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Causonis japonica (Thunb.) Raf.
| Family Name: | Vitaceae |
| Synonyms: | Cayratia japonica (Thunb.) Gagnep. |
| Common Name: | Sorrel Vine, Bushkiller |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a perennial and evergreen climbing vine. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Compound leaves, arranged alternately along the stems. Each leaf has 5 leaflets (5-foliolate) where the leaflet is ovate in shape and has serrated/ toothed margin. Young foliage is reddish in colour while the mature foliage is green. Tendril is red. |
| Stems | Stem is often red when young, sometimes covered with waxy white bark when older. |
| Flowers | Flowers are small, yellow to salmon in colour, borne on clusters (called as inflorescence), arranged in dichotomous cyme on terminal shoot. |
| Fruit | Fruits are berries which ripen to white, consisting of 2 - 4 seeds. |
| Habitat | Commonly found in disturbed sites, fringes of lowland and hilly dipterocarp forests and limestone vegetation areas. |
| Similar | Similar to C. trifolia, but C. trifolia has 3-leaflets instead of 5 leaflets found in C. japonica. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Modification | Foliar Tendril |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Cyme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit |
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Ridged / Corrugated |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32975 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 7389 |
| 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. |
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