南山藤 nan shan teng

Asclepias volubilis Linnaeus f., Suppl. Pl. 170. 1781; Dregea formosana T. Yamazaki; Hoya formosana T. Yamazaki; Tylophora macrantha Hance; Wattakaka volubilis (Linnaeus f.) Stapf.

Lianas to 12 m. Branches pale gray, lenticellate, branchlets green, smooth. Petiole 2.5-6 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate or suborbicular, 7-18 × 4-17 cm, glabrous or soft pubescent, base shallowly cordate, apex acute or short acuminate; lateral veins ca. 4 pairs. Inflorescences pendent, many flowered; peduncle 2-6 cm, slender, puberulent. Pedicel 2-2.5 cm; flowers green or yellowish green, fragrant. Sepals ovate-oblong, 2.5-3 mm, pubescent, ciliate. Corolla glabrous; lobes broadly ovate, 6-12 × 5-12 mm, obtuse, ciliate. Corona yellowish green, 4-4.5 mm in diam. Anther appendages white; pollinia oblong. Ovaries pilose. Follicles narrowly ovoid, 10-15 × 3-4 cm, longitudinally wrinkled-striate or irregularly ribbed. Seeds ovate, ca. 1.2 cm × 6 mm, flattened, marginate; coma ca. 4.5 cm. Fl. Apr-Sep, fr. Jul-Dec. 2n = 22.

Montane forests. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kashmir, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam]

The young leaves are eaten in curries and are used in the treatment of pyodermas and fevers in children. The roots are used as an emetic. A fine fiber is obtained from the stems.