Five Leaf Water Vine
Cissus hypoglauca
Other Names: Water vines, jungle grapes
Family: Vitaceae (Grape family)
Habitat: Rainforests to open forest
Uses: The fruits are edible, drinking water found in stems
About Five Leaf Water Vine
According to Tim Low not all species of Vitacea (native grapes) are edible. The two species of Cissus shown here are known to be edible. Cissus opaca (Pepper vine) fruits are also edible and this is the only native grape found west of the Great Dividing Range.
Cissus hypoglauca, commonly known as Water Vine, Five Leaf Water Vine, or Five-leaf Native Grape, is a common Australian Vine. It is one of the better known climbing plants of the genus Cissus in the grape family. A very common climber in moist areas of eastern Australia, it often colonises large areas after forest damage due to storms, fire or logging.
Photo: Peter Woodard, Cissus hypoglauca - Five Leaf Water Vine, Durras Lake (South Coast NSW).
Photo: Peter Woodard, Young leaves of Cissus hypoglauca - Five Leaf Water Vine, Brisbane Water National Park.
See Also
Australian Mammals
Australian Birds
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fish
Australian Spiders and Their Faces
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