Muehlenbeckia platyclada

(F. Mueller) Meisner

Ribbon-bush, Tapeworm plant

Polygonaceae Edible: Fruit 729 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Muehlenbeckia platyclada (synonym Homalocladium platycladum), known as centipede plant, tapeworm plant or ribbonbush, is a species of plant in the knotweed family from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It is also naturalized in other tropical regions, including Puerto Rico, India, Bolivia, Madagascar, Nicaragua and Pakistan.

Description

A clambering shrub. It loses it leaves during the year. It grows 3-4 m high. The stems are flattened and green. They act like leaves. The leaves are sword shaped. They are 5 cm long. They fall off before flowering. The flowers are very small. The petals are greenish-white. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. They do not have a flower stalk. The fruit is small and red to black.

Edible Uses

The small red to black fruit is eaten.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It does well in seasonally moist and dry climates. It needs an average, well-drained soil. It needs bright, filtered light. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. In Queen Sirikit BG.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Comoros, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Indochina, Indonesia, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SE Asia, Solomon Islands*, South America, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seed or cuttings.

Synonyms

Calacinum platycladum (F. Muell.) J. F. Macbr.Coccoloba platyclada (F. Muell.) F. Muell.Exocarpus ceramicus NavesHomalocladium platycladum (F. Mueller) L.H. BaileyPolygonum platycladum F. MuellerSarcogonum platycladum (G. Muell.) Voss

Also Known As

Alupihan, Ceitpede plant, Kaktus kismis, Lanbach, Raisin cactus, Tructiet

References (7)

Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 23:313. 1865 (As platyclados)
French, B.R., 2010, Food Plants of Solomon Islands. A Compendium. Food Plants International Inc. p 347
Kew Plants of the World Online
Llamas, K.A., 2003, Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press. p 318
Smith, N., Mori, S.A., et al, 2004, Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton. p 310

Show all 7 references

Staples, G.W. and Herbst, D.R., 2005, A tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. p 463 (As Homalocladium platycladium) (Drawing)
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 1034