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55. Water Vine 

 Tetracera 



The water vine is so called because the long sections of the 

 larger stems contain a substantial amount of colorless sap that 

 makes a good substitute for water. The large woody vine is 

 found mostly in dry bushy land where it entwines itself over the 

 tops of trees. The flowers are small and white, and the leaves 

 thick, stiff, the texture of sandpaper. In Costa Rica the water 

 vine is called bejuco de agua, raspa and raspa-guacales; in 

 Panama chumico; in Colombia bejuco chaparro and in Cuba 

 bejuco guard. 



