Schiedea pentandra is a reclining vine with stems often swollen at the nodes and varying in length from 100 to 600 cm. The stems, which are terete, 4-angled, or -ridged, may occasionally root at the nodes and are typically purple or green with a purple tinge. The proximal parts of the stems are glabrous, becoming puberulent in the inflorescence. A fibrous root system supports the plant. The leaves are simple and opposite, with narrowly lanceolate, usually somewhat falcate blades measuring 4.5 to 11 cm in length and 0.8 to 2.8 cm in width. The leaf apex is attenuate to long-acuminate, and the base is cuneate. The blades are coriaceous and purple-tinged, particularly along the midrib, with only the midvein evident. The margins are slightly thickened and usually scarious, occasionally adorned with scattered hooked hairs. The midvein is eccentric and purple, sometimes with a few scattered hairs on the abaxial side. The petioles are 0.2 to 0.9 cm long, and stipules are absent. The inflorescence is terminal, bearing 26 to 204 flowers and measuring 30 to 50 (up to 150) cm in length. It is diffuse, pendent, and moderately densely puberulent with purple or purple hairs. The bracts are green and purple-tinged, narrowly lanceolate to subulate. The pedicels are 6 to 18 mm long. The flowers are bisexual (perfect), with sepals 2.3 to 3 mm long, lanceolate, purple or green with a purple midvein, and strongly reflexed. The corolla (petals) is absent. There are 5 stamens, with the antisepalous (stamen position is one in which the point of stamen attachment is in line with (opposite) the sepals, calyx lobes, or outer whorl of tepals) whorl being developed and fertile. The ovary is superior, 1-celled, with free-central ovule placentation, and 3 to 4 styles. The fruit is an ovoid capsule measuring 2.5 to 3 mm long, with 0.8 to 1.0 mm long seeds, orbicular-reniform, compressed. The perisperm (nutritive tissue surrounding the embryo) is starchy, with no true endosperm. It is typically scattered in diverse mesic forests between 600-920 meters.
Bean-shaped (Reniform): Resembling the shape of a kidney or bean.
Square or Oblong: Angular shape with all sides more or less equal or longer than wide.
Triangular: Three-sided shape, broadest below the middle.
Elliptic: Rounded at both ends. shaped like an ellipse or oval.
Ovate or Obovate: egg-shaped, broader at one end.
Linear: Extremely long and narrow, with sides usually parallel.
Round: Appears circular, with length and width roughly the same.
Cardioid (Heart-Shaped): One edge has a prominent double curve into two lobes.
Cylindrical: A cylinder with parallel sides and a circular cross-section.
Discoid: Resembling a disc or plate with two relatively flat surfaces.
Fusiform: Spindle-shaped, tapering at both ends.
Globose: Spherical.
Lenticular: Resembling a lens with two convex surfaces.
Ovoid: Egg-shaped.
Plano-convex: Having a flat ventral (planar) surface and a curved dorsal (convex) surface.
Polygonal: Having more than three flat faces meeting at angles.
Sectoroid: Resembling a segment of an orange with two relatively flat faces and one curved face.
Subglobose/ellipsoid: Inflated shape but less than spherical.
Trigonous: Having three faces that meet at a distinct angle; triangular in cross-section.
Endangered species (E) are species that are so rare they’re in danger of becoming extinct.
Threatened species (T) are species that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Species of Concern (SOC) are species about which there are some concerns regarding status and threats, but insufficient information is available to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) is a state status for rare plants that focuses its efforts on species that have fewer than 50 remaining wild individuals.
Orthodox seeds (desiccation-tolerant): can be dried to an internal seed moisture of less than 12% water and stored at freezing temperatures.
Intermediate seeds (temperature-sensitive) tend to age faster than orthodox seeds and may have only a 5-year lifespan when stored at -20°C. They are recommended for storage at 5°C.
Recalcitrant seeds (desiccation-sensitive): cannot be stored in a conventional freezer as they cannot survive after drying and/or freezing at -20°C. They are recommended for cryopreservation storage.