Pentaphragma poilanei is a species of flowering plant in the family Pentaphragmataceae. It is a perennial plant with ovate to elliptical leaves, white flowers, and ovoid fruits. The species is native to Thailand and Vietnam, and was described in 1927.
Taxonomy In 1927, François Gagnepain described Francfleurya poilanei, a synonym of Pentaphragma poilanei. Gagnepain moved the species to Pentaphragma in 1928.
Pentaphragma poilanei was formerly treated as a synonym of Pentaphragma sinense.
Distribution Pentaphragma poilanei is native to the wet tropical biome of Thailand (south-east) and Vietnam (Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên Huế, and Da Nang). It is also expected to be present in Cambodia. The species grows in moist, shady parts of evergreen forests, near streams, at elevations of .
Description Pentaphragma poilanei is a perennial plant. The stem can be up to long.
The leaves are ovate to elliptical, somewhat asymmetrical, long, and wide. The leaf stems are long.
The inflorescences are scorpioid, curved, long, and have four to twenty-four flowers. The inflorescences have stems, and the flowers have stems. The calyx is white. The tube (including the hypanthium) is long, wide, and has ovate or oblanceolate lobes. The corolla is white, long, and has oblong or lanceolate lobes. The plant flowers from April to October.
The fruits are smooth, ovoid, around long, and around wide. The plant fruits from April to October.
Uses The young leaves are edible, and reportedly taste similar to Chinese kale.
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