(Celastraceae)
Tripterygium aff. wilfordii  WWJ12009

Description

Completely out of its range is what Peter Wharton and I thought when we were so surprised to discover this hardy woody climber bearing conspicuously yellow cordate winged seed, on a very exposed ridge at 2350m, overlooking the Chinese border in the north of Vietnam, autumn 2007. Not sure yet if this is the same creature I once collected in China in a distinctly hot environment. Could definitely have done with a bit of that in this location, hence this woody twining climber with bronze young leaves should do well in our climate from such a hostile spot. Easily grown in any fertile soil sun or shade.