Diplopterys Cabrerana | Chaliponga | Leaves

Diplopterys cabrerana, a vine native to the Amazon region, is known in Quechua languages as both 'Chagropanga' and 'Chaliponga'. It is also called Banisteriopsis rusbyana and Banisteriopsis cabrerana and is, like Banisteriopsis caapi, a member of the Malpighiaceae family. This tropical vine can only be found in the Amazon (Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia). It grows in the wild in the forests but is most common in cultivation.

This very long climbing plant has opposite leaves that are elongated-oval and have a narrow shape. The inflorescences, which each carry four small flowers, grow from the petiolar armpits. However, the plant rarely develops flowers, and almost never in culture.