Heart-shaped leaves

A scrambling or climbing vine found in sheltered gullies. Heart-shaped peltate leaves to 12 cm that are firm, but not stiff, hairless. Small greenish flowers in spreading axillary compound umbels in spring and summer. Shiny yellow-orange or red drupe fruits, 5 mm wide. A vigorous, twining climber when established. Found from southern coastal New South Wales, north through Queensland. Also seen in Japan, India, Nepal, and many other areas of south-east Asia and the Pacific region. The original specimen was collected in Japan, hence the species name japonica. The leaves are used to produce edible green grass jelly in Indonesia.

Photo: John Abbott

Seed collecting and propagation

Shiny yellow-orange or red drupe fruits, 5 mm wide. Remove flesh. Seed germinates in a few weeks.