Dregea volubilis (Linnaeus fil.) Bentham ex J. D. Hooker

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.

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.

Subtropical Himalaya, India, east to W. & S. China, Taiwan, Malaysia.

400-1400 m

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

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