Ampelocissus artemisiifolia

Description

Lianas,woody.Branchlets terete,with longitudinal ridges,densely tomentose with white hairs;tendrils bifurcate.Leaves 3-foliolate;petiole 2.5-4 cm;central petiolule absent to 5 mm,lateral petiolule very short,with white arachnoid tomentum,or lateral leaflets sessile;leaflets abaxially with dense white and arachnoid tomentum,adaxially with sparse arachnoid tomentum,lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs,veinlets inconspicuous;central leaflet oval or rhombic,sometimes cleft or divided,3-6 × 2-3 cm,base cuneate,margin with 5-14 rounded and obtuse teeth on each side,apex acute or acuminate;lateral leaflets oval,2-5.5 cm,base highly asymmetric,margin with 5-11 rounded and obtuse teeth,apex acute or obtuse.Compound dichasium leaf-opposed,with a tendril at base;peduncle 6-7 cm,with dense,white,arachnoid tomentum.Pedicel 1-2 mm,glabrous.Buds globose,1.5-2 mm,apex rounded.Calyx saucer-shaped,glabrous,undulately lobed.Petals narrowly oval,1.4-1.8 mm,glabrous.Anthers oval,nearly quadrate.Disk obvious,undulately lobed.Lower part of ovary adnate to disk,oval;style conical,ca.10 ridges;stigma slightly expanded.Berry globose,7-8 mm in diam.,2- or 3-seeded.Seeds oblong,base rostrate,apex subrounded,chalazal knot suborbicular.Fl.Jun,fr.Aug.