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Genus Ripogonum Family Ripogonaceae

Description: Perennial vines or scandent shrubs with prickly or smooth stems, glabrous or hairy.

Leaves opposite, alternate or whorled, lamina entire, with 3–5 longitudinal veins and ± prominent reticulate venation; stipules absent.

Inflorescence pedunculate, axillary spikes or racemes or terminal panicles. Flowers actinomorphic, 3-merous, bisexual [or unisexual]. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls. Stamens 6; filaments free; anthers 2-locular, latrorse, dehiscing by longitudinal slits or pores. Ovary superior, 3-locular; ovules usually 2 per loculus; stigma ± sessile minutely 3-lobed.

Fruit a berry; seeds 1–few.


Distribution and occurrence: World: 1 genus, 6 species, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand. Australia: 1 genus, 5 species. (4 species endemic).

Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:

 Key to the species 
1Mature branchlets and petioles distinctly hairy; base of leaves more or less cordate to rounded2
Mature branchlets and petioles glabrous but sometimes axillary buds and expanding shoots hairy; base of leaves tapering into petiole, not cordate, rarely rounded3
2Petioles and branchlets rusty-tomentose; leaves elliptic to more or less ovate, mostly more than 3 cm wideRipogonum elseyanum
Petioles and branchlets sparsely to moderately hirsute with yellow to brownish hairs; leaves more or less lanceolate, usually less than 3 cm wide
                       Back to 1
Ripogonum fawcettianum
3Leaves oblong, more than 3 times as long as broad, branchlets usually pricklyRipogonum discolor
Leaves ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, mostly less than 3 times as long as broad; branchlets without or with few prickles
                       Back to 1
4
4Leaves usually more than 8 cm long and more than 3 cm wide, opposite, alternate or more often in whorls of 3; flowers pedicellateRipogonum album
Leaves usually less than 8 cm long and less than 3 cm wide, opposite or alternate; flowers sessile
                       Back to 3
Ripogonum brevifolium

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