湘南星 xiang nan xing

Tuber depressed globose, ca. 2 cm in diam. Cataphylls to 15 cm. Leaves 2; petiole 45-55 cm, proximal half sheathing and forming pseudostem; leaf blade pedate; leaflets 7-9, oblanceolate; central leaflet shortly petiolulate, larger than lateral ones; rachis between central and lateral leaflets 4-6 mm. Peduncle shorter than petioles, free part 3-6 cm. Spathe reddish inside; tube cylindric, ca. 7 × 2 cm, throat slightly recurved, not auriculate; limb ovate-lanceolate, ca. 6 cm, apex long acuminate. Spadix unisexual; male ca. 1.5 cm; female ca. 2.5 cm; ovary elliptic, ca. 3 mm; style short; stigma small, pilose. Appendix sessile, suberect or slightly recurved, narrowly pyramidal, 4-7 cm × ca. 4.5 mm, narrowed toward base and apex, basal ca. 1.5 cm in female spadix usually with acute neuter flowers 4-5 mm, smooth in male spadix. Fl. Mar-May.

● Forests, streamsides; 200-800 m. Chongqing, Guangdong, Hubei, Hunan, E Sichuan.