Aspidistra grandiflora explained

Aspidistra grandiflora is a species of flowering plant. A. grandiflora grows in Vietnam in dry broad-leaved lowland forests on karstic limestone outcrops with fissures.^[1]

Description

This species is a perennial herb. Its rhizome is creeping. Its leaves are solitary, the petiole measuring about 30cm (10inches); the lamina is obovate, measuring 50cmby11cmcm (20inchesby04inchescm), being narrowly cuneate, tapering towards the petiole.

Its decumbent peduncle measures 7cm (03inches) long; its flowers are solitary or in groups of 2 or 3; perigone tube is urceolate, twice as wide as high, its diameter measuring up to 30mm, counting with 11 or 12 whitish and purplish mottled lobes, each one counting with a basal white appendage. It counts with 11 or 12 stamens, while its anthers are subsessile and ovoid, each up to 3mm long; the ovar is indistinct. The style is 3mm5mm long, while the stigma is disc-shaped and is 8mm thick, its central part white with 5 purple ribs, with 22-24 teeth.

Distribution

Aspidistra grandiflora is known only from its type locality, in Mai Châu District, Hòa Bình Province, Vietnam.

Further reading

• Gao, Qi, and Yan Liu. "Karyomorphology of Aspidistra grandiflora HJ Tillich from Indonesia." The Nucleus 55.3 (2012): 139–141.
• Meng, Tao, and Qi Gao. "Karyomorphology of six species of the genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawl.(Fam. Asparagaceae sl) from China." The Nucleus 57.2 (2014): 143–147.
• Tillich, H‐J. "An updated and improved determination key for Aspidistra Ker‐Gawl.(Ruscaceae, Monocotyledons)." Feddes Repertorium 119.5‐6 (2008): 449–462.
• Tillich, Hans-Juergen. "The genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawl.(Asparagaceae) in Vietnam." Taiwania 59.1 (2014): 1–8.

Notes and References

1. Tillich. H.-J.. Averyanov. L.V.. Dzu. N.V.. Six new species of Aspidistra (Ruscaceae) from northern Vietnam. Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. 52. 2. 2007. 335–344. 0006-5196. 10.3767/000651907X609070.