|
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] DescriptionThe 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] TaxonomyIt 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 namesAustralian 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
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
