''Cissus antarctica'' (synonym ''Cissus oblongata''), called kangaroo vine, is one of the best known species of the genus ''

Cissus ''Cissus'' is a genus of approximately 350 species of lianas (Woody plant, woody vines) in the grape family (Vitaceae). They have a cosmopolitan distribution, though the majority are to be found in the tropics. Decription Extrafloral nectaries ...

'' in the family

Vitaceae The Vitaceae are a family of flowering plants, with 14 genera and around 910 known species, including common plants such as Vitis, grapevines (''Vitis'' spp.) and Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Virginia creeper (''Parthenocissus quinquefolia''). Th ...

. It is a climbing plant, a

vine A vine is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas, or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselves, for instance, when used in wicker work.Jackson; Benjamin; Da ...

, and is native to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Description

Cissus antarcticus40433243690 80abf48eb4 o

It is a climbing plant with new growths that are rusty in colour, and often become glabrescent with age, with simple or branched

tendril In botany, a tendril is a specialized Plant stem, stem, leaf or Petiole (botany), petiole with a thread-like shape used by climbing plants for support and attachment, as well as cellular invasion by parasitic plants such as ''Cuscuta''. There ar ...

s. The leaves are simple, ovate to ovate-oblong, mostly 4-12 cm long, 20-50 mm wide, the apex pointed, the base mostly rounded, the margins toothed all over the surface, the upper surface is glabrous, the underside generally rusty and hairy with petiole 1-3 cm long. The

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

s are dense, 1-3 cm long. Petals 2 mm long, yellowish. The fruit is

globose This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary ...

, 15 mm in diameter and purple.

Habitat

It is found in warmer rainforest, mainly in coastal regions north of Tathra in New South Wales and inland on the Liverpool Range, to

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

Cultivation

''Cissus antarctica'' is often used as a vine in subtropical climates, such as

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...

s. Kangaroo vine also is a popular interior or

houseplant A houseplant, also known as a pot plant, potted plant, or indoor plant, is an ornamental plant cultivated indoors. for aesthetic or practical purposes. These plants are commonly found in House, homes, Office, offices, and various indoor spaces, w ...

, a well adapted plant, even in subdued light. It does not do well above 15 °C, especially when exposed to central heating, which can cause the leaves to drop.Encyclopédie des jardins d'intérieur, Gründ editor, 3rd quarter 1978, Paris,

References

Flora of Queensland Bushfood

antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...

Vines Garden plants of Australia Drought-tolerant plants House plants Taxa named by Étienne Pierre Ventenat {{Vitaceae-stub