''Aspidistra'' is a genus of flowering plants in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Asparagaceae Asparagaceae, known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, ''Asparagus officinalis''. Those who live in the temperate c ...

, subfamily

Nolinoideae Nolinoideae is a monocot subfamily of the family (biology), family Asparagaceae in the APG III system of 2009. It used to be treated as a separate family, Ruscaceae sensu lato, s.l. The family name is derived from the Binomial nomenclature, gener ...

, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

and

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

. 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 ''Aspidistra elatior'', the cast-iron-plant or bar-room plant, also known in Japanese as ''haran'' or ''baran'' (葉蘭) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Japan and Taiwan. Tolerant of neglect, it is widely cu ...

'' is common worldwide as a foliage

house plant A houseplant, sometimes known as a pot plant, potted plant, or an indoor plant, is an ornamental plant that is grown indoors. As such, they are found in places like residences and offices, mainly for decorative purposes. Common houseplants are us ...

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 A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

s growing from

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

s. 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 A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...

, 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 ''Tupistra'' is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants found in south Asia, from southern China to Sumatra and Ambon Island. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly ...

''.''

Oxford English Dictionary The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the first and foundational historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). It traces the historical development of the English language, providing a com ...

'', 1933
''s.v.''
/ref> The genus was at one time placed in a broadly defined Liliaceae, along with many other

lilioid monocot Lilioid monocots (lilioids, liliid monocots, petaloid monocots, petaloid lilioid monocots) is an informal name used for a grade (grouping of taxa with common characteristics) of five monocot orders (Petrosaviales, Dioscoreales, Pandanales, Lili ...

s. It has also been placed in the families Convallariaceae and Ruscaceae. The

APG III system The APG III system of flowering plant classification is the third version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy being developed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). Published in 2009, it was superseded in 2016 by a fur ...

of 2009 places it in the

, subfamily

Species

''Aspidistra'' is a genus that was largely ignored by field

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

s 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 Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

'' currently includes:Plants of the World Online: ''Aspidistra'' Ker Gawl. (retrieved 17 October 2021)
/ref> # ''

Aspidistra acetabuliformis ''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 l ...

'' Y.Wan & C.C.Huang – China (Guangxi) # ''

Aspidistra alata ''Aspidistra alata'' is a species of flowering plant. ''A. alata'' grows in evergreen and semideciduous forests on slopes of limestone mountains in Vietnam. Its name is derived from the Latin language, Latin ''alatus'', meaning "winged", referrin ...

'' Tillich – Vietnam (Cao Bang) # ''

Aspidistra albiflora ''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 les ...

'' C.R.Lin, W.B.Xu & Yan Liu # ''

Aspidistra albopurpurea ''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 les ...

'' Aver. & Tillich # ''

Aspidistra alternativa ''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 les ...

'' D.Fang & L.Y.Yu – China (Guangxi) # ''

Aspidistra anomala ''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 les ...

'' Aver. & Tillich # ''

Aspidistra arnautovii ''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 les ...

'' Tillich – Vietnam (Hai Phong) # ''

Aspidistra atrata ''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 les ...

'' Aver., Tillich & B.H.Quang # ''

Aspidistra atroviolacea ''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 l ...

'' 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 ''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 le ...

'' (Gagnep.) Tillich – Indo-China # '' Aspidistra dolichanthera'' X.X.Chen – China (SW Guangxi) # '' Aspidistra ebianensis'' K.Y.Lang & Z.Y.Zhu – China (Sichuan) # ''

'' 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 ''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 l ...

'' 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 ''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 l ...

'' 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 ''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 l ...

'' 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 ''Aspidistra'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. They grow in shade under trees and shrubs. Their leaves ...

'' 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 ''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 l ...

'' Tillich – China (Sichuan) # '' Aspidistra nankunshanensis'' Yan Liu & C.R.Lin # '' Aspidistra neglecta'' Aver., Tillich & K.S.Nguyen # ''

Aspidistra nigra ''Aspidistra'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. They grow in shade under trees and shrubs. Their leaves ...

'' 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 ''Aspidistra'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. They grow in shade under trees and shrubs. Their leaves ...

'' H.C.Xi, J.T.Yin & W.G.Wang # ''

Aspidistra qijiangensis ''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 l ...

'' 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 ''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 l ...

'' G.W.Hu & Q.F.Wang # '' Aspidistra recondita'' Tillich – Vietnam (location not known) # ''

Aspidistra retusa ''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 l ...

'' 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 ''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 les ...

'' 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 India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Indochina Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...

and

through to

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. The largest number of species are found in

Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...

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

slug Slug, or land slug, is a common name for any apparently shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc. The word ''slug'' is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell, a very reduced shell, or only a smal ...

s and

snail A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class Gastro ...

pollinate Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, a ...

''Aspidistra'' flowers. This has been described as a "myth".

Amphipod Amphipoda is an order of malacostracan crustaceans with no carapace and generally with laterally compressed bodies. Amphipods range in size from and are mostly detritivores or scavengers. There are more than 9,900 amphipod species so far descr ...

s, small terrestrial

crustaceans Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapods, seed shrimp, branchiopods, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopods, barnacles, copepods, amphipods and mantis shrimp. The crustacean group ...

, are responsible for pollinating ''A. elatior'' in Japan. Amphipods have also been shown to pollinate species of ''Aspidistra'' introduced to Australia.

Springtail Springtails (Collembola) form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects (the other two are the Protura and Diplura). Although the three orders are sometimes grouped together in a class called Ento ...

s and

fungus gnat Fungus gnats are small, dark, short-lived gnats, of the families Sciaridae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae, and Mycetophilidae (order Diptera); they comprise six of the seven families placed in the superfamily Sciaroide ...

s have also been suggested as pollinators. The newly described Vietnamese species ''A. phanluongii'' is probably pollinated by flies of the genus ''

Megaselia ''Megaselia'' is a genus of flies in the family Phoridae. See also * List of Megaselia species This is a list of 1675 species in '' Megaselia'', a genus of scuttle flies in the family Phoridae. ''Megaselia'' species A * ''Megaselia abaliena ...

''.

Cultivation and uses

'', 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 A is the Japanese cuisine, Japanese iteration of a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal, often for lunch. Outside Japan, it is common in other East and Southeast Asian culinary styles, especially within Chinese cuisine, Chinese, Korean c ...

and

osechi Osechi-ryōri (御節料理, お節料理 or おせち) are traditional Japanese New Year foods. The tradition started in the Heian period (794–1185). ''Osechi'' are easily recognizable by their special boxes called ''jūbako'' (重箱), whic ...

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 Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

and was so common that it became a "symbol of dull middle-class respectability". As such, it was central to

George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to totalitar ...

's novel ''

Keep the Aspidistra Flying ''Keep the Aspidistra Flying'', first published in 1936, is a socially critical novel by George Orwell. It is set in 1930s London. The main theme is Gordon Comstock's romantic ambition to defy worship of the money-god and Social status, statu ...

'', 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 Dame Gracie Fields (born Grace Stansfield; 9 January 189827 September 1979) was an English actress, singer, comedian and star of cinema and music hall who was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the h ...

, became a popular wartime classic. An aspidistra is mentioned in the

Wallace and Gromit ''Wallace & Gromit'' is a British stop-motion comedy franchise created by Nick Park of Aardman Animations. The series consists of four short films and one feature-length film, and has spawned numerous spin-offs and TV adaptations. The series c ...

short, "The Autochef", from the ''

Cracking Contraptions ''Wallace and Gromit's Cracking Contraptions'' is a British series of ten Wallace and Gromit stop-motion animations varying in length from 1 to 3 minutes. Each episode features one of Wallace's new inventions and Gromit's skeptical reaction to it. ...

'' series. Aspidistras can withstand deep shade, neglect, dry soil, hot temperatures and polluted indoor air (from burning coal or

natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...

) 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 ''The Adventure Game'' is a game show that was originally broadcast on British television, UK television channels BBC One, BBC1 and BBC Two, BBC2 between 24 May 1980 and 18 February 1986. The story in each show was that the two celebrity conte ...

'' featured a moving aspidistra called the Rangdo of Arg, operated by Kenny Baker.

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * *

External links

Gallery of ''Aspidistra''
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens Aspidistra Collection {{Taxonbar, from=Q1429377 Asparagaceae genera Garden plants of Asia