鄂赤瓟 e chi bao

Thladiantha glabra Cogniaux.

Herbs, climbing. Stem and branches slender, glabrous, angular-sulcate. Petiole 5-15 cm, subglabrous; leaf blade broadly ovate-cordate, 10-20 × 8-18 cm, membranous, abaxially sparsely setose, adaxially scabrous, basal lateral veins along base of sinus, margin dentate, apex acute or acuminate; sinus open, 1.5-3 cm deep. Tendrils glabrous, 2-fid. Male flowers numerous at apex of peduncle; peduncle over 20 cm; pedicels 5-10 mm, slender; calyx tube broadly campanulate; segments reflexed, linear, 7-9 mm, 1-veined, apex acuminate; corolla segments ovate-oblong, 18-22 × 7-9 mm, 5-veined, apex acuminate; filaments 2-3 mm, sparsely puberulent; anthers ovoid-oblong, ca. 2 mm; rudimentary ovary globose. Female flowers solitary or 2-4 on a 10-15 mm peduncle; pedicels 2-4 cm, subglabrous; calyx segments reflexed, linear, 10-12 mm; corolla segments 2-4 × ca. 1.2 cm; staminodes linear, ca. 2 mm; ovary ovoid, 10-12 mm, base truncate, apex attenuate. Fruit ovoid, 3-4 × 2-2.5 cm, glabrous, smooth, base truncate, apex attenuate. Seeds ovate, compressed, 5-6 × 3-3.5 mm, ca. 1.5 mm thick, base obtuse, apex attenuate. Fl and fr. May-Oct.

● Thickets, roadsides, or wetlands in river valleys; 600-2100 m. Gansu, Guizhou, NW Hubei, S Shaanxi, E and S Sichuan.