Fissistigma polyanthum
(Hook. f. & Thomson) Merr. in Philipp. J. Sci. (Bot.)
15: 135. 1919. Melodorum polyanthum Hook. f. & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 121 . 1855 &. in Fl.
Brit. India 1: 81. 1872.
Asm.: Karle-phingnu.
Large woody climbers; branches dark brown, glabrous. Leaves oblong-elliptic or lanceolate, rounded or cuneate at base, shortly acuminate at apex, 10 - 17 x 3.5 - 6.5 cm, coriaceous, minutely pubescent or glaucous beneath, glabrous and shiny above; petioles 8 - 10 mm long, pubescent when young, glabrous with age. Flowers 3 - 7 together in leaf-opposed subumbellate cymes, pale orange, sweet-scented; peduncles ca 5 mm long, woody, hoary, glabrate; pedicels 4 - 8 mm long; bracts ovate, ca 2 mm long, pubescent, basal and median. Sepals 3, ovate, acute, 3 - 4 x ca 3 mm, hoary, greyish tomentose, persistent after the falling of petals. Petals 6 (3 + 3), orange-red; outer ones ovate-deltoid, broadened and concave at base, acute, 6 - 7 x 5 - 6 mm, thick, greyish pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner ones shorter, concave at base. Stamens numerous, ca 1 mm long; connectives almost quadrate at top. Carpels many, oblong, ca 3 mm long, silky hairy; style linear; stigma entire. Ripe carpels many, berries, spherical, apiculate, 1 - 2.5 cm in diam., silky hairy; stalks 6 - 8 mm long, pubescent. Seeds several, in 2 rows, smooth, shiny.
Fl. Nov. - Mar.; Fr. June - Aug.
Distrib. India: Tropical and subtropical forests. Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Large woody climbers; branches dark brown, glabrous. Leaves oblong-elliptic or lanceolate, rounded or cuneate at base, shortly acuminate at apex, 10 - 17 x 3.5 - 6.5 cm, coriaceous, minutely pubescent or glaucous beneath, glabrous and shiny above; petioles 8 - 10 mm long, pubescent when young, glabrous with age. Flowers 3 - 7 together in leaf-opposed subumbellate cymes, pale orange, sweet-scented; peduncles ca 5 mm long, woody, hoary, glabrate; pedicels 4 - 8 mm long; bracts ovate, ca 2 mm long, pubescent, basal and median. Sepals 3, ovate, acute, 3 - 4 x ca 3 mm, hoary, greyish tomentose, persistent after the falling of petals. Petals 6 (3 + 3), orange-red; outer ones ovate-deltoid, broadened and concave at base, acute, 6 - 7 x 5 - 6 mm, thick, greyish pubescent outside, glabrous inside; inner ones shorter, concave at base. Stamens numerous, ca 1 mm long; connectives almost quadrate at top. Carpels many, oblong, ca 3 mm long, silky hairy; style linear; stigma entire. Ripe carpels many, berries, spherical, apiculate, 1 - 2.5 cm in diam., silky hairy; stalks 6 - 8 mm long, pubescent. Seeds several, in 2 rows, smooth, shiny.
Fl. Nov. - Mar.; Fr. June - Aug.
Distrib. India: Tropical and subtropical forests. Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
Bhutan and Bangladesh.
