蝙蝠葛属 bian fu ge shu

Herbaceous vines. Leaf blade peltate, palmately veined. Inflorescences axillary. Male flowers: sepals 4-10, ± spirally arranged, usually concave; petals 6-8 or more, ± fleshy, reniform-cordate to rotund, margin inflexed; stamens 12-18[-36], free, anther subglobose, dehiscing longitudinally. Female flowers: sepals and petals as in male flower; staminodes 6-12 or more, clavate; carpels 2-4, ovary saccate-semiovoid, style short, stigma large and lobed, curved outward. Drupes suboblate, style scar near base; endocarp reniform-rounded or broadly half-moon-shaped, rather flattened; condyle lamella-shaped. Seed embryo annularly curved; endosperm rich; cotyledons semiterete, slightly longer than radicle.

Three or four species: E Asia, North America; one species in China.

Lower Taxon

• Menispermum dauricum Candolle