Lardizabala biternata Ruiz & Pavon (Lardizabalaceae)
Native of Chile, common in the central region of the coast and inland, growing in forests. A climber to about 4 m with evergreen leaves with 3-9 leaflets. Male and female flowers on separate plants. The male flowers are shown here; the female are solitary, and may produce small, sausage-shaped fruit. Hardy to -10°C. Spring.

Lardizabala Ruiz & Pavon (1794) contains 1 or perhaps 2 species in the Lardizabalaceae; only L. biternata Ruiz & Pavon is cultivated.
Description Woody climbers to 10m, with twining stems. The leaves are evergreen, ternate or 2-ternate, with 3–9 leathery leaflets, dark green and shining above, 5–10cm long. The male flowers are in hanging racemes, the females solitary in the leaf axils, sometimes with the sexes on different plants. Male flowers have 6 fleshy segments that are green with purple edges, and 6 petaloid nectaries. Stamens 6, joined. Female flowers have 6 staminodes. Pollination is presumed to be by insects. The fruits are dark purple, sausage-shaped, to 7.5cm long, with many seeds.

Key Recognition Features The glossy, wavy-edged leaves with 3–9 leaflets.
Evolution and Relationships An isolated genus in a family that is found mainly in eastern Asia.

Ecology and Geography In rainforest in southern Chile, flowering in winter.

Comment A rare climber, sometimes grown as a curiosity. Z9.