Macfadyena unguis-cati
Content
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, N. Argentina present, Northern America, Southern America
Mexico to Brazil and N. Argentina, sometimes cultivated in Malesia.
Taxonomy
Specific characters in this genus seem to be vague; those used to distinguish M. uncata (ANDR.) SPRAGUE & S ANDW. from M. unguis-cati by GENTRY (Ann. l.c. 871) he declared himself (Brittonia l.c. 236) as inconstant. The one specimen I have seen from Java agrees with the plate of M. dentata but for the non-spathaceous calyx. Shape of calyx, margin of leaves and length of corolla seem to be very variable in this species which has aires dy a very large synonymy (GENTRY, Ann. l.c. 871). Does not fruit in Java; propagated by suckers and cuttings.