落地生根属 lao di sheng gen shu

Fu Kunjun (Fu Kun-tsun); Michael G. Gilbert

Herbs, rarely subshrubs or shrubs. Roots fibrous. Stems usually erect. Leaves opposite, rarely 3-verticillate, petiolate, pinnately compound, rarely simple or pinnately lobed (or simple and bearing bulbils along margin). Inflorescences terminal, cymose, many flowered. Flowers bisexual, usually pendulous, 4-merous, brightly colored, large. Calyx tubular or rarely campanulate; tube sometimes basally dilated. Corolla purple-red (in China), tubular to salverform, equaling or longer than calyx; lobes shorter than or scarcely longer than tube. Stamens 2 × as many as petals, inserted below middle of corolla tube, usually near base; filaments equaling corolla tube. Nectar scales entire or emarginate. Carpels erect, free. Styles long. Follicles many seeded.

About 20 species: Africa (including Madagascar); one species (introduced) in China.

Lower Taxon

• Bryophyllum pinnatum (Linnaeus f.) Oken