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Muehlenbeckia platyclada (F.Muell.) Meisn.
| Family Name: | Polygonaceae |
| Synonyms: | Muehlenbeckia platyclados, Polygonum platycladum, Homalocladium platycladum |
| Common Name: | Tapeworm Plant, Ribbon Bush, Centipede Plant |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 1 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 1.8 m to 2.4 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Solomon Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous plant with a shrubby growth form up to 1 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Foliage occurs on new growth, but later falls off, leaving the mature stem bare. Leaves are sometimes lobed at the base and have smooth edges (1.5-6.5 cm long). |
| Stems | Long, flattened stems are known as phylloclades. They are smooth, segmented at the nodes and about 1.3 cm wide. |
| Flowers | Several greenish white flowers are arranged in small clusters at the stem nodes (point of leaf attachment to the stem). |
| Fruit | Fleshy, red or purplish, berry-like structures enclose the true fruits which are nuts (one-seeded, indehiscent, dry fruits). |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Fruits |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Microphyll ( 2.25cm2 - 20.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|---|
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flower Colour(s) Remarks | Greenish white |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Purple, Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Nut / Nutlet |
References
| References |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 810 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2105 |
| 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. |