Stephania abyssinica (Quart.-Dill. & A.Rich.) Walp.

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

Morphology General Habit

Twining liane, woody at base; stem covered with a thin bark; branchlets glabrous or ± densely pubescent to tomentose when young.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole 4–12 cm. long; blade ovate to broadly ovate, rarely suborbicular, rounded at base, obtuse or subacute at apex, 5–20 cm. long, 4–13 cm. wide, membranous or papery, slightly discolorous, glabrous or tomentellous; basal nerves 8–10, palmate.

sex Male

Male inflorescences of false compound umbels, axillary, solitary or clustered 2–4 together; axes glabrous or tomentellous; peduncle 4–10 cm. long, with 3–6 rays ending in umbel-like cymes; involucre of 3–5 caducous bracts. Male flowers with 6–8 obovate or subobovate sepals 1.2–2.5 mm. long and 0.6–1.2 mm. wide, purplish, their base often violet; petals 3–4, broadly ovate or suborbicular, 0.8–1.2 mm. long; synandrium 6–8-locular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Female inflorescences similar to the ♂. Male inflorescences of false compound umbels, axillary, solitary or clustered 2–4 together; axes glabrous or tomentellous; peduncle 4–10 cm. long, with 3–6 rays ending in umbel-like cymes; involucre of 3–5 caducous bracts.

sex Female

Female inflorescences similar to the ♂. Female flowers with 3–4 sepals; carpel glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers with 3–4 sepals; carpel glabrous. Male flowers with 6–8 obovate or subobovate sepals 1.2–2.5 mm. long and 0.6–1.2 mm. wide, purplish, their base often violet; petals 3–4, broadly ovate or suborbicular, 0.8–1.2 mm. long; synandrium 6–8-locular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupes subspherical-flattened, 0.5–0.8 cm. in diameter, glabrous; endocarp with small prickles or thick tubercles arranged in three lines; condyle not perforated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.5–2 cm. long.

Habitat

A species with varied ecological requirements, not however penetrating into the rain-forest; in grassland or wooded grassland up to 3500 m., preferably in moist shady places, especially on the edges of rivers and swamps.

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

Morphology General Habit

Twining liane, woody at the base; stem covered with a thin bark; branchlets glabrous or more or less densely pubescent to tomentose when young.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 5–20 x 4–13 cm., ovate to broadly ovate, rarely suborbicular, rounded at the base, obtuse or subacute at the apex, membranous or papery, slightly discolorous, glabrous or tomentellous, basal nerves 8–10, palmate, petiole 4–12 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers with 6––8 obovate or subobovate sepals 1.2–2.5 x 0.6–1.2 mm., purplish, their bases often violet; petals 3–4, 0.8–1.2 mm. long, broadly ovate or suborbicular; synandrium 6–8-locular. Female flowers with 3–4 sepals; carpel glabrous.

sex Male

Male flowers with 6––8 obovate or subobovate sepals 1.2–2.5 x 0.6–1.2 mm., purplish, their bases often violet; petals 3–4, 0.8–1.2 mm. long, broadly ovate or suborbicular; synandrium 6–8-locular. Male inflorescences of false compound umbels, axillary, solitary or clustered 2–4 together; axes glabrous or tomentellous; peduncle 4–10 cm. long with 3–6 rays ending in umbel-like cymes; involucre of 3–5 caducous bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Female inflorescences similar to the male. Male inflorescences of false compound umbels, axillary, solitary or clustered 2–4 together; axes glabrous or tomentellous; peduncle 4–10 cm. long with 3–6 rays ending in umbel-like cymes; involucre of 3–5 caducous bracts.

sex Female

Female inflorescences similar to the male. Female flowers with 3–4 sepals; carpel glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupe subspherical-flattened, 0.5–0.8 cm. in diam., glabrous; endocarp with small prickles or thick tubercles arranged in three lines; condyle not perforated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds up to 0–8 cm. long.