Cissus antarctica

English name: Kangaroo vine

Latrin name: Cissus antarctica

Family: Vitaceae - Vitaceae

Origin: Eastern Australia

The kangaroo vine occurs naturally in humid, mountainous forests between 700 and 1,000 feet above sea level. The plant consists of loose vines with long, raised stems.  When it is growing, it makes only limited use of natural supports. Typical of vitaceae plants, they grow tendrils, forked at the end, appearing opposite the leaves. The upper parts of the shoots have small hairs.  At its base the shoot can reach up to 8 cm. in diameter. The leaves appear singly, are toothed to a greater or lesser extent, with an oval or heart-shape. The petioles are 1 to 2.5 cm. long; the leaf blades measure from 5 to 13 cm. in length and 3.5 – 8.5 cm. in width. Both the petiole and the lower side of the blades are covered with rust-coloured or reddish-brown hairs.   The inflorescence is in the shape of an umbel and has small hairs and numerous small, bright yellow flowers. The fruit is a small, round, dark blue berry, about 9 mm. in diameter, 

In many parts of the world, such as the warmer regions of the United States and Europe, the vine is planted as a decorative garden plant. In climates like that of Poland, it is cultivated only as a potted plant -- as is the case with several other plants of this kind.