Stephania japonica

Stephania japonica, known as snake vine,[2] is a vine often seen in sheltered areas near the sea.

Snake vine
Snake vine at Palm Beach, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Menispermaceae
Genus: Stephania
Species:
S. japonica
Binomial name
Stephania japonica
Synonyms
  • Stephania hernandiifolia (Willd.) Walp., 1922 [1]
S. japonica (Batuli Pate) in Panchkhal valley, Nepal

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”.[3] 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 collected from Stephania japonica (Menispermaceae). Antihypertensive agent.

Consumption

The leaves of this plant are commonly used to produce edible green grass jelly in Indonesia.[4]

References
  1. Walp. 1842. Repert. Bot. Syst. (Walpers) 1: 96 .
  2. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 647. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017 – via Korea Forest Service.
  3. Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 336
  4. http://digilib.unila.ac.id/5662/9/Bab%202%20.pdf Detection of Coliform Bacteria in Traditional Snacks Black Cincau at Traditional Market and Supermarket in Bandar Lampung City


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