Stephania japonica
| Snake vine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Snake vine at Palm Beach, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Menispermaceae |
| Genus: | Stephania |
| Species: | S. japonica |
| Binomial name | |
| Stephania japonica (Thunb.) Miers | |
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.
Chemistry
Protostephanine is an alkaloid from Stephania japonica (Menispermaceae). Antihypertensive agent.
References
- ↑ Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 336