Cissus hypoglauca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Water vine
Cissus hypoglauca - young leaves at Brisbane Water National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Genus:	Cissus
Species:	hypoglauca

Cissus hypoglauca is a common Australian plant. It is a type of climbing vine from the Cissus genus, which belongs to the grape family. This vine is often found in wet areas of eastern Australia. It can quickly grow over large areas, especially after forests have been damaged by storms, fires, or logging.

People call this plant by many names, including jungle grape, water vine, giant water vine, five-leaf water vine, jungle vine, native grapes, and billangai. The plant was first officially described in 1854 by an American botanist named Asa Gray.

What Does the Water Vine Look Like?

Cissus hypoglauca is a large, woody vine that climbs high. Its leaves are usually grouped in fives, like the fingers on a hand. This is called being "palmate." The leaves can be oval or egg-shaped. They might have slightly jagged edges or be smooth.

Leaves and Tendrils

The top of the leaves is a medium green color. The underside has a pale, grayish-blue shade, which is called "glaucous." Each leaf is usually about 3 to 15 centimeters (1 to 6 inches) long and 1.5 to 4 centimeters (0.6 to 1.6 inches) wide. Young leaves are often reddish and have tiny hairs. The vine also has special climbing parts called tendrils. These tendrils grow opposite the leaf stalks and help the vine grab onto things as it grows.

Flowers and Fruit

The water vine produces small, yellow flowers. These flowers grow in clusters that look like umbrellas, mostly during spring and summer. Later in the year, a round, purple fruit grows. This fruit ripens around the middle of the year.

The Five-leaf Water Vine is important for nature. It provides lots of food and safe places for birds and small animals. The bright blue berries can be eaten raw. They offer a juicy snack, but they might leave a slightly sour or tingly feeling in your mouth afterward.

Gallery

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  Cissus hypoglauca growing over a creek at Murramarang National Park, Australia

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  young leaves of Cissus hypoglauca at Brisbane Water National Park, Australia

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  Fruit (McKay Reserve, Palm Beach, New South Wales)

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  Fruit (McKay Reserve, Palm Beach, New South Wales)

See also

In Spanish: Cissus hypoglauca para niños