Solitary terminal flowers perched above whorled green leaves
Flowering stems with whorled leaves rising from bare garden soil
Solitary flower held above a whorl of narrow leaves
Whorls of leaves growing in a rocky nook
Solitary terminal flower and whorled leaves against forest litter
Uprooted flowering stem with whorled leaves and terminal flower bud
Solitary flowering shoot among woody ground litter
Solitary flowering stem with a leaf whorl growing through forest litter
Spider-like flower atop a whorl of broad green leaves
Close-up of flower centre with stamens, ovary, and stigmas
Solitary flower and foliage whorl wet with rain
Solitary terminal flower atop a whorl of leaves
Solitary flower centered above a whorl of green leaves
Solitary flower with spreading yellow stamens above a whorl of leaves
Solitary flower and leaf whorl atop an upright stem
Solitary flower and whorled foliage viewed from above
Solitary flower with spreading green sepals and thread-like petals
Solitary flower with spreading sepals and thread-like petals
Solitary flower centered within a whorl of green leaves
Solitary flower above whorled leaves
Solitary flower with yellow filiform petals above leaf whorl
Solitary flower terminal above a whorl of green leaves
Solitary flower with spreading green sepals and threadlike petals
Solitary flower centered over a whorl of green leaves
Solitary terminal flower above a whorl of leaves
Solitary flower with slender petals atop a leaf whorl
Close-up of an open flower with prominent stamens and central ovary
Solitary terminal flower with yellowish threadlike petals above foliage
Solitary flower held above a whorl of leaves
Solitary flower and whorled foliage held by a hand
Solitary flower rising above a whorl of broad leaves
Solitary flower above a whorl of broad leaves
Solitary flower rising above a whorl of broad leaves
Whorl of leaves with a solitary terminal flower
Solitary flower rising above a whorl of broad leaves
Solitary flower and whorled foliage rising above forest litter
Uprooted rhizome with fibrous roots and lower stem base
Solitary flower bud rising above a whorl of leaves
Excavated rhizome and fibrous roots at base of stem
Native to Assam, Bangladesh, China North-Central, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Qinghai, Tibet, West Himalaya (source: POWO). Flora of the World documents 4 occurrences across 2 countries.
As seen in 2 occurrences, in Zhejiang and Sichuan, China (plus 2 in botanic gardens): Plants grow as solitary flowering shoots or erect stems, seen rising through forest litter in Sichuan. Stems bear a single horizontal whorl of green, lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves at the apex directly below a solitary terminal flower. The flower possesses green lanceolate sepals, slender thread-like yellowish-green petals, and erect stamens surrounding a central ovary.
Flowers solitary and terminal, in bud to fully open; sepals green and lanceolate; petals thread-like, yellowish to yellow-green; stamens erect.
Garden plants · not used
Location
China, Sichuan, Ngawa (Heishui, Heishui County)
32.103056, 102.811111
Location Remarks
Heishui Xian. W of the city of Heishui on provincial road S302 near Shashiduo Xiang. Along stream at base of mixed forest of Acer (3 species), Betula, Abies, Picea, Sorbus, Salix, Taxus, with Hippophaë immediately along stream and mixed shrub understory and rich herb layer; soil dark and moist. 2675 m elev.
Collectors
David E. Boufford, Sharon R. Christoph, Christopher Davidson, Yun-Dong Gao, Qiuyun (Jenny) Xiang
Location
China, Zhejiang, Hangzhou (Lin'an, Lin'an District)
30.323917, 119.448611
Location Remarks
TianMu Shan National Nature Reserve. West TianMuShan. ZhaoXiXiang, NingAn City. Roadside and trail through deciduous forest just north of Fu Yu Resort. 379 m elev.
Collectors
Christopher Davidson, Fu Cheng Xin, Qiuyun (Jenny) Xiang, Sharon R. Christoph, David E. Boufford
Location
Canada, British Columbia (University of British Columbia Botanical Garden)
Location Remarks
6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC
Collectors
No collectors specified
Location
China, Jiangxi (Lushan Botanical Garden)
Location Remarks
Hanpokou, Lushan (on Hanpo Mountain in the town of Lushan)
Collectors
No collectors specified
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Liliales
Family
Melanthiaceae
Genus
Paris
Specific Epithet
polyphylla
Authorship
Sm.
What is EDGE?
Evolutionary distinctiveness
Lower
ED 1.9
Part of a well-represented branch of the plant tree of life, with many close relatives.
Threat status
IUCN Red List
EDGE score
0.4
Global rank
#114,040 of 335,497
Top 34%
Extinction probability
24%
