Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition
Pollia macrophylla (R.Br.) Benth.
Bentham, G. (1878) Flora Australiensis 7: 90.
Wandering Jew
A terrestrial creeping herb, rooting at the nodes, normally attaining a height of about 50 cm but under favourable conditions reaching 1-2 m in height.
Leaves variable in size but commonly about 17-20 x 4-5 cm. Lateral veins diverge from the midrib at a very low angle and run parallel to one another. Petiole forms a puberulent, longitudinally veined sheath about 3-4 cm long, completely enclosing the stem.
Ripe fruits shiny brown or +/- grey, about 4-7 mm long. Seeds with a central depression on each side of the seed.
First leaf broadly spathulate, about 4 mm wide, petiole forming a distinct sheath around the stem. At the tenth leaf stage: lateral veins diverge from the midrib at a very low angle and run parallel to one another. Petiole forming a puberulent, longitudinally veined sheath around the stem.