Aspidistra


Aspidistra is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Convallarioideae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. They grow in shade under trees and shrubs. Their leaves arise more or less directly from ground level, where their flowers also appear. The number of species known has increased considerably from the 1980s onwards, with around 100 accepted as of 2013. Aspidistra elatior is common worldwide as a foliage house plant that is very tolerant of neglect. It and other species can also be grown in shade outside, where they are generally hardy to.

Description

Species of Aspidistra are perennial herbaceous plants growing from rhizomes. The leaves are either solitary or are grouped in small "tufts" of two to four. They arise more or less directly from the rhizome, rather than being borne on stems. Each leaf has a long stalk and a blade with many veins. The flowering stem is usually very short so that the flowers appear low down among the leaves. The fleshy flowers are bell-, urn- or cup-shaped. They vary considerably in size and shape, although few are showy. The flowers of A. longipedunculata are yellow and, unusually for the genus, are borne on scapes up to high. A. grandiflora has spider-like flowers up to across. The flower has a large stigma with a flattened top. The fruit is a berry, often with a single seed.

Taxonomy

The genus Aspidistra was named by the English botanist John Ker Gawler in 1822, as a blend of Greek ασπίς/ασπίδ- aspid-, meaning shield, and the name of the sister genus Tupistra. The genus was at one time placed in a broadly defined Liliaceae, along with many other lilioid monocots. It has also been placed in the families Convallariaceae and Ruscaceae. The APG III system of 2009 places it in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Convallarioideae.

Species

Aspidistra is a genus that was largely ignored by field botanists until the 1980s onwards, and there has been a rapid rise in the number of recognised species since then. Some 8 to 10 species were known in the late 1970s; 30 new species were described from China in the 1980s. Subsequently, more new species were found in Vietnam. The online Flora of China uses a narrow definition of species, producing a total of about 55, saying that the genus has "never been well studied". In 2008, Tillich provided the key to the 93 species known at that time.
Plants of the World Online currently includes:
  • Aspidistra acetabuliformis Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China
  • Aspidistra alata Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra albiflora C.R.Lin, W.B.Xu & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra albopurpurea Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra alternativa D.Fang & L.Y.Yu – China
  • Aspidistra anomala Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra arnautovii Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra atrata Aver., Tillich & B.H.Quang
  • Aspidistra atroviolacea Tillich
– Vietnam
  • Aspidistra attenuata Hayata
  • Aspidistra australis S.Z.He & W.F.Xu
  • Aspidistra austrosinensis Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China
  • Aspidistra austroyunnanensis G.W.Hu, Lei Cai & Q.F.Wang
  • Aspidistra averyanovii N.S.Lý & Tillich
  • Aspidistra babensis K.S.Nguyen, Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra bamaensis C.R.Lin, Y.Y.Liang & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra basalis Tillich
  • Aspidistra bella Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen
  • Aspidistra bicolor Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra bogneri Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra brachypetala C.R.Lin & B.Pan
  • Aspidistra brachystyla Aver. & Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra cadamensis N.S.Lý & Tillich
  • Aspidistra caespitosa C.Pei – China
  • Aspidistra campanulata Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra carinata Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China
  • Aspidistra carnosa Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra cavicola D.Fang & K.C.Yen – China
  • Aspidistra cerina G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang – China
  • Aspidistra chishuiensis S.Z.He & W.F.Xu
  • Aspidistra chongzuoensis C.R.Lin & Y.S.Huang
  • Aspidistra chunxiuensis C.R.Lin & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra clausa Vislobokov
  • Aspidistra claviformis Y.Wan – China
  • Aspidistra cleistantha D.X.Nong & H.Z.Lü
  • Aspidistra coccigera Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra columellaris Tillich
  • Aspidistra connata Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra corniculata Vislobokov
  • Aspidistra crassifila Yan Liu & C.I Peng
  • Aspidistra cruciformis Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China
  • Aspidistra cryptantha Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra cyathiflora Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China
  • Aspidistra cylindrica Vislobokov & Nuraliev
  • Aspidistra daibuensis Hayata – Taiwan
  • Aspidistra daxinensis M.F.Hou & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra deflexa Aver., Tillich & V.T.Pham
  • Aspidistra dodecandra Tillich – Indo-China
  • Aspidistra dolichanthera X.X.Chen – China
  • Aspidistra ebianensis K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China
  • Aspidistra elatior Blume Japan : houseplant
  • Aspidistra elegans Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra erecta Yan Liu & C.I Peng
  • Aspidistra erosa Aver., Tillich, T.A.Le & K.S.Nguyen
  • Aspidistra erythrocephala C.R.Lin & Y.Y.Liang
  • Aspidistra extrorsa C.R.Lin & D.X.Nong
  • Aspidistra fasciaria G.Z.Li – China
  • Aspidistra fenghuangensis K.Y.Lang – China
  • Aspidistra fimbriata F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China
  • Aspidistra flaviflora K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China
  • Aspidistra foliosa Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra fungilliformis Y.Wan – China
  • Aspidistra geastrum Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra glandulosa Tillich – Laos
  • Aspidistra globosa Vislobokov & Nuraliev
  • Aspidistra gracilis Tillich
  • Aspidistra graminifolia Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra grandiflora Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra guangxiensis S.C.Tang & Yan Liu – China
  • Aspidistra hekouensis H.Li – China
  • Aspidistra hekouensis H.Li, C.L.Long & Bogner
  • Aspidistra heterocarpa Aver., Tillich & V.T.Pham
  • Aspidistra hezhouensis Q.Gao & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra huanjiangensis G.Z.Li & Y.G.Wei – China
  • Aspidistra jiangjinensis S.R.Yi & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra jiewhoei Tillich & Škornick.
  • Aspidistra jingxiensis Yan Liu & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra khangii Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra laongamensis C.R.Lin & X.Y.Huang
  • Aspidistra laotica Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra lateralis Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra letreae Aver., Tillich & T.A. Le – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra leshanensis K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China
  • Aspidistra leucographa C.R.Lin & C.Y.Zou
  • Aspidistra leyeensis Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China
  • Aspidistra liboensis S.Z.He & J.Y.Wu
  • Aspidistra linearifolia Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China
  • Aspidistra lingchuanensis C.R.Lin & L.F.Guo
  • Aspidistra lingyunensis C.R.Lin & L.F.Guo
  • Aspidistra lobata Tillich – China
  • Aspidistra locii Arnautov & Bogner – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra longanensis Y.Wan – China
  • Aspidistra longgangensis C.R.Lin, Y.S.Huang & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra longiconnectiva C.T.Lu, K.C.Chuang & J.C.Wang
  • Aspidistra longifolia Hook.f. – India
  • Aspidistra longiloba G.Z.Li – China
  • Aspidistra longipedunculata D.Fang – China
  • Aspidistra longipetala S.Z.Huang – China
  • Aspidistra longituba Yan Liu & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra longshengensis C.R.Lin & W.B.Xu
  • Aspidistra lubae Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra luochengensis B.Pan & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra luodianensis D.D.Tao – China
  • Aspidistra lurida Ker Gawl. – China - type species
  • Aspidistra lutea Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra maguanensis S.Z.He & D.H.Lv
  • Aspidistra marasmioides Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra marginella D.Fang & L.Zeng – China
  • Aspidistra medusa Aver., K.S.Nguyen & Tillich
  • Aspidistra micrantha Vislobokov & Nuraliev
  • Aspidistra minor Vislobokov, Nuraliev & M.S.Romanov
  • Aspidistra minutiflora Stapf – China
  • Aspidistra mirostigma Tillich & Škornick.
  • Aspidistra molendinacea G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang – China
  • Aspidistra multiflora Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra muricata F.C.How – China
  • Aspidistra mushaensis Hayata – Taiwan
  • Aspidistra nanchuanensis Tillich – China
  • Aspidistra nankunshanensis Yan Liu & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra neglecta Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen
  • Aspidistra nigra Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen
  • Aspidistra nikolaii Aver. & Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra nutans Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra obconica C.R.Lin & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra oblanceifolia F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China
  • Aspidistra obliquipeltata D.Fang & L.Y.Yu – China
  • Aspidistra oblongifolia F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China
  • Aspidistra obtusata Vislobokov
  • Aspidistra omeiensis Z.Y.Zhu & J.L.Zhang – China
  • Aspidistra opaca Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra ovatifolia Yan Liu & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra oviflora Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra papillata G.Z.Li – China
  • Aspidistra patentiloba Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China
  • Aspidistra paucitepala Vislobokov, Nuraliev & D.D.Sokoloff
  • Aspidistra petiolata Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra phanluongii Vislobokov – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra pileata D.Fang & L.Y.Yu – China
  • Aspidistra pingfaensis S.Z.He & Q.W.Sun
  • Aspidistra pingtangensis S.Z.He, W.F.Xu & Q.W.Sun
  • Aspidistra phongdiensis D. Dien, T.A. Le & Vislobokov
  • Aspidistra pulchella B.M.Wang & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra punctata Lindl. – China
  • Aspidistra punctatoides Yan Liu & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra purpureomaculata H.C.Xi, J.T.Yin & W.G.Wang
  • Aspidistra qijiangensis S.Z.He & X.Y.Luo
  • Aspidistra quadripartita G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang - China
  • Aspidistra quangngaiensis N.S.Lý, Haev. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra radiata G.W.Hu & Q.F.Wang
  • Aspidistra recondita Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra retusa K.Y.Lang & S.Z.Huang – China
  • Aspidistra revoluta Hao Zhou, S.R.Yi & Q.Gao
  • Aspidistra ronganensis C.R.Lin, Jing Liu & W.B.Xu
  • Aspidistra sarcantha Aver., Tillich, T.A.Le & K.S.Nguyen
  • Aspidistra saxicola Y.Wan – China
  • Aspidistra semiaperta Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra sessiliflora Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra sichuanensis K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China
  • Aspidistra sinensis Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra sinuata Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra spinula S.Z.He – China
  • Aspidistra stellata Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra stenophylla C.R.Lin & R.C.Hu
  • Aspidistra stricta Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra subrotata Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China, Vietnam
  • Aspidistra superba Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra sutepensis K.Larsen – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra synpetala C.R.Lin & Yan Liu
  • Aspidistra tenuifolia C.R.Lin & J.C.Yang
  • Aspidistra tillichiana O.Colin
  • Aspidistra tonkinensis F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China, Vietnam
  • Aspidistra triloba F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China
  • Aspidistra triquetra Aver., Son, Tillich & K.S.Nguyen
  • Aspidistra triradiata Vislobokov
  • Aspidistra truongii Aver. & Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra tubiflora Tillich – China
  • Aspidistra typica Baill. – China, Vietnam
  • Aspidistra umbrosa Tillich – Vietnam
  • Aspidistra urceolata F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China
  • Aspidistra ventricosa Tillich & Škornick.
  • Aspidistra verruculosa Aver., Tillich & D.D.Nguyen - Vietnam
  • Aspidistra vietnamensis Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra viridiflora Vislobokov & Nuraliev
  • Aspidistra wujiangensis W.F.Xu & S.Z.He
  • Aspidistra xichouensis Lei Cai, Z.L.Dao & G.W.Hu
  • Aspidistra xilinensis Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China
  • Aspidistra xuansonensis Vislobokov
  • Aspidistra yizhouensis B.Pan & C.R.Lin
  • Aspidistra yunwuensis S.Z.He & W.F.Xu
  • Aspidistra zhangii Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen
  • Aspidistra zhenganensis S.Z.He & Y.Wang
  • Aspidistra zinaidae Aver. & Tillich
  • Aspidistra zongbayi K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China