Paris dunniana H. Lév.

Many plants of this species have been cultivated and closely investigated by Li (Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 6(1): 109--111. 1986). The stamens are 20 (e.g., in Cavalerie 3652, the type gathering of Paris dunniana) or more, rather than 10--12, as described by Takhtajan (Brittonia 35: 257--258. 1983).

Plants 1.5--3 m tall. Rhizome 2--5 cm thick. Leaves 4--8; petiole 5--10 cm; leaf blade obovate-oblong 15--30 × 7.5--16 cm. Peduncle 60--140 cm. Outer tepals (5 or)6--8, green, oblong-lanceolate, 5--10 × 1.5--2.4 cm; inner ones green, filiform-linear, longer than outer ones. Stamens 20 or more; filaments (0.4--)0.8--1.5 cm; anthers 1.2--2.1 cm; free portion of connective 0.5--4 mm, apex acute. Ovary 1-loculed; stigma lobes (5 or)6--8, ca. 5 mm. Capsule berrylike, subglobose, ca. 4 cm in diam., dehiscent, pale green at maturity. Seeds white, wholly enveloped by orange, succulent, aril, ca. 4 mm wide. Fl. Mar--Apr, fr. Oct--Nov. 2 n = 10*.

Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan.

* Forests; near sea level to 1100 m.

Daiswa dunniana (H. Léveillé) Takhtajan; D. hainanensis (Merrill) Takhtajan; Paris hainanensis Merrill.