Blood vine
Cardiopteris moluccana

Family: Cardiopteridaceae

What it is like

A climber or vine. The stems are twining and 9 m long. The stem can be 12 cm across. The stems have a milky sap. The leaves are oval or heart shaped. The leaf blade is 6-17 cm long by 5-17 cm wide. The flowering shoot is branched and there are many small flowers. The flowers are 3 mm across. They are white. The fruit are oval and 3 cm long. The fruit have 2 wings.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Queensland it grows from sea level to 700 m above sea level. It grows in rainforest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Matta matta, Tamatta

Synonyms

Cardiopteris lobata var. moluccana (Blume) F. M.Bailey;