WorldFloraDB - Freycinetia excelsa

Characteristics

Dioecious. Stems 6–8 mm diam.; internodes 5–12 mm long. Leaves imbricate; auricles to 3 cm long, sometimes with apical lobe to 5 mm long, membranous, spinulose at least on distal margins, not persistent; blade linear to very narrowly ovate, gradually attenuate, (10–) 15–50 (–73) cm long, 5–12 mm wide, thinly coriaceous; margins often recurved, prickly near base and apex but often otherwise entire; midrib with distant prickles only near apex. Inflorescence with outer bracts leafy, reddish in lower part; inner bracts orange to reddish; innermost bracts narrowly to broadly ovate, to 7 cm long, orange to red or cream. Male spikes 1–3; peduncles c. 2 cm long; fertile portion 2.5–3 cm long; filaments to 1 mm long; anthers c. 0.5 mm long. Female spikes 1–3 (–4); fruiting heads ovoid to ± obloid, 3–6 cm long, 2–3 cm wide; berry 2–4 mm diam., red; stigmas 2–4.

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It partly attaches to and grows from other plants. It is an evergreen vine. It climbs to a height of 30 m. The stem is vigorous with many branches. It scrambles over logs and rocks. The stem is less than 1 cm across. The leaves are fairly rigid and curve and have spiny edges. They are 30-50 cm long and 0.6-0.8 cm wide. The form a short sheath around the stem at their base. The flowers are small and have red bracts around them. The bracts are 5-7 cm long by 2.5-3.5 cm wide. The female heads are in groups of 1-4 and are 3-4 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The male spikes are in groups of 1-3 and are 2-3 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. The fruit is a cluster of berries. Each berry is 0.7 cm across and they are bright red. The fruit are produced at the stem tips. The fruit are edible

Life form	perennial
Growth form	shrub
Growth support	climber
Foliage retention	evergreen
Sexuality	dioecy
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Mature width (meter)	0.01
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Environment

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 1250 m altitude. It needs a protected, partly shady position. It is damaged by drought and frost.

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Mainly in rainforest.

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Usage

The fruit are eaten but burn the back of the throat possibly due to oxalates.

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Edible	fruits
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Cultivation

It is grown by dividing the stem. They can be grown from seed.

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