狮子尾 shi zi wei

Lianas. Stem thick, rectangular in cross section; branches pendulous, 5-10 mm in diam.; internodes 1-4 cm, rooting; internodes of juvenile branches elongated to 6-8 cm, often producing aerial roots opposite to petiole. Petiole 5-10 cm, sheathing to pulvinus; pulvinus conspicuous, 4-10 mm; leaf blade pale green abaxially, green adaxially, usually falcate-elliptic, sometimes oblong-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 20-35 × 5-6(-14) cm, base narrowly cuneate to minutely truncate, apex long acuminate; lateral veins many (but in fresh material almost invisible), diverging at 45° from midrib; juvenile stems with leaf blade obliquely elliptic, base narrowly cuneate on one side, rounded on other side, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal or appearing axillary; peduncle cylindric, 4-5 cm, apex ca. 10 mm in diam. Spathe early caducous, green to light yellow, ovate, 6-9 cm, involute, apex acuminate. Spadix pale green or light yellow, cylindric, 5-8 × 1.5-3 cm. Ovary hexagonal-cylindric, ca. 4 × 2 mm, apex truncate; stigma black, capitate. Fruit yellow-green. Fl. Apr-Aug.

Valley rain forests, evergreen forests, on trees or stone walls; 100-900(-2000) m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan [?Indonesia, Laos, ?Malaysia, Myanmar, N Thailand, N Vietnam].

The plant is used medicinally for treating traumatic injuries, fractures, lumbago, rheumatism, and fevers.