Entry for TROCHOMERIA vitifolia Hook. f. [family CUCURBITACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol 2, page 521, (1871) Author: (By Mr. J. G. Baker.)
Names
TROCHOMERIA vitifoliaHook. f. [family CUCURBITACEAE]
Information
Stems almost glabrous, climbing amongst grass. Leaves very variable, sometimes reduced or absent, triangular-cordate, acute, with a broad basal sinus, 3–5-lobed or -angled, coarsely unequally toothed, all but glabrous above, minutely pubescent with scattered hairs below, not scabrid, membranous. Stipular bracts broadly ovate-cordate, deeply ciliate-toothed. Male fl.: On capillary 1-flowered peduncles 2–2 1/2 in. long. Calyx-tube 1/2 in. long, 1/8 in. diameter, cylindric. Corolla-lobes as long as the calyx-tube, subulate-lanceolate. Female fl.: Shortly peduncled, calyx and corolla as in the male. Ovary slightly pubescent.
Distribution
Angola Lower Guinea Golungo Alto, alt. 1000–2400 ft., amongst grasses and shrubs on stony hills, Dr. Welwitsch!
Notes
Root very large, eaten by the negroes, and used as a medicine. The leaves in the best developed specimens are triangular-cordate, with a large shallow sinus at the base.
