As part of a continuing comparative study of floral development in the Vitaceae, this paper describes the floral morphology and development of Rhoicissus digitata(L.f.) Gilg & Brandt. Inflorescences in this southern African species are small and cymose and arise in either a terminal or leaf-opposed position. The five sepals are initiated individually, but by maturity they appear as small teeth, as a result of growth of a basal ring primordium. The five petals arise individually in a position alternate to the sepals, and are thick, green, valvate, and cucullate at maturity, with forked brown hairs on their abaxial surface. The five petal-opposed stamens are initiated more or less simultaneously, separate from the petals. The gynoecium forms two chambers, each with two ovules. The pinkish, five-lobed nectariferous disc arises from the base of the gynoecium. Fruits are blue-black with purple juice at maturity, containing two or three seeds with equal frequency. Floral developmental characters resemble those found in Ampelopsisand Cissusmost closely, and appear less derived than those of Vitis.

Key words: development, digitata, floral, morphology, Rhoicissus, Vitaceae