(Menispermaceae)
Stephania longa KWJ12163

Description

Tuberous rooted herbaceous twining climber to 4m long with slender stems and branches bearing peltate (umbrella-like) triangular-ovate thin textured leaves to 9 cm across, somewhat nasturtium like, but pale green sometimes pink tinted on long petioles that also twine. With separate male and female axillary congested cymes of tiny yellowish flowers borne late spring-summer followed by flattened green maturing bright red fruit, containing the crescent-shaped 'moon-seed' this group of climbers are named after. Best grown in sun-part shade in any fertile retentive but well drained soil.