穿心藤 chuan xin teng

Epipremnopsis hainanensis Ting & Wu ex H. Li, Y. Shiao & S. L. Tseng, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 15(2): 102. 1977.

Stem cylindric, 3-4 mm in diam.; 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 or falcate-lanceolate, 13-15 cm on juvenile branch, on mature 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 × 1.5-4 cm, 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 shortly rostrate. Stipe of spadix 8-10 mm; spadix cylindric, ca. 6 × 1.3 cm. Stamens 6, shorter than ovary during female anthesis but filaments extending at male anthesis to bring thecae above pistils; filaments flat; anthers longitudinally dehiscent. 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. Fl. Apr (Hainan), Oct (Guangxi).

Dense forests in valleys or by watersides, creeping against trees or over rocks; below 300 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Yunnan [N Vietnam].