Abstract

For the past 30 years, two staminiferous specimens of the family Menispermaceae deposited in the Herbarium of National Taiwan University were identified as Cyclea insularis (Makino) Hatusima. These two specimens actually belong to the genus Cissampelos L. which represents the first newly recorded genus in Taiwan. The genus Cissampelos can be differentiated from the genus Cyclea by its patelliform or cupulate corolla of staminate flowers, corymbose cyme of staminate inflorescence, and foliaceous bracts in the pistillate infructescence. A newly recorded species, Cissampelos pareira L. var. hirsuta (Buch.-Ham. ex DC.) Forman. is also found in Liuqui Township, southern Taiwan. A morphological description, photographs, line-drawings, and a key to the genera of Menispermaceae in Taiwan are provided to facilitate identification.

Keyword: Cissampelos pareira var. hirsuta, Menispermaceae, newly recorded genus, newly recorded species, taxonomy.