Pycnarrhena is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Menispermaceae. Its native range is tropical and subtropical Asia to Australia.
Description All species are either lianes or scrambling shrubs, without spines or barbs. The petioles (leaf stems) are swollen at the base and usually also at the attachment with the leaf blade. The plants are , meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Inflorescences appear on the woody stems or in the . The fruit are drupes.
Distribution The species of Pycnarrhena predominantly inhabit rainforests, and are variously native to the following regions as defined in the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions: Indian subcontinent: Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya China: China South-Central, Hainan Indo-China: Andaman Islands, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Vietnam Malesia: Borneo, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Maluku, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera Papuasia: Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Solomon Islands Australia: Queensland Southwestern Pacific: Vanuatu
Taxonomy Pycnarrhena is placed in the tribe Tiliacoreae of the family Menispermaceae, and is sister to the genera Chondrodendron, Curarea, Carronia, Triclisia, Tiliacora, Beirnaertia, and Albertisia. Pycnarrhena was established in 1855 by botanist John Miers with the sole species P. planiflora.
, Plants of the World Online accepts the following 15 species:
References