Apocissus antarctica
Species of vine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Apocissus antarctica, formerly known as Cissus antarctica and commonly known as kangaroo vine or water vine, is a species of plant in the grape family Vitaceae. It is a climbing plant, native to and common on the east coast of Australia, often grown as a houseplant. It was first described in 1803.
| Apocissus antarctica | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Vitales |
| Family: | Vitaceae |
| Genus: | Apocissus |
| Species: | A. antarctica |
| Binomial name | |
| Apocissus antarctica (Vent.) Jackes & Trias-Blasi | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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10 synonyms
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Description
Stem and foliage
Apocissus antarctica is a tendril climber with a recorded stem diameter of up to 8 cm (3.1 in). Most parts of the plant (stipules, leaf undersides, twigs, petioles, tendrils and inflorescences) are covered in rusty brown hairs. The leaves are simple, i.e. without divisions, and ovate to oblong, and attached to the twigs with a petiole up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long. The leaf blades measure up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long and 5 cm (2.0 in) wide, the apex may be pointed or rounded and the base cordate. When mature the top surface is hairless and the lower surface is softly hairy (pubescent). The margins are serrate.[3][4][5]
Flowers
The inflorescences are panicles emerging from the twigs opposite a leaf, up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long, the ultimate segments umbellate and crowded. The flowers are about 5 mm (0.20 in) diameter with pale yellow petals about 2 mm (0.08 in) long.[3][4][5]
Fruit
The fruit is a near-spherical berry about 12 mm (0.47 in) in diameter. At maturity they are dark blue/purple or black, and usually contain two seeds.[3][4][5]
Taxonomy
This plant was first described by French botanist Étienne Pierre Ventenat, as Cissus antarctica, in his 1803 book Choix de plantes : dont la plupart sont cultivées dans le jardin de Cels.[6][7] In 2023, botanists Betsy Rivers Jackes and Anna Trias-Blasi published a paper in which some species of Cissus, including C. antarctica, were moved to their newly erected genus Apocissus to help resolve polyphyletic issues in the older genus.[8][5]
In Australia, the new taxon has not been accepted in the Australian Plant Census,[9][10] but both the Queensland and New South Wales herbaria have accepted it.[1][4]
Etymology
The former generic name Cissus is derived from the Greek word for ivy, κισσος (kissos); the prefix apo-, meaning 'away from', was added by Jackes and Trias-Blasi to indicate that the new genus is distinct from the former.[5][11] The species epithet antarctica refers to the southern distribution of the plant.[12][11]
Distribution and habitat
Conservation
This species is listed as least concern under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act.[1] As of October 2025[update], it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Ecology
Cultivation
Uses
Gallery
New growth
Mature foliage
Flowers
Fruit
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