Stemona curtisii

Primary tabs

Stemona curtisii

Description

Glabrous twiner up to 3 m. Leaves alternate, seldom opposite; Inflorescence 2-many-flowered, on a peduncle 2.5-10 cm, not fused with the petiole; Flowers pendent; Stamens 13-18 mm long; Fruit 25-30 by c. 15 mm, shordy beaked, 2-6-seeded. Seeds 18-20 by 3-3.5 mm, the acuminate apex c. 5 mm, the base enveloped by an aril consisting of hollow, finger-like appendages.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka present); Thailand (Thailand present), Lepar Archipelago near Banka present
Sri Lanka (rare), Thailand; in Malesia: Malay Peninsula (Lepar Archipelago near Banka; one collection seen).

Notes

The flowers of S. curtisii and S. collinsae Craib (Thailand) are identical, but S. curtisii is a rather tall climber while S. collinsae is a low, erect herb.
Ridley l.c. mentions opposite as well as alternate leaves in the same plant, but the occurrence of opposite leaves is rare; I have seen it in only one collection, Ridley 10305.
Stemona minor is based on three collections: Wight 2821, which is S. tuberosa, the above mentioned collection Glenie in Hb. Twaites 3775 which is S. curtisii, and Beddome 770 in BM., the latter not seen.

Citation

Hook. f. 1892 – In: Curtis Bot Mag.: t 7254