毒瓜属 du gua shu

Authors: Anmin Lu & Charles Jeffrey

Bryonia [unranked] Diplocyclos Endlicher, Prodr. Fl. Norfolk. 68. 1833.

Herbs, scandent. Tendrils 2-fid. Leaf blade palmately 5-lobed. Plants monoecious. Flowers small, fasciculate, often male and female flowers together in axils. Male flowers: calyx tube broadly campanulate; segments short; corolla broadly campanulate; segments ovate; stamens 3, free, inserted on calyx tube; filaments short; anthers ovoid, one 1-celled, other 2-celled; anther cells linear, slightly flexuous. Female flowers: calyx and corolla as in male flowers; staminodes 3; ovary globose or ovoid, with 3 placentas; ovules few, horizontal; style slender; stigmas 3, 2-lobed. Fruit baccate, globose or ovoid. Seeds strongly margined, surfaces slightly scrobiculate at middle.

Four species: tropical Africa, Asia, Australia; one species in China.

Lower Taxon

• Diplocyclos palmatus (Linnaeus) C. Jeffrey