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tapeworm-plant

Scientific Name: Eubrachion

Family: Eremolepidaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Centipede Plant (Homalocladium platycladum)

Homalocladium platycladum, commonly known as centipede plant, tapeworm plant, or ribbonbush, is a fascinating and unusual plant appreciated for its unique appearance.

Considerations for Pets

  • This plant features jointed stems, potentially creating small parts that could be a choking hazard if ingested.
  • Small red fruits are produced, and ingestion of these fruits might be a concern for some animals.

Considerations for Children

  • This plant features jointed stems, potentially creating small parts that could be a choking hazard if ingested.
  • Small red fruits are produced, and ingestion of these fruits might be a concern for some children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Homalocladium platycladum (F.J. Muell.) L.H. Bailey
  • Family: Polygonaceae (Knotweed family)
  • Synonym: Muehlenbeckia platyclada
  • The plant is the only species within the Homalocladium genus.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.
  • Cultivated as an ornamental plant in other tropical regions.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • An upright-growing, leafless shrub that can reach 4 to 8 feet tall. When grown in pots, it typically reaches 3-4 feet. In its native habitat, it can reach up to ten feet tall.
  • The plant is known for its long, flattened stems that resemble tapeworms, hence one of its common names. These stems are technically cladodes, flattened stems that function like leaves.
  • New growth may exhibit triangular-lanceolate leaves at each node.
  • The stems are jointed and change from thin and round to wide and flat as they grow.
  • It produces tiny white flowers at the joints, followed by small red fruit.
  • Its unique stems create a fern-like effect.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name "tapeworm plant" is sometimes disliked due to the negative connotations associated with tapeworms.