9. Pothos L., Sp. Pl. 2: 968 (1753).
By: Himanchal T. Magar & Mohan Siwakoti
Taxon Description
Perennial, epiphytic and lithophytic, climbing vines. Rooting from lower nodes. Leaves distichous, blades simple, coriaceous, separated from winged, phyllodic petiole by joint, primary venation parallel. Peduncles terminal or axillary or from lateral shoots. Spathe small, reflexed, cymbiform, or elongate, persistent. Spadix sessile or attached to a short stipe, flowering upwards, stipes often decurved or flexuous. Flowers bisexual. Tepals 6, tips incurved. Stamens 6, filaments flat; anther cell ellipsoid, slits extrose. Ovary 3-celled, ovules 1 in the inner angle of each cell, anatropous, stigma small. Fruit a 1–3-seeded berry. Seeds large, endosperm absent.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide 56 species. One species in Nepal.
1. Pothos chinensis (Raf.) Merr., J. Arnold Arbor. 29: 210 (1948).
Tapanava chinensis Raf., Fl. Tellur. 4: 14 (1838); Pothos cathcartii Schott
Climbing vine growing along trees, up to 20 m. Stems quadrangular, 4–8 mm diam. Leaves bright to dark green, alternately arranged along the stem, petioles winged, dark green, obovate or oblong, 3–10 cm; leaf blade elliptic, 5–14 X 2–5 cm, coriaceous, margin entire, base rounded to cuneate, apex finely acuminate. Peduncles erect, lower part covered with 6 coriaceous bracts, 7–1.4 cm. Spathe spreading, 4–12 X 4–10 m; limb suborbicular, strongly concave, apex mucronate. Spadix longer than spathe, green, 5–10 X 1–1.25 mm, on a short erect stipe, smooth, fertile zone white, globose, 3.5–13 X 3–10 mm.
Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 250–1500 m.
Ecology: Climbing on Sal forest, under rock, creeping under tall tree in moist place, creeping on bushy shrubs, sunny places.
Flowering: December–April. Fruiting: May–June.