恒春胡椒 heng chun hu jiao

Climbers glabrous except for rachis, dioecious. Stems black when dry, rooting at nodes, deeply furrowed and thickly ridged. Petiole 4-10(-15) mm; prophyll ca. 1/2 as long as petiole; leaf blade ovate, in apical leaves elliptic, 8-13(-18) × 3.5-8.5 cm, thinly papery, abaxially densely glandular, base rounded or shallowly cordate, in apical leaves sometimes shortly tapered, usually symmetric, apex acute to shortly acuminate; veins 7, outermost pair very slender, apical pair arising 1-2 cm above base, alternate, reaching middle of leaf, others basal; reticulate veins conspicuous. Spikes leaf-opposed. Male spikes ascending, 3.5-5 cm × ca. 4 mm; peduncle ca. 1.5 cm; bracts orbicular or obovate, 1.1-1.5 mm wide, peltate, adaxially villous, margin not entire, stalk villous. Stamens 2; filaments short. Female spikes 2-3.5 cm; peduncle, rachis, and bracts as in male spikes. Ovary ovoid, distinct; stigmas 4, linear, reflexed. Drupe not seen. Fl. May-Jul.

Forests, on trees or rocks; near sea level to 800 m. S Taiwan [N Philippines]