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 Edit this 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

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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

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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

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Protostephanine is an alkaloid collected from Stephania japonica (Menispermaceae). Antihypertensive agent.

Consumption

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

References

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  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