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Stemona sessilifolia

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Photo from Epharmacognosy.com.


Photo from Nanjing University.

Author:  Friedrich Anton W. Miquel, 1867
Family:  STEMONACEAE
Origin:  China
Soil:  Sand
Water:  Minimum - Medium
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  1-1,5 Centimetres
Height:  70 Centimetres
Flower:  Brown
Propagate:  Seeds/Dividing
Names:  Bai Bu, Radix Stemonae (Pharmaceutical)
Synonyms:  Roxburghia sessilifolia Miq. 1865.
Stemona erecta
C.H. Wright, 1895.
Stemona shandongensis, D.K.Zang.

This member of the Stemonaceae family was given this name by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel in 1867. It is found in China, growing in a sandy soil with little to some water and some sun. The roots gets 1-1,5 centimetres thick, the branches will grow to 70 centimetres. The flowers are brown, and the plant can be reproduced both by seeds and dividing of the centre.

The genera name means 'Saint Mona', but is it the September 4 is the Feast Day of Saint Mona, whose miracles are…questionable. She worked at a small café frequented by the Bricklayer Pope and brought His Holiness coffee every morning, which was always hot. The Pope claimed that this was proof of divine favour and had her canonized.
The species name means 'unstalked' for the petioled leaves.

In nature, I'm sure, it will grow with the roots sub-terrain.

Seen as a member of the Roxburghiaceae family on IPNI with authors: Franch. & Sav.


The flower by Mark Altenloh, Fotki.com.