Author: | John Miers,
1866 |
Family: |
MENISPERMACEAE |
Origin: |
Andaman Islands, Assam, Northern Australia, Bangladesh,
Borneo, Cambodia, China, East Himalaya, Hainan, India,
Japan, Java, Korea, Laos, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaysia, Maluku, Marquesas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New
Guinea, Nicobar Islands, Norfolk Islands,
Philippines, Samoa, Society Islands, Solomon Islands, Sri
Lanka, Sulawesi + Sumatera; Indonesia, Thailand, Tonga,
Vanuatu, Vietnam |
Soil: |
Mix |
Water:
|
Medium -
Maximum |
Sun: |
Medium -
Maximum |
Thickness: |
20 Centimetres |
Height: |
8 Metres |
Flower:
|
Greenish
White |
Propagate: |
Seeds |
Names:
|
Snake
Vine, Tape Vine |
Synonyms: |
Menispermum japonicum, Thunb. 1784.
Cocculus
japonicus, DC. 1817.
Stephania japonica var. discolor, Forman.
Stephania japonica var. timoriensis, Forman. |
This dioecious member of the
Menispermaceae family was given this name by John Miers in 1866. It is found
in northern Australia and southern Asia, growing in a well drained soil with
some water and some to lots of sun. The caudex can grow to 20
centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 8 metres in
height. The
flowers are greenish white, the fruits red.
The genera name after Stephan
Ladislaus Endlicher, 1804-1849, an Austrian botanist who formulated
a major system of plant classification. The species name as was
first described from Japan.
There are several variations
discolor, glabra, hispidula, japonica and
timoriensis.
The bitter-tasting root is
very poisonous due to its picrotoxin content. |