Centipede Tongavine

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Centipede tongavine is an evergreen vine growing to 20 m (66 ft) tall, with stems up to 4 cm (2 in) in diameter, climbing by means of aerial roots which adhere to surfaces. The leaves are alternate, heart-shaped, entire on juvenile plants, but irregularly pinnatifid on mature plants, up to 100 cm (39 in) long and 45 cm (18 in) broad (juvenile leaves much smaller, typically under 20 cm (8 in) long). The flowers are produced in aspathe up to 23 cm (9 in) long. This plant produces trailing stems when it climbs up trees and these take root when they reach the ground and grow along it. The leaves on these trailing stems grow up to 10 cm (4 in) long and are the ones normally seen on this plant when it is cultivated as a pot plant.

Centipede tongavine used for the treatment of snake bites and scropion stings. Stems are used for treating ulcers, pain in the colon, abdominal tumours and also in bronchiopathy. Kani tribe people in Kerala in India orally administer the stem juice to cure ascites, inflammation of spleen and liver.