Asplundia

• Authority

  Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.

• Family

  Cyclanthaceae

• Scientific Name

  Asplundia

• Description

  Genus Description - Lianas, climbing by roots or terrestrial. Stems usually appressed or close to tree. Leaves spirally arranged; blade always bifid, in older leaves often secondarily split into few to numerous lobes. Inflorescences with 3-5 spathes at irregular intervals along peduncle, all spathes lanceolate to ovate, ± boat-shaped; spadix ellipsoid, ovoid, or shortly cylindrical, rarely spherical, variable in size. Staminate flowers of two types, one type symmetrical, funnel-shaped, with centrally placed, well-developed pedicel and perianth lobes evenly distributed around receptacle, the second type asymmetrical with pedicel offset from center and perianth-lobes developed only on one side, the perianth lobes always glanduliferous, the stamens few to many. Pistillate flowers: tepals distinctly developed in most species, the placentae 4, parietal, the styles 4, entirely or partly free or, rarely, concrescent into one common style, usually well-developed but in some species very short or even lacking. Fruiting spadix rough at maturity. Seeds oblong to ovate, quite flat, lustrous, yellowish, with thin, unsculptured testa.