Stephania
(named in honour of Professor Frederick Stephan, of Moscow, who died in 1817). SYN. Clypea. ORD. Menispermaceae. A small genus (three species) of stove or greenhouse climbers, natives of tropical Africa or Asia, or tropical and sub-tropical Australia. Flowers dioecious, disposed in simple or compound umbels; males with six to ten, females with three to five, sepals. Leaves usually peltate. The species introduced require similar treatment to Morisonia (which see).
S. hernandifolia (Hernandia-leaved). fl. in capitate umbels, on short or long, axillary peduncles; petals three or four; rays eight to twelve, with subulate bracts. June. l. ovate or sub-deltoid, acute, obtuse, or acuminate at apex, truncate or sub-cordate at base, 3in. to 6in. in diameter, glabrous or thinly pubescent below or on both surfaces; petioles 1 1/2in. to 4in. long. India. S. rotunda (round-leaved). fl. orange; umbels loosely cymose. June. l. broadly ovate or nearly round, irregularly sinuate-lobed or repand, glabrous, on long petioles. Himalayas, 1866. Greenhouse.