Fungal and Plant Diversity
of Central French
Guiana
Key to Genera of Cyclanthaceae
1. Leaf blade bifid, with a well-defined midrib in each segment. Inflorescence with
staminate and pistillate flowers in separate, stacked rings, the individual flowers
not distinct. Mature fruit resembling a cork-screw...........................Cyclanthus.
1. Leaf blade bifid or entire, if bifid without well-defined midrib in each segment.
Inflorescence with flowers in groups of a single pistillate flower surrounded by
4 staminate flowers, not in separate, stacked rings. Mature fruit not resembling
a cork-screw.
2. Plants small, terrestrial herbs, <60 cm tall, usually growing on rocks along
streams. Inflorescence delicate, the spadix <10 mm diam., with 2 spathes.
.......................................................................................Dicranopygium.
2. Plants larger, usually epiphytes or lianas, less frequently terrestrial, >1 m
tall. Inflorescence robust, the spadix >10 mm diam., with >2 spathes.
3. Leaves distichous; blade not divided, lance-shaped. Fruiting spadix
nearly smooth....................................................................Ludovia.
3. Leaves spirally arranged; blade divided, not lance-shaped. Fruiting
spadix rough.
4. Spathes inserted directly below spadix..................Evodianthus.
4. Spathes scattered along peduncle.
5. Main stems usually not branched, the branches not
extending out from host tree when climbing. Spathes
usually 3-5, all about equal in length. Fruit dull..................
.......................................................................Asplundia.
5. Main stems much-branched, the branches extending out
from host tree. Spathes usually 8-11, the lower ones
smaller than upper ones. Fruit shiny..........Thoracocarpus.