Common Name: Zig-zag Vine

General Information

Melodorum leichhardtii is a vigorous, climbing, evergreen shrub with large stems up to 9cm in diameter that can climb to the canopy of the rainforest. Some of the branches form loops to act like tendrils and support the plant[, ].
The edible fruit is sometimes harvested from the wild and consumed locally.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, north to Papua New Guinea.

Habitat

Complex microphyll closed forests[]. Grows in well developed rain forest, gallery forest, monsoon forest and vine thickets at elevations from sea level to 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant can be pruned in order to maintain it as a scrambling shrub, rather than letting it climb into the canopy[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. The sot pulp is reasonably palatable[]. A pleasant, acidic taste[]. The red or orange-red peanut-shaped fruits are edible and tasty[]. The yellow fruits are about 15mm wide and taper into the stalks[].

Medicinal

The stems and bark of this plant have shown antitumor activity[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. It usually germinates easily in less than 2 months[].

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