''Diplocyclos'' is a genus of climbing or trailing vine in the family
Cucurbitaceae
The Cucurbitaceae (), also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family (biology), family consisting of about 965 species in 101 genera. . The genus comprises four or five species. ''
D. palmatus'' is pantropical in distribution and the remainder of species are restricted to Africa. All species are found within
rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...
and the moister woodland types.
''Diployclos'' is characterised by simple, palmately lobed leaves and
dioecious
Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...
flowers, with male and female flowers in axillary sessile clusters or racemes. ''Diplocylos'' produce fleshy, globular fruit with distinct striped or spotted patterns. All parts of the plant are toxic in large quantities, however the leaves are eaten in small quantities as a vegetable in some parts of the world. The leaves and fruits are also used for medicinal purposes.
Species
* ''
Diplocyclos decipiens''
* ''
Diplocyclos leiocarpus''
* ''
Diplocyclos palmatus
''Diplocyclos palmatus'' is a vine in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is commonly known as native bryony or striped cucumber. In Marathi, it is called due to its seed which resembles a lingam.
Distribution
The plant is distributed in rainforests ...
''
* ''
Diplocyclos schliebenii''
* ''
Diplocyclos tenuis''
Sources
* http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Diplocyclos
* http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Cucurbitaceae/Diplocyclos/
* https://books.google.com/books?id=6jrlyOPfr24C&pg=PA289
* http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2148-11-28.pdf
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5245763
Cucurbitaceae genera