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Aspidistra dolichanthera

Accepted name Aspidistra dolichanthera X. X. Chen. Guihaia, 2(2): 77, fig. 1. (1982).
Synonyms  
Distribution China (SW Guangxi), Vietnam (Cao Bang).
Description Rhizome: creeping, subterete, diameter 6 - 9 mm.

Leaves: solitary or 2 - 3-tufted, ca. 60 cm; cataphylls undescribed; petiole 20 - 30 cm, rigid; leaf blade green with scattered yellow spots, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 18 - 30 cm long x 8 - 15 cm wide, base rounded.

Peduncle: erect, 5 - 15 cm long with 3 - 6 bracts; flowers solitary, conspicuously held well above soil surface.

Perianth [Perigone]: widely campanulate [see notes], pure white; tube 6 - 8 mm long x ca. 8 mm diameter; lobes 6 (- 7) petaloid, recurved, oblong, ca. 12 mm long x 7 - 8 mm wide.

Stamens: 6 (- 7), subsessile, inserted at base of perianth tube but clearly visible appressed to style in mature flower, anthers oblong, 5 - 6 mm long.

Pistil: columnar; style slender, ca. 3 cm long x ca. 1.5 mm diameter, exceeding stamens, slightly enlarged at the top into a 3-lobed stigma, ca. 1.7 mm in diameter; ovary inconspicuous.

Fruit: undescribed.

Phenology: flowers April.

2n = 36

Based on FoC and Li Guangzhao 2004

References  
Comments Occurs in the neighbouring provinces of Guangxi in China and Cao Bang in Vietnam.

FoC describes flowers as "campanulate" but from illustration and photographs in Li Guangzhao 2004 they are clearly very widely campanulate if not ± rotate.

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last updated 17/03/2008