Sphenodesme involucrata (C.Presl) B.L.Rob.

Sphenodesme species large scandent shrubs. Leaves simple, opposite, petiolate, exstipulate. Inflorescence axillary or terminal paniculate thyrses, cyme 3-7 flowered, bracts foliaceous, caducous. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, hypogynous, pedicellate, calyx campanulate, 5 toothed rarely 4 or 6, corolla infundibular, 5 lobed, rarely 6-7 lobed, white, yellow or purple, corolla tube, short, cylindric, hairy, annulate near stamen insertions, stamens 5 rarely 6-7, exserted, filaments glabrous, filiform, anthers ovate, ovary bicarpellary, 2 celled, 2 ovules in each locule, hairy or glabrous, apex grandular, style filiform, stigma bi-lobed, Fruit indehiscent, carcerulus, obovoid, seeds nonendospermous.

Sphenodesme species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects. Flowering/Fruiting: December-March.

Seeds dispersed by anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals.

A large scandent shrub with twisted stem, branches and branchlets subterete or obtusely quadrangular, young parts tomentose or stellate pubescent, glabrous when mature. Leaves simple, opposite, elliptic-oblong, ovate-elliptic, 7-17 × 3.5-5 cm, base rounded or subacute, margin entire, apex obtuse, coriaceous, chartaceous, dark green, slightly stellate, hairy when young, and glabrous when mature, lateral veins 4-7 on either side of the midrib, ascending obscure, impressed above, slightly prominent beneath, reticulate veinlets, petiole slender, glabrous, canaliculated, about 0.7-1.5 cm long. Inflorescence terminal panicles composed of 8–14 opposite dichotomously branched cymes, about 10-30 x 5-15 cm across, peduncle, slender, obtusely quadrangular, about 3-7 cm long, bracts leaflike or foliaceous, 6 much enlarged in fruit, oblancelate, spathulate or elliptic, membranous and veined. Flowers bisexual, many, cream colored sessile in involucrate heads. Calyx cupular or subcampanulate, 5 toothed, teeth acute, stellate-tomentose, obconic, corolla infundibular, 5-6 lobed, cream white, pink, yellow, obovate to oblong, apex obtuse, lower lip 3 lobed, lobes subequal, obovate, apex obtuse, corolla tube narrow, about 2 x 1.3 mm across, densely pubescent at throat, glabrous outside. Stamens 5, included, filaments filiform, glabrous, anthers globose, imperfectly 2-celled, Ovary bicarpellary, 4 lobed, obovoid, hairy, style slender, stigma bilobed. Fruit carcerulus, obovoid, glabrous, glandular at apex.

Susceptible to insect pests.

Deciduous to semi evergreen forests at an altitude of 2,000-3,000 ft.

Used in folk medicine.