Muehlenbeckia platyclados (F.Muell.) Meisn.
Family: Polygonaceae
Synonyms: Muehlenbeckia platyclada, Catacinum platycladum (F.Muell.) J.F.Macbr., Homalocladiumplatycladum (F.Muell.) L H Bailey, Polygonum platycladum F.Muell., Sarcogonum platycladum (F.Muell.) Voss
Common name: Tapeworm Plant, Ribbon bush, Centipede Plant
Chinese: 竹节蓼
Finnish: Nauhapensas
French: Muehlenbeckie à rameaux aplatis
An erect, c. 1 m tall shruby plant with broad, flat, thin, articulate, delicately striate, ribbon-like phylloclades. Leaves sessile, membranous, entire, often lobed at base, 1.5-6.5 cm long. Ochreae 1-2 mm long, ovate, obtuse. Flowers 1-6 in sessile clusters, bracteate, bracts ovate, c. 1 mm long. Perianth segments 5, greenish, oblong, 1-1.5 mm long. Stamens 8. Ovary ovoid, 3-angular c. 1 mm long; styles 3. Nuts enclosed in the fleshy deep red or purplish perianth.
This is a medical plant uses as a remedy for poisonous intake by animals. Homalocladium platycladum Syn: Muehlenbeckia platyclada Common: Tapeworm Plant, Ribbon bush, Centipede plant This plant from the Polygonaceae familly has ornamental flattened stems that look like ribbons or tapeworms. They will reach 3-4 feet in pots, but in nature they will reach up to 12 feet. They are short-lived, and some plants are even leafless. This plant has small green-white flowers that appear in group in spring.
6 Published articles of Muehlenbeckia platyclados / Muehlenbeckia platyclada
