Dalechampia tamnifolia
Lam., Encycl. 2: 256. 1786; Thomas in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.
60: 475, ff. 1 - 2. 1963; Sebastine & Ramam. in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 8: 81. 1966.
Twining undershrubs with stinging hairs interspersed with simple hairs all over the plant.
Leaves unlobed or palmately 3-lobed, when unlobed ovate-triangular, acuminate at apex, 5 – 10
x 4.5 – 8 cm, when lobed 15 – 20 x 5 – 8 cm, serrulate along margins, cordate and 5-nerved at base
with a pair of recurved linear up to 1 cm long scales at the basal notch, coriaceous, puberulous
above and beneath; central lobe elliptic-lanceolate, equal-sided, cuneate at base, acuminate at
apex; lateral lobes falcate-lanceolate, unequal-sided, broader and rounded towards base, cuneate
and narrower above, acuminate at apex; petioles 5 – 10 cm long; stipels linear, 4 – 6 mm long;
stipules linear-lanceolate, 1 – 1.5 cm long, persistent. Inflorescences axillary peduncled heads;
peduncles 6 – 12 cm long; bracts trilobed, 3 -5 cm long, each enclosing the male and female
inflorescences. Male cymes: compound, consisting of ca 16 flowers arranged in 5 cymose
bundles of 3 flowers each and one terminal solitary flower; bracteoles 5; sepals 5 – 7, keeled;
stamens 25 – 40, surmounted on an androphore. Female cymes: with 3 flowers, each subtended
by a ciliate bract; sepals 12, pinnatifid, accrescent, velvety tomentose; ovary 3-lobed; stylar
column broadened towards trilobed stigma. Fruits trilobed, subtended by persistent pinnately
lobed sepals.
Fl. & Fr. not known.
Distrib. India: Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Madagascar.
Notes. The original spelling given by Lamarck (1786) for the species is ‘tamnifolia’ and not ‘tamifolia’ as given in some later treatments.
Fl. & Fr. not known.
Distrib. India: Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Madagascar.
Notes. The original spelling given by Lamarck (1786) for the species is ‘tamnifolia’ and not ‘tamifolia’ as given in some later treatments.