Ventilago viminalis

Description

Ventilago viminalis, commonly known as Supplejack, Vine Tree or whip vine, is a tree native to Northern and Central Australia from coastal regions of Queensland to the central deserts of the Northern Territory. 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. The tree can reach 10 metres in height. Leaves are pendulous, grey-green and lanceolate. Flowers are green to green-white. Flowering season varies depending on rainfall. The fruits shown on the accompanying illustration are misleading as the artist has shown them standing upwards on the branch, while actually they hang downwards. 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.