Stephania japonica
| Stephania japonica | |
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| Snake Vine at Palm Beach, Australia | |
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| Species: | S. japonica
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| Binomial name | |
| Stephania japonica | |
Stephania japonica, known in Australia as the Snake Vine, is a common scrambler often seen in sheltered areas near the sea.
Description
A dioecious vine without prickles. Greenish small flowers form on compound umbels, growing from the leaf axils in the warmer months. Inflorescences are 4 to 8 cm long. The fruit is an oval shaped, orange or red drupe, 2 to 5 mm long. A feature of this plant is the peltate leaves, (the stem is attached to the leaf, away from the leaf edge).
Distribution
A widespread vine seen as far south as Eden, New South Wales, north through Queensland. Also seen in Japan, India Nepal and many other areas of south-east Asia and the Pacific region. The original specimen was collected in Japan, hence the specific epithet “japonica”.[1] The variety in New South Wales is known as bicolor, as the under-side of the leaf is somewhat paler than above.
References
- ^ Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 336
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