–7 cm, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acuminate. Inflorescence unfolded after leaf blade; peduncle longer than petiole, 4–17 cm. Spathe green, with longitudinal white lines; tube 2–2.5 cm long, 1–1.4 cm in diam.; throat margin obliquely truncate, not auriculate; limb arching from base, ovate, ca. 5 × 3.5 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male one: male portion pale green, pyramidal, 1.5–2 cm long, base 3–5 mm in diam. (including male flowers); synandria of 2 or 3 stamens; anther cells violet or creamy, globose, opening by an apical pore; appendage green, narrowly conical, 3.5–6 cm long, base 2–2.5 mm in diam., recurved outward or downward, naked. Female spadix: female portion conic, ca. 1.5 cm; ovaries green, bottle-shaped; ovules 3, basal; style ca. 0.5 mm; stigma depressed-globose; appendix as in male spadix. Pollen surface verrucate between conical spies. Berries red, subcylindric; seeds 2 or 3, ovoid-globose. Fl. May–Jul, mature fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 24*.
* Pinus and Pinus-Quercus forests, grassy slopes, roadsides, thickets; 700–3200 m. Sichuan, Yunnan (does it really have exactly the same habitats, elevation, and distribution (except Myanmar) as A. yunnanense?).
This species is considered to be the diploid ancestor of Arisaema yunnanense that has 2n = 48 chromosomes. It also differs from A. yunnanese in having always quinate leaves.
河谷南星 he gu nan xing
Arisaema prazeri var. variegatum Engler; A. prazeri var. viride Engler.
Plants paradioecious. Tuber renewed seasonally, subglobose, 1–3 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, grayish green, with dark purple striae and spots, 10–28 cm. Leaves 1 (in male plants) or 2 (in female plants); petiole grayish with purple striae and spots, 25–70 cm, basal 1/2–3/4 sheathing; leaf blade green, membranous, trifoliolate; leaflets subsessile; terminal leaflet ovate-lanceolate, 22–25 × 9–10 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate, 17–18 × 5–10 cm. Spathe green with white longitudinal lines; tube cylindric, 4–5.1 cm; throat margin obliquely truncate, not auriculate; limb erect, lanceolate, 6–10 × 1.5–2.5 cm, apex acuminate, with short tail; spadix bisexual and unisexual (male). Male spadix: male portion ca. 3 cm long, base 4–5 mm in diam., terminal; synandria of 2 stamens; anther cells purple, ovoid, opening by a an apical longitudinal slit; appendix green, filiform, to 80 cm, whiplike pendulous. Bisexual spadix: lower female portion cylindrical, 2.3–3 cm long, 5–6 mm in diam.; ovaries green, obovoid, 3-ovuled; stigma subsessile; male portion 1–3.5 cm long, ca. 4 mm diam., staminate flowers as in male spadix; appendix usually dark purple, filiform, 17–22 cm, pendulous. Fl. Jun.
Tropical thickets, evergreen forests, in limestone areas; 100–1500 m. Yunnan (Canyuan, Goju, Menghai) [Myanmar, Thailand].
长耳南星 chang er nan xing
Arisaema auriculatum var. hungyaense (H. Li) Gusman & L. Gusman; A. hungyaense H. Li; A. omeiense P. C. Kao.
Plants paradioecious. Tuber globose, small, 1–2 cm in diam, shortly stoloniferous. Cataphylls 3, brownish purple with tiny black striae on top, to 18 cm, obtuse. Leaf solitary; petiole greenish with some grayish spots, 20–30 cm, lower 1/3 sheathing; blade pedate; leaflets (7–)9–15, sessile, oblanceolate or oblong, base attenuate, margin entire or erose, apex acuminate; central leaflets 10–12 × 2.5–3.5 cm, outer sections sessile, each of 4–7 segments; innermost leaflet usually larger than or equaling central; outermost ones 1.5–4 × 0.3–1.5 cm. Inflorescence emerging before leaves; peduncle grayish green with whitish spots, shorter than petiole, 12–25 cm. Spathe 7–12 cm in total; spathe tube green or pale brown densely flushed with dark purple or dark brown spots, narrowly cylindric, 4–6 cm long, 7–15 mm in diam.; limb deeply trilobate; lobes green or purple, often flushed with dark purple or black spots on back; lateral lobes oblong or oblanceolate, 20–25 × ca. 7 mm, spreading into auricles at tube throat; central lobe ovate to elliptic, 2–3 × 1.4–1.8 cm, base constricted, apex acuminate, incurved. Spadix unisexual; male portion 1.5–2 cm, slender; synandria lax; anthers sessile, violet, globose; anther cells dehiscing with apical pore; female portion conic, 12–15 × 6–7 mm; ovaries dense, green, ovoid; stigma subsessile. Fruit spadix subglobose; berries red. Appendix sessile, dark violet, flagelliform to filiform, 7–12 cm long, slender, 1–2 mm in diam. at basal part, sigmoid ascending; appendix in Hunan specimens (Sang-zhi Forestry Inst. 112, KUN) suberect, narrowly fusiform, ca. 10 cm, below middle grayish violet, above purple; lower part swollen, ca. 7 mm in diam., base abruptly constricted into stipe 1.5 cm long, ca. 2 mm in diam.; upward gradually attenuate, apex obtuse, 1–2 mm in diam. Fl. Apr–Jun.
* Mixed evergreen forests, bamboo forests, secondary forests, wet places in valleys; 1400–3100 m. NW Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan.
曲序南星 qu xu nan xing
Arum tortuosum Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 10. 1831; Arisaema helleborifolium Schott; A. tortuosum var. helleborifolium (Schott) Engler.
Plants monoecious or male. Tuber depressed-globose, 2–6 cm in diam. Cataphylls and petiole variously blotched with pinkish, gray dark brownish, or purplish. Leaves (1 or)2 or 3; petiole 5–200 cm, lower 2/3–5/6 sheathing; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 5–17, shortly petiolulate or sessile, dull green adaxially, greenish abaxially, variously shaped, rhombic-ovate or oblong to lanceolate, base cuneate, apex abruptly acuminate; central leaflet 5–30 × 1–7 cm, lateral leaflets gradually smaller to outermost. Peduncle emerging from sheaths, 30–45 cm long, usually exceeding leaves. Spathe light green, usually glaucous green or dark purple; tube cylindric or funnelform, 2.5–7 × 1.5–3 cm; throat margins obliquely truncate, not recurved; limb slightly incurved, ovate or oblong, 4–12 × 2–5 cm, shortly acuminate. Spadix bisexual or male. Bisexual spadix: lower part female, 2–4 cm; continued male portion 2–3 cm. Male spadix with male portion ca. 4 cm. Appendix ascending, sigmoid, gradually tapering from sessile base to very acute apex, green, glaucous, or dark purple, 7–23 mm long, 3–12 mm in diam. at base, smooth. Synandria widely spaced, stalked (1–3 mm), cream to orange, composed of 2 or 3(–5) anthers each with 2 cells dehiscing by lateral slits. Ovaries broadly ovoid; style short; stigma discoid. Fruiting spadix nearly globose; peduncle erect; berries red; seeds 3–5. Fl. Jun, fr. Aug.
Rocky slopes, path sides, streamsides, especially in disturbed areas; 1300–2900 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal].
天南星 tian nan xing
Arisaema ambiguum Engler; A. brachyspathum Hayata; A. kwangtungense Merrill; A. limprichtii K. Krause; A. manshuricum Nakai; A. multisectum Engler; A. stenospathum Handel-Mazzetti; A. takeoi Hayata; A. thunbergii Blume var. heterophyllum (Blume) Engler; Heteroarisaema heterophyllum (Blume) Nakai; H. manshuricum (Nakai) Nakai.
Plants monoecious and male. Tuber depressed-globose, 2–6 cm in diam. Cataphylls 4 or 5, membranous. Leaf usually solitary; petiole glaucous, 30–60 cm, lower 3/4 sheathing; blade pedate; leaflets 11–19(–21), shortly petiolulate to sessile, dull green adaxially, pale greenish abaxially, variously shaped, oblanceolate, oblong, or linear-oblong, base cuneate, apex acuminate; central leaflet 3–15 × 0.7–5.8 cm, often much shorter than lateral leaflets; 1st outer leaflets 7.7–24.2(–31) × (0.7–)2–6.5 cm, gradually smaller to outermost leaflets, distance between leaflets 0.5–5 cm. Peduncle usually longer than petiole, 30–55 cm. Spathe tube glaucous outside, whitish green inside, cylindric, 3.2–8 × 1–2.5 cm; throat slightly recurved; limb deep-green adaxially, pale greenish to pale yellow abaxially, strongly incurved, 2.5–8 × 4–9 cm. Spadix male and bisexual. Bisexual spadix: lower part female portion 1–2.2 cm, continued male portion 1.5–3.2 cm, with lax synandria and occasionally sterile echinate neuter flowers and ending with appendix; unisexual spadix: male portion 3–5 cm long, 3–5 mm in diam. Appendix ascending, sigmoid, gradually tapering from sessile base to very acute apex, pale whitish, ca. 20 cm, 5–11 mm in diam. at base. Ovaries globose; style distinct; stigma punctate; ovules 3 or 4. Synandria stalked, composed of 2 or 3 anthers, each with 2 cells dehiscing by apical slits. Berries yellowish red or red, cylindric, ca. 5 mm, usually with a single clavate seed. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jul–Sep.
Forests, thickets, grasslands; below 2700 m. Almost throughout China, except Xizang [Japan, Korea].
旱生南星 han sheng nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber nearly globose, 1–3 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, to 17 cm. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole green, unmarked, 16–40 cm, lower 1/4–1/2 sheathing; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 5–9, green adaxially, pale greenish abaxially, linear to narrowly lanceolate, sessile; central leaflet 15–20 × 1–1.5 cm, lateral leaflets gradually smaller and shorter toward outermost, outermost ones 2–3 cm × 1–5 mm. Peduncle green, 10–30 cm, shorter or longer than petiole. Spathe yellowish green, 5–15 cm in total; tube narrowly cylindrical, 2.2–6 cm × 4–20 mm; throat obliquely truncate, not recurved; limb suberect, ovate to narrowly ovate, 4–7 × 1–2 cm, acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male spadix cylindric, 1.8–3 cm, densely flowered; synandria sessile, composed of 2–4 anthers, each with 2 cells dehiscing by apical pores; female spadix 1.2–2.5 cm; ovaries whitish green, obovoid; ovules 3; stigma with short stipe. Appendix sessile, yellowish green to violet, sigmoidly or simply forecurved, 4–17 cm × 2.5–4 mm. Fl. Apr–Jun.
* Grassy slopes, valley thickets along Jinsha Jiang; 1800–2800 m. NW Yunnan.
香南星 xiang nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber subglobose. Cataphylls 2 or 3, membranous. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole green to purplish, unmarked, 13–22 cm, lower 4–7 cm sheathing; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets sessile, ovate to oblong, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acuminate. Inflorescence bisexual in mature plants, fragrant; peduncle green, nearly as long as petiole. Spathe white, 7–8 cm; tube infundibuliform, gradually opening to blade; limb ovate or oblong to narrowly oblong, 5.5–6 × 1.7–4 cm, acute to acuminate, bending forward. Spadix male or bisexual. Male flowers white. Female flowers green or cream colored, congested in basal part of spadix. Spadix appendix extremely fragrant, sessile, dull green, becoming orange, whip-shaped, 5–9 cm, bent down from mouth of spathe. 2n = 22*.
* Humid grassy slopes on forest margin; ca. 1400 m. NC Yunnan (Dayao).
东台南星 dong tai nan xing
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, 3–6 cm in diam. Cataphylls purplish to brownish, membranous, apex mucronate. Leaf solitary; petiole terete, 25–50 cm; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 11–15, oblanceolate to elliptic, base cuneate, apex acuminate; terminal one 10–28 × 2–7.5 cm. Peduncle 15–35 cm, usually shorter than petiole. Spathe white to pale yellow with dark to bronze-purple or reddish purple stripes; tube cylindric, auriculate at mouth, 5–7 cm long, 2–2.5 cm in diam., white to pale yellow with longitudinal purple stripes outside and dark purple stripes inside; limb triangular [??- OR or] ovate, 7–10 × 4–5 cm, apex acute to acuminate. Spadix: male portion 3–4 cm; synandria stipitate, composed of 4 anthers, cells dehiscing from lateral slits. Appendix long exserted, filiform, 40–60 cm, upper portion bent downward and pendulous, lower portion gradually thickened to form a smooth narrowly cylindrical enlargement then gradually narrowed toward floriferous part. Fl. ???.
* Low elevations. E and N Taiwan.
A Chinese record of Arisaema thunbergii subsp. urashima (Hara) H. Ohashi & J. Murata (J. C. Wang, Taiwania 37: 54. 1992) is referable to A. thunbergii subsp. autumnale.
乌蒙南星 wu meng nan xing
Arisaema maireanum Engler; A. wumengense H. Li.
Plants dioecious. Tuber renewed seasonally, in summer dark brown outside, whitish inside, depressed-globose, ca. 3 × 4–5 cm, with numerous whitish unbranched roots around pseudostem. Cataphylls 2 or 3, greenish with pink and whitish blotches or whitish with brownish apex, to 17–18 cm long, 2.7 cm wide, papery, apex obtuse. Leaves 2; petiole 30–40 cm, stout, encircled in cataphylls, green but sheathing part often with dark brown short stirrer, lower 25–30 cm distinctly sheathing, forming pseudostem 25–30 cm; leaf blade pedate, 5–7-foliolate or palmate-digitate; leaflets sessile, base connected and closed, dull green adaxially and light green abaxially; central leaflet elliptic to broadly oblong, apex acute or acuminate, base acute, subsessile; lateral pinnate veins numerous (more than 30 on each side), parallel, connective intramarginal veins 2, remote from margin of 1 to 3–4 mm; outer leaflets as central but somewhat smaller, outermost ones ca. 8 × 3 cm. Spathe emerging from 2nd petiole sheath. Peduncle 33–36 cm, usually shorter than 2nd petiole, green, unmarked or with whitish dots. Spathe tube greenish outside, white inside, unmarked, cylindric, ca. 4 × 1.4–2 cm, smooth; throat slightly recurved, not auriculate; limb white, unmarked, narrowly ovate, 9–11 × 3.7–5.5 cm, apex acute or acuminate, slightly incurved. Spadix unisexual; female spadix: female portion greenish, conic, ca. 1.5 × 1 cm; ovaries obovoid; style pyramidal, short; stigma small, papillose; appendix sessile, cylindric, ca. 14 cm in total, 3–5 mm in diam., dark green throughout, or basal 2–3 cm whitish, then green at middle 1.5 cm, upward narrowed and dull brownish purple, apex 1–2 cm filiform; after exceeding spathe tube, recurved outward for 90°, or sigmoid. Male spadix: male portion cylindric, 1.5–2 cm × ca. 3 mm, densely flowered; synandria subsessile; anthers 2 or 3, yellowish, anther cells globose, dehiscing by apical pores; appendix sessile, purple, flagelliform, 8–15 cm, tortuous. Fl. Jun–Jul.
* Thickets, grassy slopes, riversides; 1900–2000 m. S Sichuan (Huidong), Yunnan (Huize, Luquan).
心檐南星 xin yan nan xing
Arisaema brevistipitatum Merrill.
Plants dioecious. Tuber globose, 1–1.5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, ca. 5 cm, membranous. Leaf solitary; petiole 10–30 cm, slender; leaf blade pedate; leaflets (5–)7, sessile, light greenish, oblong, 7–10 × 1.5–3 cm, membranous, base broadly cuneate, apex acute to abruptly acuminate. Peduncle 2–4.5 cm, slender. Spathe violet when dried; tube funnelform, 3–3.5 × 1–1.4 cm; throat margins broadly auriculate, auricle rounded to 10 cm wide; limb triangular-ovate, ca. 3.5 × 2.5 cm, acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male portion ca. 1 cm × 3 mm, shortly stipitate; synandria composed of 2 anthers, anther cells globose, dehiscing by apical pores; appendix sessile, 15–27 cm, lower portion fusiform, to 4 mm in diam., exserted from throat then narrowed, filiform and pendulous. Fl. Apr.
* Guangdong, Guangxi.
黄檐组 huang yan zu
Dochafa Schott, Syn. Aroid. 24. 1856.
Tuber subglobose. Leaves 1 or 2; leaf blade pedate. Spathe small; tube ovoid; limb ovate, incurved. Spadix bisexual and male. Infructescence nodding. Appendix ellipsoid, small.
One species: arid and cool areas at high elevations (2200–4000 m) in Africa, Arabia, and the Sino-Himalayan region.
黄苞南星 huang bao nan xing
Arisaema daochengense P. C. Kao; A. flavum var. tibeticum (J. Murata) Gusman & L. Gusman.
Plants monoecious and male. Tuber subglobose, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3–5, green, inner ones 8–25 cm. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole green to purplish, unmarked, 11–35 cm long, 4/5 of the length sheathing in flowering plants, not sheathing in nutritive plants; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 5–11(–15), sessile, green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, oblong-lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate, base cuneate, apex acuminate; central one largest, 9–12 × 3–5 cm; outer (lateral leaflets) gradually decreasing to outermost (1.5–4 × 1–1.2 cm). Peduncle emerging from leaf sheath, green, 15–30 cm. Spathe smallest in the genus, 2.5–6 cm in total; spathe tube yellowish green, ovoid to globose, 1–1.5 cm long, 1–1.4 cm in diam., constricted at dark purple throat; limb yellow or green, oblong-ovate, 1.5–4.5 × 0.8–2 cm, acuminate, inside dark purple at least as basal part, slightly incurved. Spadix bisexual and male, very short, 1–2 cm in total. Basal part female portion 3–7 × 5–7 mm; ovaries congested, greenish, obovoid; stigma sessile; upper male portion light yellow, cylindric, 3–7 mm long, 2–3 mm in diam.; male flowers congested; synandria usually composed of 2 anthers; anthers 2-celled, sessile, dehiscent by apical pore; appendix yellowish or yellow green, broadly ellipsoid, 2–5 × 1.5 mm, very short, rugose when dry. Mature infructescence nodding, subglobose, ca. 4 cm in diam.; berries obovoid, 3–4 × 3–5 mm; seeds 3, pale yellowish, 2–2.5 mm. Fl. May–Jun.
Rocky slopes, thickets, croplands, field sides; 2200–4400 m. W Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India].
According to chromosome number and plant size, Murata (J. Jap. Bot. 65(3): 65–73. 1990) divided Arisaema flavum into three subspecies: subsp. flavum (2n = 56, tetraploid), including African and Arabian plants; subsp. abbreviatum (Schott) J. Murata (2n = 56, tetraploid) includes C and W Himalayan plants (Afghanistan to Nepal) and Arabia (Oman); and subsp. tibeticum (2n = 28, diploid) including plants from Bhutan, China, and NE India.
雪里见组 xue li jian zu
Arisaema [unranked] Decipientia Engler, Pflanzenr. 73(IV. 23): 195. 1920.
Underground stem cylindrical rhizome, branched. Leaves 2, pedate. Spathe auriculate at throat, long caudate at apex. Appendix stipitate, erect with truncate base, obtuse or narrowed at apex.
Two species: SW China, N India, Myanmar; one species (endemic) in China.
雪里见 xue li jian
Arisaema guixiense S. Y. Liu; A. rhizomatum var. nudum C. E. C. Fischer; A. rhizomatum var. viride C. E. C. Fischer.
Rhizome cylindric, to 9 × 2.5 cm. Cataphylls 3 or 4,
yellowish purple with dark brown or whitish spots, 2–15 cm. Leaves 2; petiole
greenish or reddish with dark green or dark purple spots, 15–35 cm; blade
pedate, palmate; leaflets (3–)5, petiolulate, dark green adaxially, greenish
sometimes with purple spots abaxially, narrowly oblong to elliptic, base
cuneate, apex acuminate; central leaflet 8–18 × 3–8 cm, petiolule developed to
5 cm; outermost leaflets 5–6 × 1.5–2 cm. Spathe green, dotted with dark purple;
tube cylindric, 4–6 × 1.5–2 cm; throat obliquely truncate, slightly outcurved;
limb lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 4–9.5 × 3–3.5 cm, acuminate and caudate,
tail 6–10 cm, forecurved. Spadix unisexual; male portion 2–2.5 cm; synandria
lax; anthers 2 or 3; cells dehiscing by lateral slits; female portion conic,
1.5–2 cm long, 7–13 mm in diam. at base; ovaries bottle shaped; appendix
terete, base stipitate, apex rounded and rugose. Fl. Sep–Jan.
* Evergreen forests, mossy forests, bamboo thickets, on and between rocks; 600–1600 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, SE Xizang.
花南星组 hua nan xing zu
Arisaema [unranked] Pistillata Engler, Pflanzenr. 73(IV. 23): 151. 1920.
Plants with tubers, paradioecious. Phyllotaxis spilodistichous. Leaves 1 or 2; blade trifoliolate or pedately multifoliolate. Spadix unisexual. Anther cells dehiscing by an apical elliptic or oblong slit; appendix erect, slightly exserted from spathe tube, cylindric, base nearly truncate and stipitate, apex obtuse.
About 57 species: E Asia, North America; six species in China.
1a. Spathe blade cucullate-galeate ......................................................................... 60. A. ringens
1b. Spathe blade flat, not cucullate-galeate.
2a. Underground stem obovoid, stoloniferous ............................................. 58. A. xuanweiense
2b. Underground stem a subglobose tuber, not stoloniferous.
3a. Tuber bluish green outside; leaf blade always trifoliolate, glaucous abaxially, always entire; infructescence nodding ..................................................................................................... 59. A. lobatum
3b. Tuber whitish outside; leaf blade pedate with 5 or more leaflets, or rarely trifoliolate, usually not glaucous abaxially, occasionally serrate or dentate; infructescence upright.
4a. Pseudostem much shorter than petiole (excepting sheath
portion)
............................................................................................................. 61.
A. amurense
4b. Pseudostem longer than petiole.
5a. Leaflets usually 5–7; spathe tube infundibuliform, mouth oblique, scarcely recurved (2n = 26) 62. A. bockii
5b. Leaflets usually 7 or more; spathe tube cylindrical, mouth horizontal, narrowly recurved (2n = 28) 63. A. peninsulae
Chinese pinyin
[Copied from original description:] Plants dioecious. Rhizome vertical, 3–5 cm long, 7–10 mm in diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, whitish green, 3–8 cm, membranous, acuminate at apex. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole greenish, 15–18 cm; leaf blade trifoliolate, green adaxially, pale green abaxially; leaflets sessile, serrate; terminal leaflet suborbicular, 8.8–11 × 6–8.5 cm, base obtuse, apex acute; lateral veins 5 per side, parallel; connective vein 2–3 mm remote from margin; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate, 8.5–10.8 × 5.8–8.2 cm, base rounded, apex acuminate. Peduncle greenish, terete, to 18 cm. Spathe nearly erect, ca. 9.5 cm; tube green, cylindric, ca. 4 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam., basal 1 cm white, throat obliquely truncate, straight or slightly recurved; limb incurved, green with whitish stripes, ovate, ca. 5.5 × 4 cm, abaxially with a large (ca. 1 cm) oblong white area, apex acuminate with a tail ca. 8 cm. Spadix unisexual; Female spadix: fertile portion subconic, ca. 15 mm; flowers dense; ovary green, stigma sessile; appendix erect, whitish green, cylindric, ca. 35 × 3.5 mm in total, base subtruncate, ca. 5 mm in diam., stipitate; stipe ca. 3 × 2 mm. Fl. Apr.
* Habitat??; ca. 2200 m. NE Yunnan (Xuanwei).
花南星 hua nan xing
Arisaema lobatum var. latisectum Engler; A. lobatum var. rosthornianum Engler; A. onoticum Buchet; A. pictum N. E. Brown ex Hemsley.
Plants dioecious. Tuber bluish green outside, globose, 2–4 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3, brown usually with reddish spots, to 15–20 cm, apex acute or obtuse. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole greenish or yellow green with purple spots, 17–35 cm, lower 1/3–1/2 sheathing; leaf blade trifoliolate, green adaxially, pale greenish abaxially, veins pale green adaxially, pink and raised abaxially; terminal leaflet oblong or elliptic, 8–22 × 4–10 cm, base narrowly attenuate or obtuse, apex acuminate, petiolulate, petiolule 1.5–5 cm; lateral leaflets sessile, oblique, oblong, 3–23 × 2–8 cm, outer base auriculate and rounded. Inflorescence unfolded before leaves. Peduncle nearly as long as petiole, usually shorter. Spathe pale purplish or pale green with purple stripes; tube funnelform, 4–7 × 1–2.5 cm, throat not auriculate, obliquely truncate, whether or not narrowly recurved; limb incurved or nearly erect, usually with whitish stripes inside, narrowly lanceolate or ovate, 4–7 × 2.5–3 cm, constricted to base, apex acuminate, usually with a tail 3–5 cm. Spadix unisexual; male portion cylindric, 1.5–2.5 cm; synandria lax; anthers 2 or 3, stipitate; anther cells violet, ovate, dehiscing by apical pore; female portion cylindric or subglobose, 1–2 cm; ovaries green, obpyramidal; style short; stigma discoid. Appendix erect, pale green to whitish green, cylindric, middle slightly constricted, apex obtuse, base truncate and stipitate; stipe 6–8 mm. Infructescence nodding. Fl. Apr–Jul. 2n = 28*, 56*, 84*.
* Forests, thickets, grassy slopes; 600–3300 m. Anhui, Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
普陀南星 pu tuo nan xing
Arum ringens Thunberg, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 337. 1794; Arisaema arisanense Hayata; A. taihokense Hosokawa.
Plants dioecious. Tuber depressed-globose, 2–5 cm in diam. Cataphylls greenish to purplish. Leaves 2; petiole greenish and unmarked, 15–35 cm, lower 1/3 sheathing; leaf blade trifoliolate; leaflets sessile, green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, margin entire, apex long acuminate with a tail ca. 2 cm; terminal leaflet ovate-lanceolate to rhombic-elliptic, 16–22 × more than 10 cm, base cuneate; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate to lanceolate, 15–18 × 10–13 cm, apex filiform-caudate. Peduncle greenish, unmarked, shorter than petiole, to 25 cm. Spathe yellowish green to green; tube cylindrical, gradually opening to an auriculate mouth, 3–3.5 × 1–2 cm, yellowish green to green on outer surface, purplish red with white to pale yellowish green striations on inner surface; limb concave and incurved, saccate, apex caudate. Spadix 3–8 cm including appendix male portion sessile, cylindric, ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 8 mm in diam.; synandria subsessile; anthers 2 or 3; anther cells globose, dehiscing by an apical pore; female portion conic, ca. 1.8 × 1.2 cm; ovaries greenish, obovoid; stigma subsessile, pilose. Appendix erect, white, narrowly conic, 2–6 cm × 5–10 mm, base truncate and stipitate, apex obtuse; stipe 3–10 mm. Infructescence erect. Fl. Apr. (2n = 28)
Low elevations. Jiangsu, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
东北南星 dong bei nan xing
Arisaema amurense var. robustum Engler; A. amurense var. violaceum Engler.
Tuber depressed-globose, 6–7 cm in diam. Leaves 2(or 3); petiole (5–)7–30 cm, basal 3/4 sheathing and forming pseudostem; leaf blade trifoliolate or pedately 5-foliolate; rachis between leaflets 0–6 cm; leaflets sometimes covered with fine whitish marks, obovate to narrowly oblong, 7–11 × 4–7 cm, base cuneate, margin entire or serrate, occasionally denticulate, apex acute; terminal leaflet with petiolule 5–25 mm; lateral leaflets remote from terminal one for 1–10 mm; outermost leaflets sessile, 9–15 cm, oblique, cuneate at base on inner side, auriculate or rounded on outer side. Peduncle shorter petiole. Spathe greenish to dark purple, usually with pale purplish stripes; tube funnelform to cylindric, ca. 5 × 2 cm (throat); mouth obliquely truncate, not auriculate; limb ovate-lanceolate to oblong, 3–4 cm, apex acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male portion cylindric, ca. 2 cm × 2–3 mm; synandria lax, nearly sessile; anthers 2 or 3; cells globose, dehiscing by apical pores; female subconical, ca. ca. 2 × 1 cm (base); ovaries obovoid; ovules 4; stigma orbicular; appendix stipitate, erect, cylindric and robust, 3–5.5 cm × 4–5(–7) mm, base truncate, apex obtuse. Berries red, narrowly conic; seeds 4, red, ovoid, smooth. Fl. May, mature fr. Sep. (2n = 28, 56)
Deciduous forests, mixed forests, woods, by streams; below 100–200 m. Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shandong, Shanxi [Korea, Russia (SE Siberia)].
灯台莲 deng tai dian
Arisaema engleri Pampanini; A. sazensoo (Blume) Makino var. henryanum Engler.
Tuber depressed, 2–5 cm in diam. Cataphylls cream colored, to 22 cm, membranous, apex obtuse. Leaves 2; petiole green or pale green, 30–40 cm, basal 20–33 cm sheathing and forming pseudostem; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 5–7, slightly green adaxially, oblong or ovate-oblong to ovate, membranous, base cuneate to rounded, margin entire and usually dentate, apex acuminate; terminal leaflet 10–21 × 4–11 cm, petiolule 1–6 cm; outer two leaflets shocked at common lateral petiolule, which is as long as terminal; outermost leaflet strongly oblique at base, 4–15 × 5–6 cm. Peduncle emerging from pseudostem, green or purplish, ca. 35 cm, free portion ca. 13 cm. Spathe dark purple with greenish stripes, 17.5 cm in total; tube narrowly funnelform, ca. 8 cm long, ca. 1.5 (base)–3.5 cm in diam. (throat), mouth obliquely truncate, not auriculate, neither recurved; limb arching, ovate, ca. 9 × 4–5 cm, apex acuminate or acute. Appendix unisexual; male portion cylindric, ca. 3 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diam.; synandria lax, dark purple; anthers 1–3, stipitate; anther cells sessile, globose, dehiscing by apical pores; female portion ca. 1.2 cm × 7 mm; ovaries green; style short; stigma punctate, base truncate and stipitate, apex obtuse; shorter and wider in male, ca. 4 cm × 6–8 mm, stipe 5–7 mm long; longer and narrower in female, ca. 5 cm × 3–5 mm, stipe to 20 mm. Fruiting spadix erect, pyramidal, ca. 10 cm long, ca. 5 cm in diam. Berries yellow, oblong-conic, 7–8 mm in diam.; seeds 2–4, ovoid, smooth. Fl. May, mature fr. Oct. 2n = 26*.
* Forest margins, stream sides, on rocks, in valleys; 600–1500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.
细齿南星 xi chi nan xing
Arisaema angustatum Franchet & Savatier var. peninsulae (Nakai) Nakai.
Tuber depressed, 1.5–5.5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3, brownish with purple spots, 3–10 cm. Leaves 2; petiole 35–93 cm; pseudostem (sheathing part) 29–77 cm; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 7–17(–23); rachis well developed between terminal and lateral ones as well as between lateral ones; leaflets narrowly elliptic, obovate-lanceolate, or ovate-oblong, base cuneate, margin entire or serrate, apex acuminate; terminal leaflet 9–18 × 3.5–9 cm, gradually smaller outward, petiolule 1–4 cm; lateral leaflets remote from central one for 1–4 cm, ca. as large as central, whether or not shortly petiolulate, outer lateral ones sessile and much smaller than terminal. Peduncle developed [??] erect, 30–80 cm. Spathe green with white stripes, purplish to dark purple with whitish stripes; tube 5–8 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam.; mouth obliquely truncate, not auriculate neither recurved; limb incurved, usually dark purple, oblong, 5–6 × 4–5 cm, acuminate at apex. Spadix unisexual; male portion 1–1.5 cm; synandria dense, sessile; anthers 2 or 3; anther cells globose, dehiscing by apical pores; female portion 1.5–3 cm long, 5–7 mm in diam.; ovaries dense, narrowly ovoid; style short; stigma discoid. Appendix erect, cylindric, 3.5–4 cm × 3–6 mm, base truncate and stipitate, apex obtuse; stipe 4–5 mm. Berries reddish yellow, ovoid-globose, ca. 8 × 7 mm; seeds 2 or 3, yellow [??- OR or], brown, ca. 4 mm in diam., rugose. Fl. May–Jun, mature fr. Sep.
Forests; below 500 m. Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin [Japan, Korea].
Chinese records of Arisaema serratum (Thunberg) Schott (e.g., in FRPS 13(2): 179. 1979) are referable to A. peninsulae.
细柄组 xi bing zu
Plants dioecious. Tuber subglobose. Phyllotaxis quincuncial. Leaves 1 or 2, pedate or palmate. Spathe limb ovate or ovate-lanceolate, involved[??]; appendix erect or slightly incurved, narrowly cylindric, thickened to base, stipitate. Anther cells dehiscing by lateral slits or by apical pores. Ovary bottle shaped.
Three species: Himalayas and Xizang-Qinghai plateau; all in China (??#endemic).
1a. Spathe throat margin auriculate; leaflets apex long acuminate with tail ca. 6 cm .... 66. A. souliei
1b. Spathe throat margin oblique or slightly recurved; leaflet apex acuminate.
2a. Spadix appendix exserted from spathe throat, upper part often suddenly recurved; leaflets 3(or 7 or 9) ............................................................................................................ 64. A. jacquemontii
2b. Spadix appendix included in
spathe tube, cylindric, erect; leaflets 3–6
....................................................................................................................... 65.
A. wardii
藏南绿南星 zang nan lu nan xing
Tuber subglobose, 1.2–3 cm in diam. Cataphylls 1 or 2, whitish, occasionally brown, to 20 cm, membranous, apex acute or obtuse. Pseudostem, petiole, and peduncle pale green, unmarked. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole (2.5–)20–52 cm, lower 4/5 sheathing and forming pseudostem; leaf blade palmate; leaflets 5(or 7 or 9), sessile, ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, base attenuate, apex acuminate; central leaflet 7–18 × 2.5–7 cm; lateral ones 3–7 × 0.8–2.5 cm. Peduncle ca. as long as petiole. Spathe green outside, greenish inside; tube cylindric, 2.5–8 cm × 8–20 mm, mouth obliquely truncate, not recurved; limb arching over spadix, ovate to narrowly ovate or oblong-triangular, 2.5–5(–9) × 1–2.5(–3.5) cm, apex acuminate into ascending filiform tail 2.5–6 cm. Spadix unisexual; male cylindric, 2–3 cm long, 3–3.5 mm in diam.; synandria lax, sessile, cream colored or tinged dark purplish; anthers 2–4, dehiscing by apical pores or slits; female 1.5–3 cm long, 5–7 mm in diam.; ovaries greenish, narrowly ovoid; stigma orbicular. Appendix greenish below, purplish above, 2–8 cm long, ca. 1 mm in diam., upper part emergent from spathe tube horizontal to decurved, tapering, base swollen, truncate to 3–5 mm in diam., shortly stipitate, smooth. Fl. Jun–Jul. (2n = 52.)
Coniferous forests, open grassy places in forests, Juniperus or Rhododendron thickets, forest margins; 3000–4300 m. S Xizang [Bangladesh, Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, Nepal].
隐序南星 yin xu nan xing
Tuber globose, 1.5–2.2 cm diam. Cataphylls 2 or 3, 9–10 cm, obtuse at apex. Petiole 12–25 cm, ca. 2/3 sheathing; leaf blade palmate or radiate; leaflets 3–6, sessile, oblong, unique [??oblique], 2–11 × 1–3 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, usually caudate. Peduncle shorter or longer than petiole, 10–18 cm. Spathe green, unmarked or with whitish stripes; tube funnelform, 2–6.5 × ca. 1.5 cm, mouth obliquely truncate not auriculate, not recurved; limb triangular-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 2–7 × 1.5–4 cm, apex acuminate and caudate with filiform tail 3–5 cm. Spathe unisexual; male cylindric, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 2–3 mm in diam.; synandria dense, sessile; anthers 2 or 3, dehiscing by lateral slits; female portion cylindric, ca. 2.2 cm long, 5–6 mm in diam.; ovaries green, ovoid; style short; stigma orbicular. Appendix erect, green, cylindric, 2–3.2 cm long, 2.3–5 mm in diam. at base, apex obtuse, base swollen and stipitate, stipe 1.5–3 mm. Fruiting spadix cylindric, ca. 5 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam.; berries yellowish red, ovoid, ca. 5 mm in diam.; seeds 1–3, pale brownish or brown, ovoid, reticulate rugose. Fl. May–Jul.
* Coniferous forests, grassy places; 2400–4200 m. E Qinghai, S Shanxi, S Xizang, W Yunnan.
东俄洛南星 dong e luo nan xing
Arisaema brevispathum Buchet; A. xiangchengense H. Li & A. M. Li.
Tube subglobose, ca. 3 cm in diam. Cataphylls obtuse at apex. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole 40–70 cm, lower 1/2 sheathing; leaf blade radiate to palmate; leaflets 6–9, usually 7, broadly oblong-lanceolate, base long cuneate, apex acuminate and caudate with filiform tail ca. 6 cm; central leaflet 10–25 × ca. 5.8 cm. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 20–40 cm. Spathe green or upper part dark brown with whitish stripes, 15–20 cm (including tail); tube cylindric, 5–10 × 1–2 cm, mouth obliquely truncate, slightly recurved or not; limb suberect, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 4.5–5 × 3.5 cm, apex acuminate into filiform tail to 4–5 cm. Spadix unisexual; male with stipe ca. 2 mm, male spadix ca. 2 cm long, ca. 2.5 mm in diam.; synandria sessile; anthers 2; female 2.5–3 cm × 6–7 mm; ovules 5–9, bottle shaped. Appendix stipitate, ca. 9 cm in male, 5–6 cm in female, base swollen, pale white, ca. 3 mm in diam. in male, ca. 6 mm in diam. in female, gradually narrowed to apex 1–1.5 mm in diam., dark brown, exserted from tube, erect or recurved.
* Quercus thickets, deforested slopes; ca. 3500 m. Chongqing (Chengkou), Sichuan.
伞叶组 san ye zu
Tuber subglobose. Phyllotaxis spilodistichous. Leaves 1 or 2, radiate. Spathe limb incurved or erect. Spadix unisexual; appendix cylindric, terete, or clavate, or rarely degenerate, sessile or rarely stipitate, usually with acute neuter flowers at lower part; anthers dehiscing by apical pores or rarely circumscissilely.
About 14 species: S and SE Asia, Himalayas; ten species in China (??#endemic).
1a. Spadix appendage apex distinctly echinate or rugose; spathe margin entire.
2a. Spadix appendage rugose ....................................................................... 76. A. taiwanense
2b. Spadix appendage echinate.
3a. Tuber stoloniferous ................................................................................ 71. A. echinoides
3b. Tuber not stoloniferous ........................................................................... 70. A. echinatum
1b. Spadix appendage smooth, or rarely slender and slightly creased at apex, or degenerate, if apex rugose then spathe margin ciliate around mouth.
4a. Spadix appendage degenerate; spathe blade erect,
involute
.................................................................................................... 67.
A. exappendiculatum
4b. Spadix appendage terete, stipitate or not.
5a. Pseudostem and peduncle much shorter than petiole, inflorescence placed just above ground 68. A. zhui
5b. Pseudostem and/or petiole long, inflorescence placed distantly from ground.
6a. Spathe basically yellow.
7a. Underground stem subglobose tuber; spathe unstriped (?neuter flowers absent; ?infructescence nodding) ....................................................................................... 75. A. jingdongense
7b. Underground stem subcylindrical, longer than wide; spathe tube longitudinally striped with white and purple; (neuter flowers present); infructescence upright .......................... 74. A. muratae
6b. Spathe basically green or purple; spadix appendage basally with neuter flowers at least in female.
8a. Spadix appendage slender, frequently forecurved at apex; infructescence upright 77. A. concinnum
8b. Spadix appendage terete, cylindrical; infructescence nodding.
9a. Plant stoloniferous; spathe margin ciliate around mouth ........................ 72. A. ciliatum
9b. Plant without stolons; spathe margin entire.
10a. Spathe tube cylindrical, basically greenish, blade occasionally tinged with purple 73. A. consanguineum
10b. Spathe tube infundibuliform,
usually purple outside, white inside
................................................................................................... 69.
A. sukotaiense
圈药南星 quan yao nan xing
Tuber depressed-globose, 2–5 cm in diam., sometimes with thick creeping stolons. Cataphylls purple. Leaf solitary; petiole green, sometimes dark purple, 23–55 cm; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 7–13, sessile, oblanceolate, 8–22 × 2–4 cm, base cuneate, apex long acuminate. Peduncle green, sometimes purplish, much shorter than petiole. Spathe green, occasionally dark purple, slightly glaucous inside; tube pale green, without distinct stripes, cylindric, 2–7 × 1.2–2 cm, not broadened nor spreading at mouth; limb suberect, ovate-lanceolate, 8–15 × 2.5–3 cm (at base), generally with inrolled margins, convolute, tapering into a long caudate apex 5–8 cm. Spadix unisexual, 1.5–3 cm in total; male portion lower part 7–8 mm in diam., flowers lax; staminate one anther circumscissilely dehiscent at apex, stipitate; female one ca. 1.2 cm in diam. at base; ovaries green, turbinate, slightly angular, apiculate; stigma small. Appendix entirely lacking, or very rarely short, cylindric, to 1.5 cm. Fl. May–Jun.
Forests on slopes, grasslands between forests; 2400–2500 m. S Xizang [Nepal].
维明南星 wei ming nan xing
Tuber depressed-globose, 3–4 cm in diam., with a few surrounding tubercles. Cataphylls, petiole, and peduncle greenish, unmarked, Cataphylls 2, membranous. Leaves 1 or 2; petiole 32–36 cm long, 5–8 mm in diam., basal 3–4 cm sheathing; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 12 or 13, sessile, green adaxially, pale green abaxially, narrowly elliptic, unequal, 11–13 (including filiform tail 1–1.5 cm) × 1.1–2.2 cm. Peduncle emerging from petiole sheath, much shorter than petiole, only 7 cm. Spathe dark purple, with whitish stripes; tube whitish green inside, funnelform, short, ca. 3.8 × 1.5 cm, to mouth gradually opening, mouth obliquely truncate, not recurved; limb purple green with indistinct stripes outside, dark purple with greenish stripes [??inside], triangular-ovate, 6.5–9 (male) × ca. 4 cm, apex abruptly acuminate and long caudate with filiform tail 2 (female)–4.5 (male) cm, incurved. Spadix unisexual, in male spadix; male portion ca. 2.4 cm × 3–4 mm; synandria dense, subsessile; anthers 2–6, violet, globose, dehiscing from apical pores; appendix slightly yellow, cylindric, ca. 3.6 cm × 5–6 mm, base abruptly constricted into a short purple stipe, apex obtuse; neuter flowers absent. Female spadix: spathe as in male; female portion ca. 1.5 cm; ovaries dense, green, ovoid-globose, basal ovules 4, erect; stigma subsessile, punctate; appendix greenish, with tiny purple dots, cylindric, upward slightly swollen, ca. 3 cm long, 3–4 mm in diam., base truncate with purple stipe ca. 5 mm, apex obtuse. Fl. Jun.
* Habitat??; ca. 4000 m. NW Yunnan (Dêqên: Meili Xueshan).
Chinese pinyin
[Description copied from Gusman Gusman 2006:] Plants deciduous, to 0.8 m tall and 60 cm wide. Subterranean stem a subglobose tuber, cream colored, 3–4 cm high, 5–7 cm in diam. Pseudostem pink with dark brown mottling, shorter than or ca. size of petiole, 30–40 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam. at base. Cataphyll pink, with brown mottling, 1–20 cm. Leaf solitary; petiole red-brown or olive-green with transverse paler mottling, 35–45 cm long, ca. 1 cm in diam. at base; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 12–14, elliptic, 20–30 × 3–4 cm, adaxially shiny green, with slightly impressed veins, abaxially glaucous, with slightly prominent carmine or green veins, base cuneate and sessile to subsessile, margin flat or undulate, green or red, apex acuminate, often prolonged into a carmine thread, to 9 cm. Inflorescence emerging when leaf unfolds and held below foliage. Peduncle green with paler mottling, becoming red-violet toward inflorescence, shorter than petiole, 3–17 cm long, 4–5 mm in diam. Spathe tube funnel-shaped, 7–8 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm in diam. at base and 3–4, 5 cm in diam. above, outside pruinose, dark purple or pale olive-green with thin, white stripes, inside pale carmine with white stripes; mouth margins straight, dark carmine; limb horizontal, ovate, nearly length of tube, 9–10 × 5–6 cm, outside dark purple, with very faint paler stripes, inside dark purple, pale green at base, with broad white stripes anastomosing in a central, white spot at mouth level; spathe tip acuminate, prolonged into a filamentous tail, purple, to 20 cm. Spadix appendix slightly exserted from spathe tube, erect, cylindrical, to 7 cm long and 5 mm in diam., ending in a rounded, white-green, even or spongy apex, with a middle part green sometimes with carmine stripes above neuter flowers; neuter flowers above fertile part upcurved, green, 3–4 mm, numerous in “female” spadices only; lower part sessile. Spadix fertile zone “male” or “female,” slightly cylindrical, 2–3 cm long, ca. 0.6 cm in diam. Male part stamens loosely arranged, 2–4-androus; anthers lilac, subsessile or borne on a white-green short stalk; thecae dehiscent by an oblong pore; pollen white. Female part: pistils densely arranged; ovaries pale green, bottle-shaped, 1.5–2 mm in diam.; stigma sessile, penicillate, surrounded by a black annulus. Fruiting spike cylindrical, ca. 5 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm in diam., borne on a nodding peduncle. Berries densely packed, ca. 7 mm long, ca. 3 mm in diam., red-orange with black stigmatic remains, each berry containing 1 or 2 seeds. Seeds spherical, ca. 2 mm in diam., with a cream colored testa. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Oct.
Mountain forests along roadsides, sometimes growing as an epiphyte on mossy tree trunks; 2000–2500 m. S Yunnan [N Thailand ??is it also in Laos].
刺棒南星 ci bang nan xing
Arum echinatum Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 2: 30. 1831.
Tuber depressed-globose, 2–4 cm in diam. Cataphylls 2, green, to ?? cm long. Cataphylls, petiole, and peduncle green unmarked. Leaf solitary; petiole ca. 30 cm, basal 6 cm sheathing; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 7–11, sessile, green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, attenuate to base, apex long acuminate, whether or not caudate with a short filiform tail, unequal, terminal one ca. 12.5 × 2.8 cm, outer leaflets 7–8.5 × ca. 1.4 cm. Peduncle emerging from petiole sheath, much shorter than petiole, ca. 17 cm. Spathe green, not marked by spots or stripes, base with a white circle; tube cylindric, ca. 5.5 × 1.5 cm, slightly recurved at mouth; limb incurved, slightly outcurved at base, ovate, ca. 8 × 5 cm, long caudate, filiform tail to 8 cm. Spadix ca. 8 cm in total; female portion conic, ca. 2.3 × 1.4 cm, flowers dense; ovaries green, subglobose; stigma punctate, violet; male portion 1.5–3 cm long, 3–5 (base) mm in diam.; synandria lax; anthers 4, dehiscing by apical pores. Appendix green, cylindric, ca. 4 cm × 5–6 mm, base abruptly narrowed and stipitate, apex obtuse and echinate; stipe ca. 5 mm. Fl. Jun.
Forested slopes; 2600–3100 m. S and SE Xizang (Gyirong, Nyingchi, Zayü), W Yunnan (Baoshan, Gaoligong Shan, Lijiang) [Bhutan, India (Sikkim), Nepal].
Himalayan plants differ from those in Gaoligong Shan in having the spathe green and white-striped outside and dark-purple-striped inside.
拟刺棒南星 ni ci bang nan xing
Tuber subglobose, ca. 2 cm in diam, stoloniferous. Cataphylls membranous, acute at apex. Leaf solitary; petiole ca. 24 cm; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 9, sessile, oblanceolate, 13–16 × 2–3 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate. Peduncle shorter than petiole, ca. 10 cm. Spathe tube purple with numerous longitudinal white stripes, cylindric, ca. 5.1 cm, broadly auriculate and recurved at mouth; limb oblong-ovate, ca. 7 × 4 cm, base slightly constricted, apex abruptly acuminate, dark purple with white midrib and 4 or 5 pinnate veins on each side, ascending and connected into intramarginal vein that is remote from margin for 2–3 mm. Spadix white, unisexual; male one ca. 5 cm in total, male portion ca. 1.8 cm; synandria sessile; anthers 2 or 3, globose, dehiscing by apical pores; appendix sessile, cylindric, middle slightly swollen, ca. 3.2 cm × 5 mm, smooth, echinate at apex. Female spadix ca. 5.5 cm in total: female portion conic, ca. 1.8 cm × 7 mm, flowers dense; appendix erect, ca. 3 cm long, ca. 7 mm in diam., thickened, base truncate and stipitate, apex obtuse and densely echinate; stipe 73 mm[??7.3 mm]. Fl. May–Jun.
* Forest, thickets, in shade; 2900–3300 m. NW Yunnan (Lijiang).
缘毛南星 yuan mao nan xing
Arisaema ciliatum var liubaense Gusman & Gouda.
Tuber depressed-globose, 2–2.5 cm in diam., stoloniferous. Cataphylls 3, to 10–20 cm, membranous. Cataphylls, petiole, and peduncle green, occasionally purplish, unmarked. Leaf solitary; petiole 20–70 cm, basal 15–20 cm sheathing; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 11–14, sessile, narrowly elliptic, base cuneate, apex acuminate and caudate. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 4–7.5 × 1.2–1.4 cm. Spathe purple or dark purple, occasionally yellowish cream colored with numerous white stripes; tube cylindric, 4–5 × 1–1.2 cm, mouth obliquely truncate, not auriculate, ciliate; limb suberect to incurved, narrowly lanceolate, 4.5–5.5 × 2.1–4 cm, apex long acuminate and caudate with violet filiform tail 2–5 cm. Spadix unisexual; male portion narrowly conical, 2–3 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam. at base; synandria lax, shortly stipitate; anthers 2 or 3, yellow, dehiscing by apical pores; female one conic, ca. 1.5 cm long, ca. 7 mm in diam. at base; ovaries green; style conic; stigma purple, punctate. Appendix erect, violet, occasionally greenish, cylindric, 3.2–5.5 cm long, 3–4 mm in diam., gradually narrowed to base, apex obtuse and verrucose, rarely with 2 or 3 acute neuter flowers on lower part. Infructescence nodding. Fl. Jun.
* Pinus forests, Quercus thickets, grasslands; 2600–3600 m. Sichuan (Baoxing, Gongga Shan), NW Yunnan (Lijiang, Zhongdian).
长行南星 chang xing nan xing
Arisaema alienatum Schott var. formosanum Hayata; Arisaema biradiatifoliatum Kitamura; A. brevipes Engler; A. consanguineum subsp. kelung-insulare (Hayata) Gusman; A. erubescens (Wallich) Schott var. consanguineum (Schott) Engler; A. formosanum (Hayata) Hayata; A. formosanum var. bicolorifolium T. C. Huang; A. formosanum f. stenophyllum Hayata; A. kelung-insulare Hayata; A. oblanceolatum Kitamura; A. undulatum K. Krause.
Tuber depressed-globose, 2–7 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3, dark green, with whitish striae or spots, to 55 cm, acute at apex. Petiole and peduncle green, smooth, unmarked. Leaf solitary, occasionally 2; petiole to 100 cm long and ca. 2 cm in diam., lower 50 cm sheathing; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 18–23 in mature plants, 5–9 in vegetative plants, sessile, dull green with impressed veins adaxially, green with raised veins abaxially, narrowly elliptic or narrowly linear, 16–28 cm × 2–20 mm, base cuneate, apex long acuminate and caudate, with a filiform tail to 7–10 cm; lateral veins numerous, obliquely ascending. Peduncle shorter than petiole, to 75 cm, free portion ca. 9 cm from pseudostem. Spathe green, with indistinct whitish stripes or not; tube cylindric, 6–7 × ca. 1.5 cm, auriculate and recurved at mouth; limb deep green sometimes with purple margin abaxially, pale green inside, triangular-ovate, 8–12 × 4–8 cm, apex acuminate with long purple filiform tail, arching; tail to 35 cm, pendulous. Spadix unisexual; male one: flowering portion cylindric, 4–4.5 cm long, 4–5 mm in diam.; rachis green; synandria dark violet; anthers subsessile, 2 or 3, dehiscent by apical pores; appendix erect, sessile, pale green, cylindric, 3–5 cm long, 2–3 mm in diam., smooth, obtuse at apex. Female spadix: female portion conic, ca. 3.5 cm long, ca. 1.5 cm in diam.; ovaries green, obovoid; stigma sessile, orbicular, pilose. Berries red. Appendix pale green, cylindrical or narrowly conic, ca. 7 cm long, 2–4 mm in diam., with some acute neuter flowers at base. Infructescence nodding. Fl. Jun–Jul.
Pinus forests, mixed forests, thickets, grassy slopes, lake sides, between rocks; below 3200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Nepal, N Thailand].
Chinese pinyin
[Copied from original description:] Plants perennial, deciduous, to 1 m tall and 50 cm wide. Subterranean stem a subcylindrical tuber, ca. 5 cm high, 5–6.5 cm in diam., green and brown outside, with short and globose offsets; roots thick and whitish. Pseudostem green with cream colored stripes and transverse vermillion markings, slightly shorter than petiole, ca. 35 cm long, ca. 3 cm in diam. at base. Cataphylls olive-green or pink with dark and pale transverse markings, to 50 cm. Leaf usually solitary; petiole similar in color and pattern to pseudostem, cylindrical, ca. 40 cm long and 2 cm in diam. at base, smooth; leaf blade radiate, with up to 11 segments; leaflets subsessile or shortly petiolulate, shiny green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, elliptic, 20–25 × 6–7 cm, with deeply impressed veins adaxially, base cuneate, margin undulate, green, entire or serrate, apex long acuminate. Peduncle olive-green, flushed pink and pruinose apically, shorter than petiole, to 15 cm long and 1 cm in diam. at base. Inflorescence unisexual, emerging when leaf unfolds and carried beneath foliage. Spathe tube cylindrical, to 8 cm long and ca. 18 mm in diam., slender at middle, ca. 12 mm in diam.; outside carmine with longitudinal pale stripes becoming yellow-green near mouth, white annulus at base; inside yellow-green with dotted purple stripes mainly in lower half; throat margin widely recurved and yellow-green; limb horizontal, lanceolate, shorter than tube, ca. 5 × 4 cm, slightly translucent, outside and inside yellow-green with paler veins, apex acuminate, ending in a tail to 15 cm, yellow and turning carmine at end. Spadix either male or female. Male fertile part cylindrical to slightly conical, 4–5.5 cm long, 10–13 mm in diam.; stamens densely arranged, each consisting of 2–4 anthers, stalked, thecae purple below and carmine above, dehiscent by elongated pores; pollen blue. Female fertile part slightly conical, 2–3 cm long, 10–15 mm in diam., ovaries bottle-shaped and densely arranged, pale yellow-green, 1-loculed, each locule containing ca. 3 basal ovules, fusiform; stigma sessile, white, penicillate. Spadix appendix sessile, cylindrical, clavate, slightly protruding from spathe tube, 4–5 cm in male spadices, 5–6 cm in female spadices, ca. 4 mm in diam. above fertile part and ca. 7 mm in diam. at apex, whitish with carmine longitudinal stripes, obscurely crimson and wrinkled at apex; projections stiff and upcurved, ca. 5 mm, just above fertile part, absent or few in male spadices, numerous in female. Fruiting spike cylindrical, ca. 10 cm long, ca. 4 cm in diam., borne on an upright peduncle. Receptacle pale pink. Berries densely packed, red-orange, ca. 14 mm long, ca. 8 mm in diam., upper part smooth and rounded, each berry containing up to 3 seeds. Receptacle pale pink. Seeds globose, ca. 6 mm in diam.; testa gray.
* Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 1200–2400 m. Yunnan (Yingjiang).
江东南星 jing dong nan xing
Arisaema cangshanense X. D. Dong.
Tuber subglobose, ca. 2.5 cm in diam. Cataphylls 3, pale green with purple spots, to 30 cm. Leaf solitary; petiole greenish, unmarked, ca. 65 cm long, lower 3/4 sheathing; leaf blade radiate, leaflets 7, sessile, deep green adaxially, pale green abaxially, oblong-lanceolate, 7–8 × 1.4–1.6 cm, margin entire, apex acuminate. Peduncle shorter than petiole, ca. 55 cm long, 2.5–3 mm in diam. Spathe yellowish, without white stripes; tube cylindric, ca. 4 cm × 9 mm, recurved at mouth; limb arching, triangular-oblong, ca. 7.5 × 3 cm, apex acuminate with a filiform tail 4–5 cm. Spadix hidden in tube; male portion ca. 3 cm; synandria dense; anthers orange-yellow, clavate, ca. 3.5 cm × 4 mm, smooth, apex obtuse. Fl. Jun.
* Evergreen broad-leaved forests; 2400–2500 m. Yunnan ([??Diancang]Cang Shan, Jingdong).
蓬莱南星 peng lai nan xing
Tuber depressed-globose, 2–6 cm in diam. Cataphylls greenish or reddish, often with purple-brown marks. Leaf solitary; petiole white to pale green, usually mottled with purple-brown marks, 12–70 cm; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 7–15, green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, oblanceolate, apex filiform, caudate, with a threadlike pendulous tail at tip. Peduncle 7–45 cm, lower 2–30 cm sheathing, distinctly shorter than petiole. Spathe purplish red to dark purple, with fine green dots between veins on outer surface; tube obconical, gradually opening to auriculate mouth, 2–6 cm long, 4–8 cm in diam., white to pale yellowish green with purple stripes on inner surface; limb dark purple, ovate to broadly ovate, 3–8 × 4–8 cm, scarcely with pale veins on inner surface, apex acute to acuminate with a prolonged filiform tail to 40 cm. Spadix 3–10 cm including appendix. Spadix unisexual; male portion cylindric, ca. 4 cm long, ca. 7 mm in diam.; anthers 3 or 4, subsessile; appendix sessile, whitish in upper part, broadly cylindric, ca. 1.7 cm long, 7–8 mm in diam., strongly or weakly rugose at apex; female spadix flowering portion conic, 2.8–3 cm long, ca. 1.2 cm in diam., base narrower, with abundant aculeate neuter flowers, apex slightly enlarged, strongly rugose. Fl. May–Jun.
* Common throughout the island; medium elevations. Taiwan.
1a. Peduncle 10–35 cm, 5–15 cm exserted from pseudostem; petiole
and peduncle mottled with purple-brown marks; spadix appendix 5–7 cm
.................................................................................................................... 76a.
var. taiwanense
1b. Peduncle 3–15 cm, 1–5 cm exserted from pseudostem; petiole and peduncle unmarked; spadix appendix 1.8–2.5 cm ..................................................................... 76b. var. brevipedunculatum
蓬莱南星(原变种) peng lai nan xing (yuan bian zhong)
Cataphylls, petiole, and peduncle mottled with purple brown marks. Peduncle 10–45 cm. Spathe tube 3.8–5 cm long, 5–8 cm in diam. (when opened); limb weakly concave and arched, 5–7 cm except for threadlike tip, 4–6.5 cm wide. Spadix appendix 18–45 mm long, 4–13 mm in diam. Fl. May. 2n = 28*
* Taiwan.
短梗蓬莱南星 duan geng peng lai tain nan xing
Cataphylls, petiole, and peduncle unmarked. Peduncle 3–15 cm. Spathe tube 2–4 cm long, 3.7–6 cm in diam. when opened; limb concave and arched, 3–5 cm except for threadlike tip, 3.5–7 cm wide. Spadix appendix 18–25(–35) mm long, 4–8 mm in diam. Fl. May–Jun.
* Middle elevations. E and S Taiwan.
Chinese pinyin
Tuber depressed-globose, to 5 cm in diam., stoloniferous. Cataphylls 3, to 10–20 cm, membranous. Pseudostem green or purplish, scarcely marked, 20–30 cm. Leaf solitary; petiole 30–50 cm; leaf blade radiate; leaflets 7–13, sessile, oblanceolate to elliptic, base cuneate, apex acuminate and caudate. Peduncle shorter than petiole, 15–20 cm. Spathe dark purple or green, with longitudinal white stripes; tube cylindric, 4–8 × 1.5–2 cm, mouth obliquely truncate, not auriculate; limb ovate to deltoid-ovate to narrowly deltoid-ovate, 2–4 cm wide, long acuminate and caudate, to 15 cm including filiform tail. Spadix unisexual; male spadix narrowly conical, 2–3 cm; synandria lax; anthers 2 or 3, dehiscing by apical pores; female one conical, 1.5–2 cm long, 7–10 mm in diam. at base; ovaries green. Appendix erect, dark purple or green, narrowly cylindric-clavate, 4–7 cm × 2–4 mm, apex bent forward and verrucate. Infructescence upright. Fl. Jun.
* Alpine meadows; 2000–3500 m. Xizang.
Insufficiently known species
南漳南星 nan zhang nan xing
Tuber globose. Cataphylls 7–10 cm, obtuse and cuspidate at apex. Leaves 2; petiole slender, ca. 20 cm long, lower 15 cm sheathing; blade pedate; leaflets 7, lanceolate, 14–20 × 5.5–6 cm, entire, acuminate; terminal one shortly petiolulate, larger than lateral ones. Peduncle ca. 15 cm, nearly equaling sheath. Female portion in spadix ca. 2 cm (fruiting), shortly stipitate; appendix ca. 3.5 cm.
* Humid places. Hubei (“Nangqiang”).
ȪÆßÊô quan qi shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Herbs, medium sized to robust, latex-bearing, usually evergreen, sometimes seasonally dormant. Stem epigeal, erect or creeping, stout, covered with fibrous remains of leaves and cataphylls. Leaves solitary or few to several together; petiole sheath very short; leaf blade peltate, ovate or ovate-oblong, base often emarginate, apex acuminate; basal veins short, well developed; primary lateral veins pinnate, forming submarginal collective vein very near margin; marginal vein also present; secondary and tertiary laterals arising from primaries at a wide angle, then arching toward leaf margin and forming ± conspicuous interprimary collecting vein; higher order venation reticulate. Inflorescence solitary. Peduncle shorter than petiole. Spathe yellow, yellow and red or ± dark purple within, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, not constricted, barely convolute at base, ± fully expanded at anthesis, acuminate; lower part persistent to fruiting stage; upper part becoming reflexed and revolute, marcescent. Spadix much shorter than spathe, densely flowered; female zone cylindric, often longer than male zone, mostly adnate to spathe; male zone contiguous with female zone, cylindric, ellipsoid, or subglobose, fertile to apex, obtuse. Flowers unisexual, naked. Male flowers 3–6-androus; stamens connate into a strongly lobed, apically truncate synandrium; common connective relatively small, impressed at apex; thecae contiguous, oblong, dehiscing by apical pore. Pistils with gynoecium surrounded by whorl of 2–5, short, claviform staminodes, more rarely staminodes absent; ovary subglobose to ovoid, 1-loculed; ovules numerous, hemi-orthotropous; funicle distinct; placentae 2–5, parietal, in basal part only or extending from base to apex, defined stylar region ± lacking; stigma strongly 2–5-lobed. Fruit ovoid, many seeded. Seeds ovoid to ellipsoid, testa costate; embryo axile, conoid, short, endosperm copious.
Nine species: tropical and subtropical Asia. [Boyce commented: There are at least three species in China: Steudnera colocasiifolia, S. griffithii, S. henryana plus I have collected S. kerrii Gagnepain right on the Chinese border in Vietnam] [editor asks: please provide key entries and treatments for the other species: S. henryana and possibly S. kerrii]
1a. Female flowers often with staminodes, stigma 2–5-lobed ........................... 1. S. colocasiifolia
1b. Female flowers without staminodes, stigma entire ............................................... 2. S. griffithii
ȪÆß quan qi
Gonatanthus peltatus Hort. ex Van Houtte.
Herbs, perennial, evergreen. Stem short, creeping and ascendant; persistent cataphylls brown, Petiole green, cylindric, 30–50 cm, slender, base sheathing; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, ovate or obovate, 20–30 × 12–17 cm, subleathery, base obtuse, apex acuminate or acute. Peduncle green or violet, much shorter than petiole, 8–15 cm. Spathe reflexed, concolorous yellow, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 10–15 × 5–7 cm, apex long acuminate, expanded [??the spathe or the apex]. Spadix 3–4 cm: female portion 2–2.5 cm, cylindric, 2–3 mm diam.; 3/4 of length adnate to spathe; male portion ellipsoid, 1–1.5 cm long, 5–6 mm in diam, obtuse. Ovary subglobose, stigma 4- or 5-lobed, mixed with clavate staminodes. Fl. Mar–Apr.
Dense forests, wet meadows, by streams, 600–1400 m. Guangxi, Yunnan [Bangladesh, NE India, N Laos, N Myanmar, N Thailand, N Vietnam].
The poisonous stem is used to treat injuries, cuts, snake or insect bites, vasculitis, and skin ulcers.
ȫԵȪÆß quan yuan quan qi
Gonatanthus griffithii Schott, Prodr. Syst. Aroid. 143. 1860.
Stem creeping, 10–20 cm, 3–10 mm in diam. Petiole 25–30 cm; leaf blade pale green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, ovate-oblong, 10–25 × 6–15 cm, base emarginate or shortly 2-lobed, apex acute or cuspidate. Peduncle ca. 12 cm. Spathe reflexed, yellow-green on both surfaces, brown-purple below middle within, 7–10 × 2.8–3 cm; spadix 2–3.5 cm; female portion 15–25 × 1–2 mm, 2/3 beneath adnate to spathe; male portion cylindric, ellipsoid, 5–6 mm; ovary without staminodes, stigma entire; some sterile flowers on upper part of female portion. Berry yellowish green, obovoid, broadly cylindric[??- OR or], apex with persistent stigma, 1-loculed; seeds 4–12. Fl. Mar–Jun. [Boyce commented: This description appears to be a mix.]
Open forests, brushwood in valleys, wet places; 100–500 m. SE Yunnan [NE India, Myanmar].
ÑÒÓóÊô yan yu shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Gonatanthus Klotzsch in J. H. F. Link, Klotzsch & F. Otto, Icon. Pl. Rar. 1: 33. 1840.
Herbs, small to medium-sized, seasonally dormant, epiphytic or epilithic, rarely terrestrial latex-bearing. Tuber subglobose, producing erect to spreading, unbranched or branching stolons from axils of scarious, deciduous cataphylls; stolons producing small, ovoid tubercles at nodes, each invested by numerous, apically hooked scales (minute cataphylls). Leaves 1 or 2; petiole sometimes slender, sheath relatively short; Leaf blade peltate, cordate-lanceolate to cordate-ovate, apex acuminate; basal veins well developed; primary lateral veins pinnate, forming submarginal collective vein very close to margin; marginal vein also present; secondary and tertiary laterals arising from primaries at a wide angle, then arching toward leaf margin and forming inconspicuous interprimary collective veins; higher order venation reticulate. Inflorescences solitary or up to 3 together, appearing with or without leaf. Peduncle shorter than petiole. Spathe strongly constricted between tube and blade, sometimes with secondary constriction above spadix (this group formally recognized as a separate genus: Gonatanthus); tube with convolute margins, persistent, enclosing female zone and sterile zone of spadix; blade yellow or red, longer than tube, fully expanded or remaining convolute and opening only at base, sometimes becoming reflexed (R. vivipara, R. yunnanensis), later deciduous. Spadix sessile or subsessile, much shorter than spathe; female zone subcylindric, ca. 1/2 as long as spathe tube, separated from male zone by much narrower zone of sterile male flowers; male zone ellipsoid or subclavate, fertile to apex, obtuse. Flowers unisexual, naked. Male flowers 2- or 3-androus; stamens connate into cuneate-clavate, 4–6-sulcate synandrium; fused filaments distinct; common connectives somewhat excavated at apex; thecae 4–6, oblong to ellipsoid, dehiscing by apical pore-like slit. Synandrodes each ± elongated. Pistils lacking associated staminodes; ovary subcylindric to subglobose, 1-loculed or partially 2–4-loculed at apex; ovules many, hemi-orthotropous; funicle short to long; placentae 2–4 and parietal or placenta 1 and basal; stylar region very shortly attenuate or appearing lacking; stigma discoid-subcapitate or slightly 3- or 4-lobed. Fruit an obovoid to globose, many-seeded berry; infructescence ellipsoid, borne within persistent spathe tube. Seed ellipsoid to subglobose, covered by thick, succulent sarcotesta or testa verruculose to irregularly costate; embryo axile, ovoid to subglobose, short, endosperm copious. 2n = 28; diploid or triploid.
Four species: Africa, one (Remusatia vivipara) extending from tropical Asia and Australia; all four species in China (one endemic).
1a. Flowering before leaves.
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. [Boyce commented: The generic character for former Gonatanthus was the spathe with TWO constrictions as per R. pumila. R. yunnanensis LACKS this character and thus should be placed in ‘Sect. Remusatia’. The flowering before and after leaves is insignificant as a supraspecific character.] [FOC editor asks: please correct key appropriately then]
3a. Limb of spadix spreading, reflexed; bulbiferous stolons creeping; placenta basal or parietal; inflorescences solitary or 2 or 3 ...................................................................................... 3. R. yunnanensis
3b. Limb of spadix in 2 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 solitary
......................................................................................................................... 4.
R. pumila
ÑÒÓó yan yu
Arum viviparum Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 3: 496. 1832; Caladium viviparum Loddiges [??Nees]; Colocasia vivipara Thwaites; Remusatia bulbifera Hort. ex Vilmorin; R. formosana Hayata.
Tuber 3.5–5 cm diam. Flowering before leaves. Cataphylls 4 or more, brownish, broad, concealing peduncle, ca. 15 × 3 cm. Tuber erect, stout, 20–40 cm × ca. 5 mm. Bulbils ellipsoid, 0.5–2.5 mm, stout; bristles to 1.5 mm, stout. Petiole 19–42 cm, sheathing for lower ¼; leaf blade glossy on both sides, green adaxially, pale green abaxially, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, 11–33 × 7–19.5 cm, sinus 1.5–3 cm, intramarginal vein indistinct. Flowering before leaves. Peduncle 6–12 cm. Spathe: tube green outside, 3–5 × 1.3–2 cm; limb reflexed, purple inside, obovate, 5.3–11.5 × 2.5–9 cm, narrowed to base, acute, apiculate. Spadix: female part 1.7–2 cm × 7–9 mm, with 3 or 4 whorls of sterile ovaries at apex and 1 or 2 whorls at base; neuter part 1.1–2.5 cm, slender, tapering upward; male part yellowish, clavate, cylindric, 1.5–2.2 cm × 4–7 mm. Fl. Apr–Sep. 2n = 28 (diploid in S India, triploid in Dali, Yunnan).
Subtropical forests, epiphytic, on rocks, cliff ledges; 700–1900 m. Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia (Java), N Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, N Thailand, N Vietnam; Africa, SW Asia, N Australia, Madagascar, Pacific islands].
The tubers are poisonous. They are used externally for the treatment of breast mastitis, traumatic injuries, abscesses, and swellings.
Ô绨ÑÒÓó zao hua yan yu
Gonatanthus ornatus Schott; Remusatia ornata (Schott) H. Li & Q. F. Guo ex H. Li [??delete ex].
Herbs, cormous. Tuber dark outside, white inside, depressed-globose, 0.5–3 cm long, 0.5–3 cm in diam.; new roots and buds appear at apex in Apr–May; stolons much branched, spreading, pendulous, sometimes simple and creeping bulbils numerous, smaller. Cataphylls white, lanceolate, ca. 9 cm, membranous, convoluted around both leaf and flower buds. Leaves 2, appearing in June (after anthesis), spreading one after another; petiole tinged reddish, with darker markings, up to 45 cm long, ca. 8 mm in diam.; leaf blade green adaxially, becoming purple abaxially, ovate-lanceolate, 1st up to 30 cm long and 13 cm wide, membranous, peltate and cordate at base, long acuminate at apex. Second leaf appears from sheath in lower part of petiole of 1st leaf; petiole 10–20 cm; leaf blade smaller, ca. 14 ´ 4.5 cm. Flowering before leaves (mid-May). Peduncle greenish, 4–13 cm long, 1.5–3.5 mm in diam. Spathe 3–7 cm, tube convolute, green outside, dark purple inside, ovoid, 1.3–2.7 cm long, 5–10 mm in diam.; limb deciduous, semi-spreading to erect, entirely yellow-green, ovate, 2–4.5 × ca. 3.3 cm, apex acute. Spadix sessile, yellow-green, shorter than spathe; female part of spadix yellow-green, ca. 11 × 4 mm; sterile part attenuate, yellow, ca. 7 × 2 mm; male part capitate, ellipsoidal, to 9 × 5 mm, apex obtuse. Female flowers 4-loculed; ovary ovoid, 1-loculed, ca. 1.1 mm in diam.; stigma sessile, disk-shaped; placentas parietal; ovules many, orthotropous; sterile male flowers rhombic or elliptic, apex truncate; male flowers clavate or cuneate, apex truncate, with fleshy connective, with 4–6 oblong anther cells opening by a terminal pore. Fl. May.
Evergreen forests, on mossy rocks or tree stumps; 1800–2800 m. Yunnan [Bhutan, India (Assam, Simla), Nepal].
The plants from C Yunnan have a triploid chromosome number of 42, but plants from Dulongjiang and from Dali are diploid with different karyotypes.
ÔÆÄÏÑÒÓó yun nan yan yu
Gonatanthus yunnanensis H. Li & A. Hay, Act. Bot. Yunnan. 14: 375. 1992.
Herbs, cormous, lithophytes, flowering with leaves. Tuber purple outside, white inside, globose, ca. 4 cm in diam. Bulbiferous stolons 2–4, creeping, simple, to 100 cm long, ca. 4 mm in diam., internodes 5–3.5 cm; bulbils ellipsoid, 1–3 mm, covered by 4 or 5 scales, bristles filiform and hooked, in scale axils bearing some secondary small bulbils. Leaves 2–4; petiole cylindric, 40–60 cm; leaf blade green adaxially, pale green abaxially, ovate, 20–30 × 17–20 cm, subleathery; base peltate and cordate, sinus 4–7 cm; primary veins 4 or 5 on each side, radiating from petiole and pinnately from midrib of main lobe; secondary venation arching-anastomosing; fine intramarginal vein absent. Peduncle green, cylindric, 11–17 cm. Spathe tube green both outside and inside, ovate-elliptic, ca. 3 cm long, ca. 1.2 cm in diam., leathery, apex strongly constricted; limb erect, spreading and soon reflexed, light purple within and dull purple beneath, base yellowish on both surfaces, obovate-oblong, ca. 8.5 × 3 cm. Spadix: female part subcylindric, ca. 15 × 6 mm with dense female flowers; sterile part yellow, ca. 14 mm, slender; male portion yellow, broadly cylindric, ca. 17 × 4 mm, attenuate toward base, apex obtuse. Female flowers 4-carpellate; ovary 1-loculed, green, ovoid, ca. 2 mm; stigma sessile, circular; ovules many, suberect, basal; synandria of 4 or 5 fused stamens; common filament obconical, apex truncate; anther cells 8–10, obovoid, adnate to outside of filament and opening by a terminal pore. Fl. Aug–Sep. Diploid: 2n = 28.
· Dense rain forests; ca. 1100 m. Yunnan (Yingjiang).
Çú°úÓó qu bao yu
Caladium pumilum D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 21. 1825; Colocasia pumila Kunth; Gonatanthus pumilus (D. Don) Engler & K. Krause; G. sarmentosus Klotzsch; Remusatia garrettii Gagnepain.
Tuber yellowish brown outside, globose, 1–2.5 cm in diam.; bulbiferous stolons spreading, creeping, slender, branched; bulbils many, covered by brown scales; bristles filiform, hooked. Leaves 3 or 4; petiole green, cylindric, 15–40 cm, sheathing for lower 1/4–1/3; leaf blade dull green on both surfaces, areas between primary veins sometimes purple abaxially and/or adaxially, ovate to oblong-ovate, 8–23.5 × 7–14.5 cm, papery, base peltate and shallowly cordate, apex acute or slightly acuminate, sinus 5–45 mm; primary veins 4 or 5 on each side, radiating from petiole and pinnately from midrib of main lobe; secondary venation pinnate from primary veins; fine intramarginal vein present. Flowering with leaves. Peduncle green, 6–10 cm. Spathe tube green, narrowly ovoid, 12–15 × ca. 10 mm; limb erect, yellow or yellow-green on both surfaces, elongate, 13–21 cm, membranous; lower part of limb separated into 2 parts by a constriction; lower part subglobose, 1.5–2.5 cm, opening to reveal male part of spadix; upper part narrowly lanceolate, 11.5–21 cm × 6–15 mm, apex long acuminate, fully opening only for a short time (less than 3 or 4 hours). Spadix sessile; female part 5.5–7.5 × 3.5–4.5 mm; sterile part yellow, 4–5 mm, slender; male portion violet, clavate, ca. 10 × 4 mm. Ovary green; stigma sessile; ovules many, oblong, basal; sterile neuters rhombiform or oblong, flat; synandria 0.6–1 mm in diam.; filaments ca. 0.7 mm. Fl. May–Jul. Diploid, 2n = 28.
Dense evergreen forests, on damp mossy rocks, trees and banks; 1000–2800 m. S Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal, N Thailand].
This species is readily distinguished from the other three species by the spathe limb being constricted above the spadix as well as between the female and male flower zones and forms a chamber enclosing the male portion of spadix.
ÓóÊô yu shu
LI Heng; Peter Boyce
Leucocasia Schott, Oesterr. Bot. Wochenbl. 7: 34. 1857.
Herbs, seasonally dormant or evergreen, small, medium-sized, or gigantic, latex-bearing. Stem either a hypogeal, subglobose or subcylindric tuber or mostly epigeal, massive. Leaves several, rosulate in acaulescent plants, forming a terminal crown in arborescent species.