Common Name:

General Information

Syngonium podophyllum is an evergreen climbing plant producing stems 10 - 20 metres long that support themselve on tree trunks by means of adventitious roots[, ]. The leaves vary greatly as the plant ages. When young they have the shape of an arrowhead, but as they mature this changes and lobes develop at the base of the leaves. The older the plant is, the more lobes the full-sized leaves will have.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental and ground cover plant in tropical gardens, being valued for its attractive flowers and foliage, and also as a houseplant in cooler areas, where it seldom flowers[, , ]. Forms with variegated foliage have been developed as ornamentals.

Known Hazards

The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals and can cause severe pain in the mouth if eaten[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean - Trinidad.

Habitat

Dense primary forest and more open areas of secondary growth[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in partial shade, succeeding also in deep shade[, ]. Prefers a fairly fertile, moist but well-drained soil[, ]. Succeeds in most soil types and textures from clays to sandy loams and from acid to slightly alkaline[].
The plant is commonly grown as an ornamental in the tropics and has sometimes escaped from cultivation and become naturalized. Every part of the stem, even short sections, can produce roots and grow into a new plant making it very difficult to eradicate. There are at least two reports (from the islands of Hawaii and Niue) of the plant becoming invasive and it is a controlled species in parts of mainland USA[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the crushed and boiled leaf is used as a wash to treat stomachache[].

The milky-white sap from a broken stem is applied topically as a remedy for the bite of Paraponera ants[, ]. The sap is swabbed into the cavity of an aching tooth in order to relieve the pain[].

The roots and bark are antibacterial and antiinflammatory. They are used in the treatment of superficial and deep wound, and various skin disorders[].

Extracts of the leaves and bark have been shown to have a dose-dependent effect upon treating oedema, showing they they are potential sources of principles with high anti-inflammatory activity[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A climbing plant, if left to scramble over the ground it can form a green mat of foliage around 15cm high, creating an excellent ground cover. It can become weedy, much the same as English ivy (Hedera spp) does, and will require regular trimming along the edges of the bed. It can also grow up into shrubs and trees so, unless you want this to happen, it is best located in front of a shrub area, or out by itself in the landscape[].

Other Uses

This is one of the species studied in a trial and found effective in helping to remove indoor air pollutants[].

Propagation

Seed -
Stem cuttings root very easily - they form roots wherever they touch the ground and can also just be placed in a jar of water[].

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