''Cissus hypoglauca'' is a common Australian vine. It is one of the better known climbing plants 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

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...

family. A very common climber in moist areas of eastern

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 ...

, it often colonises large areas after forest damage due to storms, fire or logging. Common names include jungle grape, water vine, giant water vine, five-leaf water vine, jungle vine, native grapes and billangai. It was initially described in 1854 by American botanist

Asa Gray Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botany, botanist of the 19th century. His ''Darwiniana'' (1876) was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessaril ...

Description

''Cissus hypoglauca'' is a large woody vine. The name water-vine comes from the fact that the woody sections of the vine may be cut into sections and the sap that drips from the sections may be drunk as water. The leaves are

palmate The following terms are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade is divided into two or more leaflets ...

, and are usually arranged in a group of five. Leaves elliptic or ovate in shape, slightly toothed or entire. Mid green above and a glaucous shade underneath, and measure 3 to 15 cm (1–6 in) long, 1.5 to 4 cm (0.6-1.6 in) wide. The young leaves are reddish and hairy.

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 appear opposite the leaf stalk. Yellow flowers occur on terminal umbels, mostly in spring and summer. A purple globose fruit matures in the middle of the year. Five leaf Water Vine provides abundant food and shelter for birds and small animals. The stunning blue berries may be eaten raw and provide a delicious watery snack but do leave an acrid aftertaste that can be slightly irritating.

Gallery

Image:Cissus hypoglauca Durras.jpg, ''Cissus hypoglauca'' growing over a creek at Murramarang National Park,

Image:Cissus hypoglauca new red leaves.jpg, young leaves of ''Cissus hypoglauca'' at Brisbane Water National Park,

Cissus hypoglauca DSC 4008 (23258429830).jpg, Fruit ( McKay Reserve, Palm Beach, New South Wales) Cissus hypoglauca P3260049.jpg, Fruit ( McKay Reserve, Palm Beach, New South Wales)

References

External links

* *
''Cissus hypoglauca'' occurrence data from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
* Rainforest Climbing Plants - Williams & Harden, 2000 * Plant Net, Cissus hypoglauca http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Cissus~hypoglauca Retrieved 21 August 2009 hypoglauca Rosids of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Flora of Victoria (state) Vines {{Vitaceae-stub