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Stephania cephalantha

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Photo by Lu Ning, who grows this plant commercially.


Photo by Lu Ning.


Photo by Lu Ning.

Author:  Bunzô Hayata, 1913
Family:  MENISPERMACEAE
Origin:  South-Western China, Taiwan, Vietnam
Soil:  Rich Drained.
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium - Maximum
Thickness:  20 Centimetres
Height:  2 Metres
Flower:  Green
Propagate:  Seeds/(Cuttings?)
Names:  -
Synonyms:  Stephania tetrandra var. glabra Maxim. 1883.
Stephania disciflora
Hand.-Mazz. 1931.
Common misspelling: S. cepharantha.

This member of the Menispermaceae family was given this name by Bunzô Hayata in 1913. It is found in the mountain regions of south western China, Taiwan and Vietnam, growing in a well drained organic rich soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The plants are dioecious: Either the plant are male or female, and the flowers are insignificant and green. The caudex can grow to at least 20 centimetres in diameter with vines reaching two metres or more.

The genera name after Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher, 1804-1849, an Austrian botanist who formulated a major system of plant classification. The species name means 'flowering head'.