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Kadsura scandens (Blume) Blume
| Family Name: | Schisandraceae |
| Synonyms: | Kadsura scandens var. cauliflora (Blume) Kuntze, Kadsura scandens var. intermedia Kuntze |
Kadsura scandens is a woody liana with glossy green leaves that are brilliant red when young. The berries ripen from green to yellow with a faint apple-like scent, and dispersed by mammals. The seeds are bright yellow, resembling mung beans.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya and Sumatra. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A woody liana. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are papery to leathery, elliptic to ovate-shaped, measuring 10 - 15 cm long and 5 - 9 cm across. Each leaf blade has acute to acuminate apex, obtuse to truncate base, entire margin and 4 - 6 secondary margins, short petiole of about 11.5 - 30 mm long and about 1.2 - 2.3 mm in diameter. |
| Flowers | Flowers are either solitary in leaf axils (occasionally has secondary flower on the same axil), or in axils of fugaceous bracts (they dropped off early), occasionally cauliflorus. The tepals are white, pale yellow or red, while the outer segments occasionally pale green and red tinged. The male flowers as up to 50 stamens tightly compressed into a globose head while female flowers are in conical shape. |
| Fruit | Fruit is an obovoid green berry, ripening to yellow, with apple-like scent. |
| Similar | Similar to Kadsura verrucosa. K. scandens has prominent venation on the upper side of leaf, while the venation is indistinct in K. verrucosa. Berries of K. scandens also possess a faint apple-like scent, while those of K. verrucosa lack any perceptible scent. |
| Etymology | The genus Kadsura is from the Japanese vernacular name for Kadsura japonica. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Fruits) |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Other Mammal)) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Yellow / Golden, Red |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary, Cauliflorous |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34087 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8500 |
| 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. |
