南五味子 nan wu wei zi

Kadsura discigera Finet & Gagnepain; K. omeiensis S. F. Lan; K. peltigera Rehder & E. H. Wilson.

Plants glabrous throughout. Petiole 0.6-1.7(-3) cm; leaf blade elliptic to rarely ovate-elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 5.5-12(-15) × 2-4.5(-6.5) cm, papery to leathery, secondary veins 4-8 on each side of midvein, base cuneate to rarely broadly cuneate, margin subentire, denticulate, serrulate, or serrate, apex shortly to long acuminate. Flower peduncle 1.2-4(-6.4) cm (staminate), (1-)3-5(-16) cm (pistillate). Tepals 10-15(-20), pale yellow, yellow, or occasionally reddish, largest 4-7(-13) × 3-6(-10) mm. Staminate flowers: stamens 26-54; staminodes absent. Pistillate flowers: carpels 20-58. Fruit peduncle 2.5-9.5 cm; apocarps red, purple, or rarely black, 6.5-11.5(-15) × 4.5-6.5(-11) mm. Seeds 1-3 per apocarp, reniform, 3.5-4.5 × 4.5-6 mm. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Sep-Dec. 2n = 28*.

● Forests, especially near rivers; 100-1300(-1700) m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.

This species is used medicinally. The fruit is edible.