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Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl.
| Family Name: | Araceae |
| Synonyms: | Monstera pinnata, Rhaphidophora pinnata, Scindapsus pinnatus, Pothos pinnatus |
| Common Name: | Dragon-Tail Plant, Taro Vine, Silver Vine, 龙尾草, 麒麟叶, 麒麟尾, 龟背竹, 拎树藤, 上树龙, 狮尾草, 狮子尾 |
Epipremnum pinnatum, commonly known as the Dragon-Tail Plant, starts life on the ground and climbs up trees in its natural forest environment, transitioning to an epiphytic lifestyle over time. It exhibits foliage dimorphism, where juvenile leaves look different from mature leaves of the same plant.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Climber, Epiphyte, Creeper |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 15 m to 20 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indochina, Malesia (including Singapore), Tropical Australia, Pacific Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Large epiphytic aroid root-climber, scrambling up trees and rock surfaces with network of aerial clasping roots. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaf morphology varies with physiological age of plant. Juvenile plants are terrestrial creepers. Plant produces mature leaves only when there is sufficient climbing height. Young leaves elliptical to arrow-shaped with entire margins. Mature leaves up to 30 - 50cm long, thick and leathery, ovate and pinnatifid (deeply incised along margins), often with white spots and pin-holes along mid-rib, and with fenestrations (windows) in leaf-blade -- superficially resembling Monstera species. |
| Flowers | Small (3-7mm across) on spathe-spadix inflorescences. Spathe (modified leaf) canoe-shaped, 10cm long, greenish on outside, creamy-white on inside; Monoecious species, spadix holds male and female flowers separately, white when fresh, maturing to creamy grey-green and then dark yellowish-green during anthesis, before air-drying to dark brown or almost black after anthesis. No noticeable scent upon anthesis. Blooming infrequently observed in Singapore. |
| Fruit | Aggregate berries clustered on medium-green spadix, red when ripe, containing small brownish seeds embedded in sticky orange-red pulp. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Conservation Status: Native, critically endangered in the wild. |
| Habitat | Found naturally in dense rainforests. In urbanized Singapore, typically spotted using Samanea saman (Rain Tree) as physical support. |
| Cultivation | Low-maintenance. Plant in friable rich soil at base of support tree, wall or fence, and allow it to climb. Tolerates some amount of waterlogging and salinity. Grows faster when located in sunnier spot. Propagate by stem cuttings and seeds (if available). |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Epipremnum' derived from the Greek terms 'epi' (upon) and 'premna' (tree stump), a reference to the epiphytic growth habit of plants from this genus. Species epithet 'pinnatum' refers to pinnately-lobed shape of mature leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Herb or Spice) Others: Medicinal: Leaves and stems traditionally used as poultice to treat rheumatism, fractures and skin diseases. Also used as remedy for dysentery. Extracts of plant have reported to be a strong inhibitor against human breast cancer and leukemia cells. Used as traditional anti-cancer remedy -- fresh leaves are slowly boiled until they disintegrate into a wheatgrass-like broth, which can be mixed with rock sugar and drunk. Food: Leaves can also be boiled with red beans and red dates to make a sweet dessert with cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, General, Vertical Greenery / Green Wall |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | All parts of plant contains oxalic crystals which can irritate throat if ingested. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting, Stolon / Runner |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Leathery, Thick |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Elliptical, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Entire - Wavy / Undulate, Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid, Irregularly Incised |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute, Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse, Cordate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 ) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous, Cane |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root), Aboveground (Aerial Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Aboveground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|
| Flower Size - Remarks | 3 - 7 mm across |
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
| Inflorescence Size Remarks | White when young, turning to creamy grey-green and then dark yellowish-green at anthesis, before air-drying to dark brown to almost black. |
| Flowering Period Remarks | Plant blooms occasionally. |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Aggregate Fruit (Syncarp) |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 97 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1393 |
| 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. |
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