蕺菜属 ji cai shu

Polypara Loureiro.

Herbs erect or ascending, rhizomatous. Stems longitudinally ridged and sulcate. Leaves entire; stipules membranous; petioles shorter than leaf blades. Inflorescence a terminal or leaf-opposed spike, with 4, rarely 6 or 8, white, petal-like involucral bracts at base. Flowers white when mature, small. Stamens 3, rarely 4, longer than styles; filaments ca. 3 × as long as anthers, basal part connate to ovary; anthers oblong. Pistils 3, 3-carpelled; carpels partly connate; ovary semi-inferior (flowers perigynous), 1-loculed; placentae 3, each with 6-9 ovules; styles 3, recurved. Capsule subglobose, dehiscent at apex.

One species: E and S Asia.

Lower Taxon

• Houttuynia cordata Thunberg