Fissistigma Griffith

Climbing or Scrambling shrubs. Leaves with strong parallel nerves, pubescent to tomentose. Flowers bisexual, terminal, leaf-opposed or axillary, solitary or in fascicled cymes or branched panicles; buds triquetrous. Sepals 3, small, valvate, connate at base, persistent. Petals 6 (3 + 3), valvate, thick, leathery, pubescent to tomentose; outer flat, plano-convex or trigonous; inner ones smaller, triquetrous above, flat or concave at base, shorter than outer. Stamens many; connectives ovoid, quadrate or apiculate at top. Carpels many; ovules 2 or more; style oblong to narrow clavate; stigma short. Ripe carpels ovoid or globose, berries, usually stalked. Seeds many.

N.E. India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indo-china, Thailand, Malesia to Aus- tralia, New Zealand and Africa; ca 70 species, 8 species in India.

KEY TO THE SPECIES

1a. Outer petals up to 1.5 cm long

2

b. Outer petals more than 2 cm long

6

2a. Leaves broad, elliptic, obtuse or subacute at apex

3

b. Leaves oblong or oblong-Ianceolate, acuminate at apex

4

3a. Main lateral nerves 22 - 27 pairs; pedicels ca 1 cm long

2. Fissistigma ellipticum

b. Main lateral nerves ca 12 pairs; pedieels very short or absent

5. Fissistigma rufinerve

4a. Petals densely rufous tomentose outside, ca 1.5 cm long

8. Fissistigma wallichii

b. Petals pubescent outside, ca 1 cm or shorter

5

5a. Leaves 12 -17 cm long; pedicels 4 - 5 mm long; petals deltoid, 6 - 7 mm long, greyish pubescent

3. Fissistigma polyanthum

b. Leaves 16 - 22 cm long; pedicels ca 15 mm long; petals oblong, ca 1 cm long, brown pubescent

6. Fissistigma santapaui

6a. Leaves broadly elliptic; petals acuminate at apex, 2.5 - 3 cm long

4. Fissistigma rubiginosum

b. Leaves narrowly oblong or oblong-lanceolate; petals obtuse or subacute at apex, ca 2 cm long

7

7a, Pedicels 2 - 3 cm long; ripe carpels verrucose

7. Fissistigma verrucosum

b. Pedicels 1 - 1.5 cm long; ripe carpels smooth

1. Fissistigma bicolor

List of Lower Taxa