Kedrostis heterophylla Zimm.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: low confidence

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1967

Morphology General Habit

Climber to 2 m., unpleasantly aromatic when crushed; lowermost stem subterranean, arising from tuberous rootstock; aerial stems glabrous, rooting and forming tubers at the nodes in lower part.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade ovate-lanceolate in outline, cordate and sometimes with two lateral auricle-like lobes at the base, acuminate, acute and apiculate, ± sinuate-toothed, white-punctate especially on upper surface, 64–150 mm. long, 29–81 mm. broad, unlobed, or especially on young stems palmately often deeply 3-lobed with the middle lobe largest, lanceolate, acuminate, acute and apiculate; petiole sparsely hairy at margins, 14–40 mm. long.

Morphology General Tendrils

Tendrils simple.? Monoecious.

sex Male

Male flowers 5–24 in ± contracted racemes; peduncles 16–70 mm. long; pedicels 5–13 mm. long, each subtended by a minute linear bract; receptacle-tube campanulate-urceolate, 4–5 mm. long, hairy inside in upper half; lobes triangular, 1–2 mm. long; petals yellow, 4.5–5.5 mm. long, 2–3 mm. broad; stamens 3; filaments short, hairy ventrally; connectives produced apically.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers solitary on 21–26 mm. long stalks; ovary cylindrical and beaked, slightly hairy, 8–13 mm. long, 2.5–4 mm. across; receptacle-tube 4 mm. long, slightly constricted about the middle; lobes triangular, 1.5 mm. long; petals 6–7.5 mm. long, 3.5–4 mm. broad. Male flowers 5–24 in ± contracted racemes; peduncles 16–70 mm. long; pedicels 5–13 mm. long, each subtended by a minute linear bract; receptacle-tube campanulate-urceolate, 4–5 mm. long, hairy inside in upper half; lobes triangular, 1–2 mm. long; petals yellow, 4.5–5.5 mm. long, 2–3 mm. broad; stamens 3; filaments short, hairy ventrally; connectives produced apically.

sex Female

Female flowers solitary on 21–26 mm. long stalks; ovary cylindrical and beaked, slightly hairy, 8–13 mm. long, 2.5–4 mm. across; receptacle-tube 4 mm. long, slightly constricted about the middle; lobes triangular, 1.5 mm. long; petals 6–7.5 mm. long, 3.5–4 mm. broad.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit on a 30 mm. long stalk, ovoid, shortly and bluntly beaked, depressed at attachment of stalk, obscurely ribbed, shortly and sparsely hispid, fleshy, 28 mm. long, 18 mm. across.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds asymmetrically ovate in outline, 8 × 5 × 3.5 mm.

Habitat

Lowland rain-forest; 40–880 m.

Distribution

K7 T3 T6 ? Madagascar