Ventilago viminalis
| Supplejack | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Ventilago |
| Species: | V. viminalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ventilago viminalis | |
Ventilago viminalis, commonly known as supplejack, vine tree or whip vine,[3] is a tree native to Northern and Central Australia from coastal regions of Queensland to the Northern Territory and Western Australia (with occurrences in New South Wales and South Australia).[4]
Description
[edit]The plant begins life as a scrambler, using other trees, shrubs and even grasses for support. As it ages the stem becomes increasingly woody and the plant eventually develops a growth form more typical of a tree.[5][6] The tree can reach 7 metres in height and often has several trunks with pendulous branch extremities.[3] The bark is dark and fissured.[3] The leaves have petioles and are green and lanceolate.[3] The flowers are small and greenish yellow.[3] Flowering season varies depending on rainfall.[citation needed] The fruits are indehiscent and have a single prominent longitudinal wing.[3]
Taxonomy
[edit]It was first described by William Jackson Hooker in 1848.[1][2] The species epithet, viminalis, is a Latin adjective describing the plant as having long flexible shoots suitable for basket work.[7] It is a member of the Rhamnaceae family.[1]
Australian aboriginal uses and names
[edit]Australian Aborigines eat the gum from this tree. They scrape it off as it comes through, twisting it onto a stick. It can be chewed like chewing gum. The supplejack in Arrernte is called Atnyerampwe, and the gum is Ngwarle atnyerampwe.[citation needed] In the Kimberley Ventilago viminalis is commonly called the 'medicine tree'. Local people cut chunks out of the bark or roots to boil up and make an infusion to treat a variety of skin ailments as well as bruises and rheumatism. Trees with large telltale oval or oblong scars in the bark are often found in the local bush.[8]
The Walmajarri people of Paruku Indigenous Protected Area call this tree Walakarri,[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Ventilago viminalis". Australian Plant Name Index, IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ a b Thomas Mitchell, Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia, p. 369, Wikidata Q5946713
- ^ a b c d e f Cowie I, Lewis D, et al. "Ventilago viminalis". FloraNT, Northern Territory Herbarium. Northern Territory Government, Darwin. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ Kevin Thiele (2016). "Ventilago viminalis". Flora of Australia. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Eric (1993). Plants of central Queensland : their identification and uses. Brisbane, Qld.: Dept. of Primary Industries. p. 118. ISBN 0-7242-3990-1. OCLC 31064192.
- ^ F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Ventilago viminalis". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "viminalis,-is,-e". www.plantillustrations.org. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Kenneally, Kevin F.; Choules Edinger, Daphne; Willing, Tim (1996). Broome and beyond : plants and people of the Dampier Peninsula, Kimberley, Western Australia. Como, W.A.: Dept. of Conservation and Land Management. pp. 171–172. ISBN 0-7309-6972-X. OCLC 36270417.
- ^ Bessie Doonday; Charmia Samuels; Evelyn (Martha) Clancy; et al. (2013). "Walmajarri plants and animals". Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin. 42: 76. Wikidata Q106088428.