Sarcandra glabra

Species: Sarcandra glabra 

English Name: Glabrous Sarcandra

Chinese Name: 草珊瑚、雞爪蘭、九節茶、九節風

Family: Chloranthaceae

Description:

Subshrubs, evergreen, 50-150 cm tall. Stems cylindric, erect, glabrous, nodes swollen. Stipules subulate; petioles 0.5-2 cm; leaf blade elliptic or ovate to ovate-lanceolate, or broadly elliptic to oblong, 6-20 × 2-8 cm, leathery or papery, glandular mucronate on marginal teeth, glabrous, base acute, cuneate, or broadly cuneate, margin sharply coarsely-serrate or dully serrate except basally, apex acute to acuminate; lateral veins 5-7, slightly prominent on both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal, usually branched, ± in spikes, 1.5-4 cm with peduncles; bracts triangular or ovate. Flowers yellowish green. Stamen 1, fleshy, baculate to terete or ovoid; anther 2-loculed, thecae lateral or sometimes introrse, on both sides of apical part of connective or nearly as long as connective. Ovary globose or ovoid; style absent; stigma subcapitate or minutely spotted. Drupes green when young, shiny red or yellowish red at maturity, globose (3-4 mm in diam.) or ovoid (ca. 4 mm). 2n = 30*.

© 2010 yamatsu

© 2010 yamatsu

© 2011 DaraKero_F

© 2011 DaraKero_F

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