The Malesian species of Dalechampia (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Dalechampia is a mainly South American genus of generally climbing shrubs with usually sharp stiff trichomes in some of the inflorescence parts. The bisexual inflorescences are very condensed and subtended by two, often showy, large bracts. The three pistillate flowers are separate from the staminate subinflorescence (both groups with their own bracts). The staminate subinflorescence contains groups of staminodial-like bractlets that provide resin for female bees or fragrance for male bees. In west Malesia (Sumatra and Java) one indigenous species is found, the climbing D. bidentata, and occasionally cultivars of the subshrub D. spathulata.