Brisbane Rainforest Action & Information Network

How to identify rainforest vines

page 14


Stephania japonica Tape vine  Menispermaceae 
Description 
  • A scrambler or climber found in sheltered gullies. 
  • Heart-shaped peltate leaves that are firm, but not stiff, hairless. 
  • Small greenish flowers in spreading axillary compound umbels in summer.
  • Shiny yellow/orange or red drupe fruits, 5mm wide.

 

Tetrastigma nitens Three-leaf water vine, Native grape Vitaceae 
Description 
  • Vigorous vine with woody stems that climbs via stems supported by leaf-opposed tendrils.
  • Compound leaves with dark green shiny ovate concolorous leaflets that are evenly toothed, 16cm long and 8cm wide.
  • Pale green new growth.
  • Brown flowers in dense axillary clusters from August to November "Each flower has a large, four-lobed stigma which serves to distinguish it from Cissus species which have a small stigma" (Jones and Gray).
  • Black ovoid berries up to 10mm wide from January to March
Uses 
  • A climber valued for its foliage

 

Tinospora smilacina Snake vine, Yuwara, Waramburr Menispermaceae 
Description 
  • Woody deciduous vine with a milky latex that climbs using twining stems.
  • Distinctive white corky lenticels can be seen in the bark.
  • Alternate, triangular, thin ovate to cordate leaves are rounded at the base.
  • Green flowers in racemes from August to January Ovoid red berries from February to April 
Uses 
  • "Mainly as a painkiller; mashed stems are tightly wound around the head for headache and around limbs for rheumatism. Cut up stems are boiled and the strained stems wrapped around afflicted area for body pains; the liquid is used to bathe the aching parts. Also as a ligature for people spiked by stone fish to ease pain. Wound around legs when suffering from leprosy to ease pain. Used in cases of snakebite (induces vomiting)." (Lassak and McCarthy)

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Updated 22 July 2002