B. brandisiana

Monoecious acaulescent herb, 10−15 (–20) cm tall. Stems tuberous, globose or subglobose with numerous fibrous roots, 8−10 mm diam. Leaves unifoliate; petiole dark red, brown when dry, 3−10 cm long; lamina basifixed, succulent, symmetric, chartaceous when dry, adaxial surface glabrous, light bright green or dark reddish brown when young, abaxial surface glabrous, dull greenish, palmatifid(-pedate), 3−15 by 4−14 cm, leaf incisions shallowly lobed, base cordate or subcordate, apex attenuate, margin lobed, venation palmate, veins 5−7, prominent beneath. Stipules caducous, pale green, lanceolate, 2−3 by 1−2 mm, apex acute, margin entire. Inflorescences arising from tuber, polychasial, 1−2 times, bisexual, 8−25(−30) cm long, staminate flowers basal, pistillate flowers distal, protandrous; peduncles 6−20 cm long, terete, glabrous, dark red, glossy. Bracts absent. Staminate flowers: pedicels pale green, 4−12 mm, ascending; tepals 2, plain white with a pale pink outline inside, outer pink, obovate, base obtuse, apex rounded, margin entire, glabrous on both sides, 5−6 by 5−7 mm; androecium zygomorphic; stamens 10−14, bright yellow, filaments fused at base, ca 1 mm long, anthers oblong, ca 1 mm long, dehiscing by short slits near tip. Pistillate flowers: pedicels pale green, 2−5 mm long; tepals 2, same colour as staminate flower, equal, obovate, 5−6 by 5−7 mm, base cuneate, apex rounded, margin entire, glabrous on both sides; styles 3, fused at base, bright yellow, stigmatic band kidney-shaped, minutely papillose; ovary pale pink with 3 subequal wings, 3-locular, placentae bilamellate. Fruit a dehiscent capsule, pale green, pendulous, drying pale brown, 5 by 4−10 mm; capsule ovate, 3−4 by 3−4 mm, abaxial wing narrowly oblong, 4−5 mm long, ca 2 mm at base, 2 lateral wings orbicular, 4−5 mm long, 4−5 mm wide at base. Seeds brown, barrel-shaped, ovoid or obovoid.

• Classification: Species
• Plant Type: Tuberous
• Botanical Section: Diploclinium
• Origin: Asia, Thailand
• Originator: Kurz
• Date of Origin: 1874