Cocculus orbiculatus (L.) DC.
Family
Menispermaceae
Synonyms
Cocculus trilobus (Thunberg) DC, Cocculus sarmentosus (Lour.) Diels.
Vernacular Names
| Vietnam | d[aa]y xanh, d[aa]y m[ooj]t, m[ooj]c ph[of]ng ky. |
Geographical Distributions
Cocculus orbiculatus is found grows in Nepal, India, China, Taiwan, Japan, Hawaii, Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, north-eastern Sumatra, western and central Java, and the Philippines; also in Reunion and Mauritius, but possibly introduced there.
Description
This is a slender, herbaceous or slightly woody climber, with stem up to 1.5 mm in diametre.
The leaves are broadly elliptical to narrowly elliptical or ovate, measuring 3-10 cm x 1-5.5 cm. The leaf base is 3(-5)-veined, where the veins usually not running parallel to margins and becoming indistinct at or below the middle of the leaf.
The flowers are whitish, where the female ones are with 6 carpels.
The drupe is rotund in outline, 4-5 mm in diametre and dark blue.
Ecology / Cultivation
C. orbiculatus often occurs near seashores, but sometimes also inland on limestone terraces.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3.
