Menispermaceae

Stephania Lour.

First published in Fl. Cochinch.: 608 (1790)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & Subtropical Old World.

Descriptions

Menispermaceae, G. Troupin. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Drupe with smooth, glabrous or hairy exocarp, endocarp subovate and compressed or reniform, truncate at the base, with 2–4 rows of tubercles or more or less projecting prickles, or merely with transverse ribs; the condyle somewhat concave on either side with its septum either perforated or not.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds with endosperm.
Morphology General Habit
Herbaceous or woody lianes, sometimes with succulent leaves.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, peltate; lamina triangular, ovate or suborbicular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Male flowers with 6–8 sepals; petals 3–4, free, rarely absent; stamens 2–6, arranged in a disk-shaped stalked synandrium, round the margin of which the anthers form a horizontal ring; thecae with transverse dehiscence. Female flowers with 3–6 free sepals; petals 2–4, free; staminodes usually absent; carpel 1; style small; stigma slightly lobed, or laciniate with divaricate divisions.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Female inflorescences similar to the male. Male inflorescences of panicles, false umbels or hemispherical umbel-like cymes.
[FZ]

Menispermaceae, G. Troupin. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1956

Morphology General Habit
Herbaceous or woody lianes, sometimes with succulent stems
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, peltate; blade triangular, ovate or suborbicular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Male inflorescences of panicles, false umbels or hemispherical umbel-like cymes Female inflorescences similar to the ♂
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Male flowers with 6–8 free sepals; petals 3–4, free, rarely absent; stamens 2–6, arranged in a disc-shaped stalked synandrium, round whose margin the anthers are in a horizontal ring; thecae with transverse dehiscence Female flowers with 3–6 free sepals; petals 2–4, free; staminodes usually absent; carpel 1; style small; stigma slightly lobed, or laciniate with divaricate divisions
sex Male
Male flowers with 6–8 free sepals; petals 3–4, free, rarely absent; stamens 2–6, arranged in a disc-shaped stalked synandrium, round whose margin the anthers are in a horizontal ring; thecae with transverse dehiscence Male inflorescences of panicles, false umbels or hemispherical umbel-like cymes
sex Female
Female flowers with 3–6 free sepals; petals 2–4, free; staminodes usually absent; carpel 1; style small; stigma slightly lobed, or laciniate with divaricate divisions Female inflorescences similar to the ♂
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Drupes with smooth, glabrous or hairy exocarp, endocarp subovate and compressed or reniform, truncate at base, with 2–4 rows of tubercles or ± projecting prickles, or merely with transverse ribs; the condyle somewhat concave on either side with its septum either perforated or not
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds with endosperm.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0