A flora of Manila - Rainforestation

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A FLORA OF MANILA
4. D. daemona Roxb. Nami (Tag.); Corot (II., Vis,).
A twining vine from tuberous roots, reaching a length of several meters,
the stems v^rith few or many, short, sharp spines. Leaves 3-foliolate, the
leaflets 12 to 20 cm long, acuminate, somewhat pubescent, the lateral ones
oblique, oblong-ovate, terminal one equilateral, oblong to oblong-obovate.
Panicles axillary, slender, pubescent 12 to 20 cm long. Flowers small.
Stamens 6. Capsules oblong, about 5 cm long.
Occasional in thickets, fl. June-July; thi'oughout the Philippines. India
to Malaya.
5. D. penaphylla L. Lima-lima (Tag., Vis.).
A climbing vine from stout tubers, the stems with scattered small
spines. Leaflets 5 to 7, oval to oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous or
nearly so, 8 to 15 cm long. Panicles axillary, pubescent, much longer than
the leaves. Flowers yellowish-white, somewhat fragrant. Stamens 3, alternating
with 3 staminodes. Capsules 2 to 2.5 cm long, usually rounded
at both ends.
In thickets, Pasay, Masambong, etc., fl. Nov. ; widely distributed in the
Philippines. Tropical Africa, India and Malaya.
27. IRIDACEAE (iRis Family)
Perennial herbs from often thickened rootstocks. Leaves narrow, often
distichous and equitant, sometimes plicate, sessile or petioled. Inflorescence
various. Flowers in spathes, few to many, usually but 1 or 2 opening at a
time. Perianth superior, petaloid, the segments 6, 2-seriate, imbricate.
Stamens 3, epigynous or adnate to the outer segment; anthers extrorse.
Ovary 3-celled; style simple; stigmas 3; ovules many, 2-seriate. Capsule
3-angled or cylindric, loculicidally 3-celled. Seeds many.
Genera 59, species about 1,000, chiefly in temperate regions, 3 or 4
genera and species in the Philippines, a single one indigenous.
Leaves distichous, equitant, vertical, not or obscurely nerved.
Leaves not distichous or equitant, prominently nerved and plicate.
1. BELAMCANDA Adanson
1. Belamcanda
2. Eleutherine
Erect herbs from stout rootstocks. Leaves many, ascending or erect,
large, 2-ranked, lanceolate, vertical, those of the stem similar to the basal
ones and gradually smaller upward. Inflorescence dichotomously corymbose,
the spathes small, many-flowered, the valves many, membranaceous,
the pedicels exserted, joined at the apex. Perianth rotate, nearly or quite
regular, the tube not produced above the ovary. The segments oblong-
oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, clawed, spreading in flower. Stamens 3,
shorter than the perianth. Ovary 3-celled; o\'ules many. Capsule obovoid,
loculicidally 3-valved. (From the Malabar name.)
A monotypic Chinese genus, the single species introduced in the Philippines.
1. B. CHiNENSis (L.) Leman.
Erect, tufted, glabrous, 0.5 to 1.5 m. high. Leaves 2-ranked, strongly
imbricated, crowded, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, ascending, vertical,
coriaceous, 40 to 60 cm long, 2.5 to 4 cm wide, those of the stem equitant.