Species: Houttuynia cordata
English Name: Fishwort
Chinese Name: 蕺菜、魚腥草、狗貼耳
Family: Saururaceae
Description:
Herbs (5-)30-60 cm high; rhizomes creeping, thin. Basal part of stems creeping, rooted in whorls at nodes, apical part erect, glabrous or pubescent on nodes, sometimes purplish red. Stipular sheath (0.5-)1-2.5 cm, 1/4-1/2 as long as petiole, usually ciliate, base enlarged and slightly clasping; petiole (0.7-) 1-3.5(-4) cm, glabrous; leaf blade broadly ovate or ovate-cordate, (1.5-)4-10 × (1.8-)2.5-6 cm, thinly papery, densely glandular, usually glabrous, sometimes pubescent at vein axils, usually purplish abaxially, base cordate, apex shortly acuminate; veins 5-7, basal or innermost pair arising ca. 5 mm above base, if 7-veined, then outermost pair very slender or inconspicuous; reticulate veins ± conspicuous. Inflorescences (0.4-) 1.5-2.5(-2.7) cm × (2-)5-6 mm; peduncles 1.5-3 cm, subglabrous; involucral bracts oblong or obovate, (5-)10-15 × (3-)5-7 mm, apex rounded. Bract beneath each flower linear, terete, inconspicuous. Stamens longer than ovary. Capsule 2-3 mm, with persistent styles. Fl. Apr-Sep, fr. Jun-Oct. 2n = 24*, 96.
© 2013 Manuel Martín Vicente
© 2011 by: t-mizo
Photos used under a Creative Commons license
References:
Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds) (1999) Flora of China. Vol. 4 (Cycadaceae through Fagaceae). Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bot Garden Press, St. Louis