Podophyllum hexandrum Royle

Family Description

Perennial, shortly rhizomatous herbs. Stem erect, unbranched. Leaves 2 (rarely 3), alternate, borne at apex of stem, simple, deeply palmately lobed and veined, exstipulate. Flowers 1-3, borne on petiole of upper leaf, actinomorphic, bisexual, erect or pendulous. Perianth parts 9 in 3 series; outer 3 sepaloid, fugacious, inner 6 petaloid. Stamens 6; anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary a solitary superior carpel, unilocular, ovules numerous, marginal, stigma sessile, peltate, Fruit a fleshy berry, rupturing irregularly; seeds numerous.

Genus Description

Perennial, shortly rhizomatous herbs. Stem erect, unbranched. Leaves 2 (rarely 3), alternate, borne at apex of stem, simple, deeply palmately lobed and veined, exstipulate. Flowers 1-3, borne on petiole of upper leaf, actinomorphic, bisexual, erect or pendulous. Perianth parts 9 in 3 series; outer 3 sepaloid, fugacious, inner 6 petaloid. Stamens 6; anthers opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary a solitary superior carpel, unilocular, ovules numerous, marginal, stigma sessile, peltate, Fruit a fleshy berry, rupturing irregularly; seeds numerous.

Species description

Stem in flower 15-25cm, later up to 45cm, glabrous. Leaves at first deflexed, brownish, orbicular-reniform in outline, 6-15 x 3.5-10cm, palmately divided almost to base into 3 broadly elliptic or obovate segments, acute, base cuneate, margins serrate, pubescent beneath; segments undivided or 2-3-lobed to middle; petioles up to 20cm. Flower solitary, erect. Petals obovate, 1-3 x 1-1.5cm, white or pink. Fruit ovoid, up to 6 x 3cm, reddish, borne on pedicel 2-5cm.