Uncaria RHYNCHOPHYLLA

Uncaria RHYNCHOPHYLLA - Hook vine, Gou teng, Rhynchophylla cat's claw, Uncaria rhynchophylla.

The genus Uncaria belongs to the very large family Rubiaceae and numbers about 40 species. The aerial part of Uncaria has large, smooth leaves with a pronounced leathery texture. It is distinguished by a large number of branches. It takes the form of a woody liana. This type of Uncaria is characterized by the presence of nodes from which hook-like thorns extend, resembling the claws of predators. From this come the common names for Uncaria - cat's claw, Garuda's claw, fish hook. Thorns grow from a node in directly opposite directions. Small whitish-yellow flowers are formed. They gather in spherical racemes, thanks to which Uncaria is quite ornamental. The stem of the plant is hollow, as thick as a human finger. Uncaria does not shed its green cover entirely, as it belongs to evergreen species. The leaves have an ovate shape and a pointed tip, attached to the shoots by means of a petiole.

Uncaria is distributed in Asia, Africa, and South America. A less scientific term for Uncaria is "cat's claw". It is applied to several species of this plant. This name appeared due to the similarity of the thorns on Uncaria branches to a cat's claw. In China, the species Uncaria rhynchophylla is used. It is a hollow-stemmed climbing plant 2.5 to 6 m (8 to 20 ft) in length and 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) thick. It is found in the mountains of Hunan and Hubei. As a medicinal remedy in China, it is sold in the form of red-brown stem segments. Pharmacies in many countries sell preparations based on Uncaria tomentosa. Usually they bear the trade name "cat's claw".

Uncaria rhynchophylla is a liana with slender young stems that are faintly four-angled, glabrous, and sometimes glaucous. The petiole is 5-15 mm (0.2-0.6 in), glabrous. The leaf blade is elliptic, lanceolate, or oblong-elliptic, 5-12 cm (2.0-4.7 in) long and 3-7 cm (1.2-2.8 in) wide, glabrous on both sides, often with a glaucous bloom in the center, with a cuneate, obtuse, or rounded base, and an acute, usually acuminate apex. Stipules are often caducous, lanceolate or ovate, 4-15 mm (0.16-0.6 in), 2-lobed, with lobes linear, triangular-lanceolate, or ovate, acute or acuminate. Inflorescences are axillary and terminal, solitary or in groups of 7-11. Flowers are sessile or nearly sessile. The corolla is tubular, with a dilated apex. Fruits are sessile or nearly sessile, ovate or spindle-shaped, 5-7 mm (0.2-0.3 in) long.

Seeds are sown on the surface. They are moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light at a temperature of 21-22 °C (70-72 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. It is essential to avoid overwatering and drying out of the sowings.

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Uncaria needs a bright spot with diffused light. Direct midday sun scorches the leaves, and in deep shade the shoots stretch out and lose density, so eastern and western windows are best suited.

The temperature in summer is 22-28 °C (72-82 °F), and in winter not below 15 °C (59 °F). The plant is tropical and does not tolerate cold drafts, so ventilating the room in winter should be done with care.

Watering is moderate and uniform: the root ball is kept slightly moist, but without water stagnation. The upper layer of substrate between waterings should have time to dry out by 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in), and excess water is drained from the drip tray.

Uncaria needs elevated air humidity. The plant is regularly misted with soft, settled water from a spray bottle, and the pot is placed on a tray with moist expanded clay.

The substrate should be loose and water-permeable: universal potting soil with the addition of coarse sand and perlite. Repotting is carried out annually in spring while the plant is young, and mature specimens - once every 2-3 years.

From spring to autumn, once every 2-3 weeks, a half-strength balanced fertilizer for foliage plants is applied. The liana definitely needs a sturdy support, and in spring the shoots are shortened, directing growth and bushing out the plant.