Cyclanthus
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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.
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Family
Cyclanthaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Genus Description - Terrestrial herbs, often growing in clumps. Stems absent, leaves from short, branched rhizome. Leaves spirally arranged; petiole about as long as blade; blade bifid, divided nearly to base, each segment with distinct midrib. Inflorescence with long peduncle arising from rhizome; spathes 4 or rarely 5, attached at regular intervals below spadix; spadix robust, staminate and pistillate flowers in stacked, alternate rings. Staminate flowers coalesced into ring, individual flowers not distinct, without perianth, the stamens numerous, their filaments connate at bases. Pistillate flowers coalesced into bands, individual flowers not distinct, with reduced perianth, visible as two thin bands, each band parallel and largely connate with a band of staminodes, the staminodial band bearing abortive anthers, the carpels of all pistillate flowers in a band fused to form common ovarian chamber with numerous, crowded, parietal placentae. Fruiting spadix a fleshy syncarp, the pistillate rings opening to expose seeds, the individual rings separating from one another and falling from rachis at maturity, twisted and cork-screw like at maturity. Seeds subglobose to broadly ellipsoid, long-stalked, the testa sculptured, with 10-12 longitudinal ridges, these connected by numerous, thin transverse, ribs.