Compilation
Helmia dumetorum

Tuber replaced annually, much divided with short or cylindric round-ended root-bearing lobes up to 2.5 cm. in diameter, spreading or descending to ± 30 cm. Twining stems up to 10 m. high, pubescent and beset sparsely or rather densely with prickles. Leaves alternate, 3-foliolate; petiole up to 20 cm. long, pubescent, usually with a few scattered prickles; leaflets with petiolule up to 10 mm. long, adpressed pubescent, glabrescent above, discolourous and lanate, rarely sparsely hirsute beneath; median leaflet obovoid, acutely acuminate, cuneate or rounded at the base, conspicuously 3-nerved from just above the base. Male inflorescence paniculate, the ultimate branches spreading in all directions forming dense subsessile cylindric spikelets up to 15 mm. long, subsessile or on peduncles up to 5 mm. long; bracts broadly ovate, adpressed to the perianth and partly concealing it, densely pubescent; perianth subglobose, glabrous, with the 3 inner segments ± 1 mm. long and the 3 outer considerably smaller and thinner. Stamens 6. Female inflorescence pendulous, spicate, 5–10 cm. long, with the flowers close together at first, the internodes elongating greatly in age; flowers directed downwards; perianth depressed subglobose, ± 2 mm. in diameter, pubescent; lobes subequal. Ovary ± 7 mm. long, densely pubescent. Capsule as fig. 2/3, p. 5, (3–)4(–5) cm. long, rather sparsely pubescent. Seeds (fig. 2/3a) ± 2 cm. long, with wing on the basal side only.