Chamissoa altissima
Content
Description
Climbing liana to 15(-20) m or more; stems glabrous or puberulent. Petiole to 6.5 cm long; blade elliptical, ovate or lanceolate, to ca. 15 x 9 cm, apex acuminate, base cuneate to rounded. Inflorescence more or less elongate, often branched; glomerules 1- to 4-flowered; inflorescence-axes puberulent; bracts and bracteoles 1.5 mm long, pale green, glabrous, keeled, sometimes distally mucronate by prolongation of keel-vein; tepals yellowish-green, whitish-green or cream, scarious, 2.7-4.2 mm long, sometimes mucronate, 3-veined; stamens white, shorter than perianth; ovary truncate, with narrow ring of indurated tissue above middle, stigmas 2. Fruit with persistent, 0.4-1 mm long style; seed reniform, 1.3-2.5 mm long, enveloped in loose, membranous, transparent aril, testa black, shining, minutely striate and finely etched with hexagonal patterns (20 x loupe).