Practical
Plants

Ripogonum scandens

Supple Jack

an evergreen member of the Ripogonum genus in the family Smilacaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Height
10 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - cooked. It is rich in starch[2]. The root is very fibrous and is used as a flavouring for beer[5]. Fruit - raw or cooked. Dry and uninteresting[4][5]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[6]. Young shoots - cooked. They taste like fresh green beans[5]. Sap. It is obtained by blowing it out of short cut sections of the stem[5].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Sap

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antirheumatic, skin, stomachic, vulnerary[9]. The burnt stems and sap are used to cauterize wounds[9].

Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The stems are used in basket making and also to make rope ladders[7][8][9][3]. The stems are strong enough to be used as they are to make a rope[3].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
String

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Lowland podocarp and broad-leaved forests on North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands[7].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse. Sow stored seed in a warm greenhouse in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in the greenhouse. Plant out in early summer. Division.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it is unlikely to succeed outdoors in Britain in any but the mildest areas of the country. Plants do not take kindly to cultivation, but a rich soil and shade are probably the best conditions for it[1].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd 1907-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2

    ↩

  5. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  7. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

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