Ventilago viminalis

Ventilago viminalis, commonly known as supplejack, vine tree or whip vine,^[3] is a tree native to Northern and Central Australia from coastal regions of Queensland to the Northern Territory and Western Australia (with occurrences in New South Wales and South Australia).^[4]

Supplejack
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Genus:	Ventilago
Species:	V. viminalis
Binomial name
Ventilago viminalis Hook.[1][2]

Ventilago viminalis (Margaret Flockton)

Ventilago viminalis seedling in vine phase of life cycle.

Description

The plant begins life as a scrambler, using other trees, shrubs and even grasses for support. As it ages the stem becomes increasingly woody and the plant eventually develops a growth form more typical of a tree.^[5][6] The tree can reach 7 metres in height and often has several trunks with pendulous branch extremities.^[3] The bark is dark and fissured.^[3] The leaves have petioles and are green and lanceolate.^[3] The flowers are small and greenish yellow.^[3] Flowering season varies depending on rainfall.^{[citation needed]} The fruits are indehiscent and have a single prominent longitudinal wing.^[3]

Taxonomy

It was first described by William Jackson Hooker in 1848.^[1][2] The species epithet, viminalis, is a Latin adjective describing the plant as having long flexible shoots suitable for basket work.^[7] It is a member of the Rhamnaceae family.^[1]

Australian aboriginal uses and names

Australian Aborigines eat the gum from this tree. They scrape it off as it comes through, twisting it onto a stick. It can be chewed like chewing gum. The supplejack in Arrernte is called Atnyerampwe, and the gum is Ngwarle atnyerampwe.^{[citation needed]} In the Kimberley Ventilago viminalis is commonly called the 'medicine tree'. Local people cut chunks out of the bark or roots to boil up and make an infusion to treat a variety of skin ailments as well as bruises and rheumatism. Trees with large telltale oval or oblong scars in the bark are often found in the local bush.^[8]

The Walmajarri people of Paruku Indigenous Protected Area call this tree Walakarri,^[9]