Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental- Ornamental plant in gardens. Medicinal- Used to treat fever, headache, and abdominal pain.
Malesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
Thrives in warm, humid climates and in disturbed areas, upto an elevation of 900 m.
It is large vigorous climber reaching up to 2000 cm in height. Stems twine around supports using tendrils.
Stem is robust, branched, and angular with longitudinal grooves, glabrous (smooth) and lack hairs.
Leaves are broadly ovate-cordate (heart-shaped), leaf blades measuring 12-13 cm long and wide. Thinly leathery and have three shallow lobes. Upper surfaces are deep green, while undersides may be smooth or have fine hairs. Margins are wavy and have small teeth.
Flowers are arranged in clusters reaching 12-15 cm long. Male flowers have a stout, grooved peduncle (stalk) and short pedicels (small stalks connecting individual flowers to the main stalk). Bracts (modified leaves surrounding the flower cluster) are obovate-oblong shaped, about 4 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide. They are white and have scales or fine hairs on both surfaces, with toothed margins and blunt tips. The calyx tube is narrowly funnel-shaped, while the segments are narrow and lanceolate. Female flowers are not seen.
Fruit is not seen.
Flowering: Spring or summer.