Aspidistra Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607 is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Convallarioideae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly China and Vietnam.Flora of China, Vol. 24 Page 240, 蜘蛛抱蛋属 zhi zhu bao dan shu, Aspidistra Ker Gawler, Bot. Reg. 8: t. 628. 1822. They grow in shade under trees and shrubs. Their leaves arise more or less directly from ground level, where their flowers also appear. The number of species known has increased considerably from the 1980s onwards, with around 100 accepted . Aspidistra elatior is common worldwide as a foliage house plant that is very tolerant of neglect. It and other species can also be grown in shade outside, where they are generally hardy to .
Description
Species of Aspidistra are perennial herbaceous plants growing from rhizomes. The leaves are either solitary or are grouped in small "tufts" of two to four. They arise more or less directly from the rhizome, rather than being borne on stems. Each leaf has a long stalk (petiole) and a blade with many veins. The flowering stem (scape) is usually very short so that the flowers appear low down among the leaves. The fleshy flowers are bell-, urn- or cup-shaped. They vary considerably in size and shape, although few are showy. The flowers of A. longipedunculata are yellow and, unusually for the genus, are borne on scapes up to high. A. grandiflora has spider-like flowers up to across. The flower has a large stigma with a flattened top. The fruit is a berry, often with a single seed., in
Taxonomy
The genus Aspidistra was named by the English botanist John Ker Gawler in 1822, as a blend of Greek ασπίς/ασπίδ- aspid-, meaning shield, and the name of the sister genus Tupistra.Oxford English Dictionary, 1933, s.v. The genus was at one time placed in a broadly defined Liliaceae, along with many other lilioid monocots. It has also been placed in the families Convallariaceae and Ruscaceae. The APG III system of 2009 places it in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Convallarioideae.
Species
Aspidistra is a genus that was largely ignored by field botanists until the 1980s onwards, and there has been a rapid rise in the number of recognised species since then. Some 8 to 10 species were known in the late 1970s; 30 new species were described from China in the 1980s. Subsequently, more new species were found in Vietnam. The online Flora of China uses a narrow definition of species, producing a total of about 55, saying that the genus has "never been well studied". In 2008, Tillich provided the key to the 93 species known at that time.
Plants of the World Online currently includes:Plants of the World Online: Aspidistra Ker Gawl. (retrieved 17 October 2021)
Aspidistra acetabuliformis Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra alata Tillich – Vietnam (Cao Bang) Aspidistra albiflora C.R.Lin, W.B.Xu & Yan Liu Aspidistra albopurpurea Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra alternativa D.Fang & L.Y.Yu – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra anomala Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra arnautovii Tillich – Vietnam (Hai Phong) Aspidistra atrata Aver., Tillich & B.H.Quang Aspidistra atroviolacea Tillich(synonym A. renatae Bräuchler) – Vietnam (central) Aspidistra attenuata Hayata Aspidistra australis S.Z.He & W.F.Xu Aspidistra austrosinensis Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra austroyunnanensis G.W.Hu, Lei Cai & Q.F.Wang Aspidistra averyanovii N.S.Lý & Tillich Aspidistra babensis K.S.Nguyen, Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra bamaensis C.R.Lin, Y.Y.Liang & Yan Liu Aspidistra basalis Tillich Aspidistra bella Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen Aspidistra bicolor Tillich – Vietnam (Thai Nguyen) Aspidistra bogneri Tillich – Vietnam (Ninh Binh) Aspidistra brachypetala C.R.Lin & B.Pan Aspidistra brachystyla Aver. & Tillich – Vietnam Aspidistra cadamensis N.S.Lý & Tillich Aspidistra caespitosa C.Pei – China (Sichuan) Aspidistra campanulata Tillich – Vietnam (Tuyen Quang) Aspidistra carinata Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China (N Guangxi) Aspidistra carnosa Tillich – Vietnam (Lam Dong) Aspidistra cavicola D.Fang & K.C.Yen – China (NW Guangxi) Aspidistra cerina G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra chishuiensis S.Z.He & W.F.Xu Aspidistra chongzuoensis C.R.Lin & Y.S.Huang Aspidistra chunxiuensis C.R.Lin & Yan Liu Aspidistra clausa Vislobokov Aspidistra claviformis Y.Wan – China (W Guangxi) Aspidistra cleistantha D.X.Nong & H.Z.Lü Aspidistra coccigera Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra columellaris Tillich Aspidistra connata Tillich – Vietnam (Gialai-Kontum) Aspidistra corniculata Vislobokov Aspidistra crassifila Yan Liu & C.I Peng Aspidistra cruciformis Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China (NW Guangxi) Aspidistra cryptantha Tillich – Vietnam (Cao Bang) Aspidistra cyathiflora Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra cylindrica Vislobokov & Nuraliev Aspidistra daibuensis Hayata – Taiwan Aspidistra daxinensis M.F.Hou & Yan Liu Aspidistra deflexa Aver., Tillich & V.T.Pham Aspidistra dodecandra (Gagnep.) Tillich – Indo-China Aspidistra dolichanthera X.X.Chen – China (SW Guangxi) Aspidistra ebianensis K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China (Sichuan) Aspidistra elatior Blume (synonym A.insularis Tillich) Japan (Ōsumi & Kuroshima Islands): houseplant Aspidistra elegans Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra erecta Yan Liu & C.I Peng Aspidistra erosa Aver., Tillich, T.A.Le & K.S.Nguyen Aspidistra erythrocephala C.R.Lin & Y.Y.Liang Aspidistra extrorsa C.R.Lin & D.X.Nong Aspidistra fasciaria G.Z.Li – China (?Guangxi) Aspidistra fenghuangensis K.Y.Lang – China (W Hunan) Aspidistra fimbriata F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China (Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan) Aspidistra flaviflora K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China (SC Sichuan) Aspidistra foliosa Tillich – Vietnam (Thua Thien) Aspidistra fungilliformis Y.Wan – China (W Guangxi) Aspidistra geastrum Tillich – Vietnam (Thua Thien) Aspidistra glandulosa (Gagnep.) Tillich – Laos (La Khon) Aspidistra globosa Vislobokov & Nuraliev Aspidistra gracilis Tillich Aspidistra graminifolia Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra grandiflora Tillich – Vietnam (Hoa Binh) Aspidistra guangxiensis S.C.Tang & Yan Liu – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra hekouensis H.Li – China (SE Yunnan) Aspidistra hekouensis H.Li, C.L.Long & Bogner Aspidistra heterocarpa Aver., Tillich & V.T.Pham Aspidistra hezhouensis Q.Gao & Yan Liu Aspidistra huanjiangensis G.Z.Li & Y.G.Wei – China (Gunangxi) Aspidistra jiangjinensis S.R.Yi & C.R.Lin Aspidistra jiewhoei Tillich & Škornick. Aspidistra jingxiensis Yan Liu & C.R.Lin Aspidistra khangii Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra laongamensis C.R.Lin & X.Y.Huang Aspidistra laotica Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra lateralis Tillich – Vietnam (Thua Thien) Aspidistra letreae Aver., Tillich & T.A. Le – Vietnam (Thua Thien) Aspidistra leshanensis K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China (SC Sichuan) Aspidistra leucographa C.R.Lin & C.Y.Zou Aspidistra leyeensis Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China (NW Guangxi) Aspidistra liboensis S.Z.He & J.Y.Wu Aspidistra linearifolia Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China (W Guangxi) Aspidistra lingchuanensis C.R.Lin & L.F.Guo Aspidistra lingyunensis C.R.Lin & L.F.Guo Aspidistra lobata Tillich – China (Sichuan) Aspidistra locii Arnautov & Bogner – Vietnam Aspidistra longanensis Y.Wan – China (WC Guangxi) Aspidistra longgangensis C.R.Lin, Y.S.Huang & Yan Liu Aspidistra longiconnectiva C.T.Lu, K.C.Chuang & J.C.Wang Aspidistra longifolia Hook.f. – India Aspidistra longiloba G.Z.Li – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra longipedunculata D.Fang – China (SW Guangxi) Aspidistra longipetala S.Z.Huang – China (C Guangxi) Aspidistra longituba Yan Liu & C.R.Lin Aspidistra longshengensis C.R.Lin & W.B.Xu Aspidistra lubae Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra luochengensis B.Pan & C.R.Lin Aspidistra luodianensis D.D.Tao – China (NW Guangxi, S Guizhou) Aspidistra lurida Ker Gawl. – China (Guangdong, NC Guangxi, SC Guizhou) - type species Aspidistra lutea Tillich – Vietnam (Son La) Aspidistra maguanensis S.Z.He & D.H.Lv Aspidistra marasmioides Tillich – Vietnam (Hai Phong) Aspidistra marginella D.Fang & L.Zeng – China (SW Guangxi) Aspidistra medusa Aver., K.S.Nguyen & Tillich Aspidistra micrantha Vislobokov & Nuraliev Aspidistra minor Vislobokov, Nuraliev & M.S.Romanov Aspidistra minutiflora Stapf – China (N Guangdong, Guangxi, ?Guizhou, Hainan, Hong Kong, SW Hunan) Aspidistra mirostigma Tillich & Škornick. Aspidistra molendinacea G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang – China (Guangzi) Aspidistra multiflora Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra muricata F.C.How – China (NC & W Guangxi) Aspidistra mushaensis Hayata – Taiwan Aspidistra nanchuanensis Tillich – China (Sichuan) Aspidistra nankunshanensis Yan Liu & C.R.Lin Aspidistra neglecta Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen Aspidistra nigra Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen Aspidistra nikolaii Aver. & Tillich – Vietnam (Annamite Mts.) Aspidistra nutans Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra obconica C.R.Lin & Yan Liu Aspidistra oblanceifolia F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China (S Guizhou, W Hubei, Sichuan) Aspidistra obliquipeltata D.Fang & L.Y.Yu – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra oblongifolia F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China (N Guangxi) Aspidistra obtusata Vislobokov Aspidistra omeiensis Z.Y.Zhu & J.L.Zhang – China (Sichuan) Aspidistra opaca Tillich – Vietnam (Khanh Hoa) Aspidistra ovatifolia Yan Liu & C.R.Lin Aspidistra oviflora Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra papillata G.Z.Li – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra patentiloba Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China (C Guangxi) Aspidistra paucitepala Vislobokov, Nuraliev & D.D.Sokoloff Aspidistra petiolata Tillich – Vietnam (Thua Thien) Aspidistra phanluongii Vislobokov – Vietnam Aspidistra pileata D.Fang & L.Y.Yu – China (Guangxi) Aspidistra pingfaensis S.Z.He & Q.W.Sun Aspidistra pingtangensis S.Z.He, W.F.Xu & Q.W.Sun Aspidistra phongdiensis D. Dien, T.A. Le & Vislobokov Aspidistra pulchella B.M.Wang & Yan Liu Aspidistra punctata Lindl. – China (Guandong, Hong Kong) Aspidistra punctatoides Yan Liu & C.R.Lin Aspidistra purpureomaculata H.C.Xi, J.T.Yin & W.G.Wang Aspidistra qijiangensis S.Z.He & X.Y.Luo Aspidistra quadripartita G.Z.Li & S.C.Tang - China (Guangxi) Aspidistra quangngaiensis N.S.Lý, Haev. & Tillich Aspidistra radiata G.W.Hu & Q.F.Wang Aspidistra recondita Tillich – Vietnam (location not known) Aspidistra retusa K.Y.Lang & S.Z.Huang – China (NE Guangxi) Aspidistra revoluta Hao Zhou, S.R.Yi & Q.Gao Aspidistra ronganensis C.R.Lin, Jing Liu & W.B.Xu Aspidistra sarcantha Aver., Tillich, T.A.Le & K.S.Nguyen Aspidistra saxicola Y.Wan – China (WC Guangxi) Aspidistra semiaperta Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra sessiliflora Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra sichuanensis K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China (Guangxi, Guizhou, W Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan) Aspidistra sinensis Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra sinuata Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra spinula S.Z.He – China (Guizhou) Aspidistra stellata Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra stenophylla C.R.Lin & R.C.Hu Aspidistra stricta Tillich – Vietnam (Lam Dong) Aspidistra subrotata Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China (S & W Guangxi), Vietnam (Thai Nguyen) Aspidistra superba Tillich – Vietnam (Ninh Binh) Aspidistra sutepensis K.Larsen – Vietnam (Paypa) Aspidistra synpetala C.R.Lin & Yan Liu Aspidistra tenuifolia C.R.Lin & J.C.Yang Aspidistra tillichiana O.Colin Aspidistra tonkinensis (Gagnep.) F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China (NW Guangxi, S Guizhou, SE Yunnan), Vietnam Aspidistra triloba F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China (SC Hunan, W Jiangxi) Aspidistra triquetra Aver., Son, Tillich & K.S.Nguyen Aspidistra triradiata Vislobokov Aspidistra truongii Aver. & Tillich – Vietnam Aspidistra tubiflora Tillich – China (Sichuan) Aspidistra typica Baill. – China (SW Guangxi, SE Yunnan), Vietnam Aspidistra umbrosa Tillich – Vietnam (location not known) Aspidistra urceolata F.T.Wang & K.Y.Lang – China (Guizhou) Aspidistra ventricosa Tillich & Škornick. Aspidistra verruculosa Aver., Tillich & D.D.Nguyen - Vietnam (Di Linh plateau) Aspidistra vietnamensis (Aver. & Tillich) Aver. & Tillich Aspidistra viridiflora Vislobokov & Nuraliev Aspidistra wujiangensis W.F.Xu & S.Z.He Aspidistra xichouensis Lei Cai, Z.L.Dao & G.W.Hu Aspidistra xilinensis Y.Wan & X.H.Lu – China (NW Guangxi) Aspidistra xuansonensis Vislobokov