Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous slender-stemmed vine that climbs with tendrils arising from ends of inflorescences or in the leaf forks. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are light green soft, narrowly heart –shaped which are 2.5 – 15 cm long and 2 – 10 cm wide. Leaves have alternate arrangement, with wavy margin and petioles are 1 – 5 cm long. Characteristic small sheath-like structures (Ochrea) are present near the base of the leaves. |
| Flowers | Flowers have 5 white petal-like structures, produced as cascading racemes. Flowers are fragrant and attractive to bees and butterflies. |
| Fruit | Fruits are brown and small (8 – 12 mm long and 4 – 7 mm wide), often hidden within the dried petal-like structures. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Being a fast-growing vine, it can quickly cover walls, trellis and arbours with lush foliage. The plant is also heat and drought-tolerant when established. In Singapore, the plant may have a tendency to produce flowers only towards top of growth. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting, Bee-Attracting |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 17 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1313 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
