Aspidistra

''Aspidistra'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. 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.''
/ref> 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 Nolinoideae.

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)
/ref>

# '' 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 leshanensis'' K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China (SC Sichuan)
# ''Aspidistra letreae'' Aver., Tillich & T.A.Le
# ''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 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
# ''Aspidistra yizhouensis'' B.Pan & C.R.Lin
# ''Aspidistra yunwuensis'' S.Z.He & W.F.Xu
# ''Aspidistra zhangii'' Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen
# '' Aspidistra zhenganensis'' S.Z.He & Y.Wang
# '' Aspidistra zinaidae'' Aver. & Tillich
# ''Aspidistra zongbayi'' K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China (Sichuan)

Distribution and ecology

Species of ''Aspidistra'' are part of the ground flora, growing in forests and under shrubs, in areas of high rainfall, from eastern India, Indochina and China through to Japan. The largest number of species are found in Guangxi Province, China, with Vietnam occupying second place. Few species have a broad distribution, with many being endemic to China or Vietnam.

It has long been said that slugs and snails pollinate ''Aspidistra'' flowers. This has been described as a "myth". Amphipods, small terrestrial crustaceans, are responsible for pollinating ''A. elatior'' in Japan. Amphipods have also been shown to pollinate species of ''Aspidistra'' introduced to Australia. Springtails and fungus gnats have also been suggested as pollinators. The newly described Vietnamese species ''A. phanluongii'' is probably pollinated by flies of the genus ''Megaselia''.

Cultivation and uses

'' Aspidistra elatior'', the "cast-iron plant", is a popular houseplant, surviving shade, cool conditions and neglect. It is one of several species of ''Aspidistra'' that can be grown successfully outdoors in shade in temperate climates, where they will generally cope with temperatures down to , being killed by frosts of or below. In addition to shade, aspidistras require an open, acidic and humus-rich soil. Species suggested for growing outdoors in the UK include '' A. diabuensis'', ''A. elatior'', '' A. lurida'', '' A. typica'', '' A. zongbyi'' and their cultivars.

In Japan, leaves of ''A. elatior'' have traditionally been cut into pieces and used in bento and osechi boxes to keep each food separated. However, imitations called "baran" are commonly used now.

In popular culture

As a popular foliage houseplant, ''A. elatior'' became popular in late Victorian Britain and was so common that it became a "symbol of dull middle-class respectability". As such, it was central to George Orwell's novel ''Keep the Aspidistra Flying'', as a symbol of the need of the middle class to maintain respectability according to Gordon Comstock, the novel's protagonist. It was further immortalised in the 1938 song " The Biggest Aspidistra in the World", which, as sung by Gracie Fields, became a popular wartime classic. An aspidistra is mentioned in the Wallace and Gromit short, "The Autochef", from the '' Cracking Contraptions'' series.

Aspidistras can withstand deep shade, neglect, dry soil, hot temperatures and polluted indoor air (from burning coal or natural gas) but are sensitive to bright sunlight.

"Aspidistra" was the codename (inspired by the above song) of a very powerful British radio transmitter used for propaganda and deception purposes against Nazi Germany during World War II.

The 1980s British television show ''The Adventure Game'' featured a moving aspidistra called the Rangdo of Arg, operated by Kenny Baker.

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

Gallery of ''Aspidistra''
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens Aspidistra Collection
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1429377

Asparagaceae genera
Garden plants of Asia