Ceropegia cumingiana Decne.

Decaisne, J. (1844) Prodromus 8: 643. Type: Philippines, Luzon, H. Cuming n. 447; holo: G; iso: BM, K, L, P.

A slender vine not exceeding a stem diameter of 2 cm.

Leaf blades thin, soft in texture, ovate to lanceolate, about 7-13 x 2.5-7.5 cm, petioles about 1.5-4 cm long. Two to four colleters (small finger-like glands) present on the upper surface of the midrib near its junction with the petiole. Petiole grooved or channelled on the upper surface. Exudate clear or greenish.

Inflorescence umbellate, on a peduncle about 10-70 mm long. Pedicels about 15-22 mm long attached beside the petioles rather than in the axils. Calyx lobes somewhat fleshy, linear, about 3-4 mm long. Corolla tube 12-20 mm long, inflated towards the base, about 3-6 mm diam. but more inflexed at the apex, about 8-15 mm diam. Corolla lobes about 10-12 x 6-7 mm, connate near the tips, but the margins free even at anthesis. Corona about 3.5- 4 x 3.5-5 mm, forming 5 pockets around the staminal column. Outer corona about 2.5 x 3.5 mm, the lobes erect and bifid at the apex, inner surface clothed in white or maroon hairs. Inner corona about 1.5-2.5 mm long, the individual lobes erect and about 0.5 mm diam. Anthers about 1 x 1 mm, sessile. Pollinia 2 per anther. Carpels about 2 mm long, adjacent to one another but not fused. Style head +/- flat on the top, marked with a star-shaped ridge.

Fruits usually paired, each fruiting carpel about 16-26 x 4-5 mm. Seeds numerous. Seeds about 10-12 mm long, margins thickened. Plumes white, about 25-40 mm long. Embryo about 3-5 mm long. Cotyledons flat, about 3.5 x 2 mm. Radicle about 1.5-3 mm long. Cotyledons wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons lanceolate to elliptic, about 21-25 x 10-12 mm, glabrous throughout. First pair of leaves lanceolate, margins and petioles clothed in hairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate to lanceolate, somewhat fleshy, glabrous on both the upper and lower surfaces except for a few hairs on the margin. Petioles grooved on the upper surface. Stipules small, horn-like or finger-like. Leaf, stem and petiole exudate clear. Seed germination time 20 days.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ and the northern part of CEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 550 m. Grows in vine thicket and monsoon forest. Also occurs in Malesia.

Grown as a potted plant for the strange and showy flowers.