Supplejack Vine
Ripogonum scandens

Distinguishing Features

Supplejack vines climb by coiling; its stems around branches and tree trunks for support. Where there is an absence of support the vines drop to the ground and loop around the forest floor in a very dense entanglement making walking very challenging. In the first year of its life it resembles a small shrub so it isn’t until the second year it begins to take the shape of a vine. In the summer months its tips grow 5 centimetres daily. Once the Supplejack reaches full sunlight it produces non-twining leafy stems that bear flowers and fruits.

Flowers

Individual flowers have six white to pale green or yellow tepals and they are very small. The tepals measure about 2mm long. The flowers are hermaphrodite and the flowers appear from December to February.

Leaves

The leaves are mostly opposite, green, dark green or yellow-green. They are narrow-ovate to oblong shaped, narrowed rather abruptly to the tip and they tend to undulate.

Height

This vine can grow to several metres in length as it likes to grow toward the sunlight through the forests.

Habitat

Supplejack is a common vine that grows in lowland forests of New Zealand, and in the forests of Zealandia. It prefers light, sandy, loamy, and clay soils that are moist. It tends to grow in semi-shaded woodlands. It can also grow in swampy areas.

Edible Parts

The berries are edible once they are ripe and can be eaten raw or cooked. Very young shoots are palatable and supposedly resemble asparagus in taste; it is best to eat these cooked. The seeds can be consumed and contain fatty acids. The sap can be consumed as well. The roots are known to be a substitute for sarsaparilla and they are rich in starch. Leaves are also edible.

Other Name

Kareao (Maori).

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