Flagellaria indica

Whip Vine
Flagellaria indica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Flagellariaceae
Genus:	Flagellaria
Species:	F. indica
Binomial name
Flagellaria indica L.

Flagellaria indica is a climbing plant found in many of the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, India, Southeast Asia, Polynesia, and Australia.

A strong climber, it grows often up to 15 m tall, with thick cane-like stems exceeding 15 mm in diameter. Its leaves, without hairs, are 10 to 40 cm long, and 5 to 20 mm wide. A coiled apex of the leaf forms the holding part of the climbing plant. Fragrant white flowers form in panicles, 10 to 25 cm long. The fruit is an inedible, greenish-red drupe, 5 mm in diameter, usually with only one seed.

Because of its wide distribution, many local common names are used, such as whip vine, hell tail, supplejack, false rattan, and bush cane.

Flagellaria indica at its southernmost limit of natural distribution Royal National Park, Australia

References

• *Florabase (western Australia)