连蕊藤属 lian rui teng shu

Vines. Petiole swollen and geniculate at base; leaf blade cordate, not peltate, base hastate or sagittate, palmately veined. Inflorescences axillary, corymbose, often coaxially branching, rachis ± zigzag. Male flowers: sepals 6 in 2 whorls, subequal; petals 6, shorter than sepals, often cuneate-obovate, apex subtruncate or 3-gashed, margin often reflexed; stamens 6, connate into ± peltate synandrium, anthers usually dehiscing transversely. Female flowers: sepals and petals as in male, or different in number and shape; staminodes 6; carpels 3, erect, style short, stigma recurved, large, often lobed or laciniate. Drupes subglobose, style scar subterminal; endocarp bony, obovate, usually spiny; condyle disciform in middle of adaxial side. Seed half-moon-shaped/crescent-shaped; embryo with divaricate ovate cotyledons and long radicle; endosperm rich, fleshy.

About six species: SE Asia to Solomon Islands; one species in China.

Lower Taxon

• Parabaena sagittata Miers