The common name “lovevine” comes from an old myth about this vine’s purported aphrodisiac qualities.
Love vine is parasitic, wrapping around other plants and drawing nutrients
from them. That’s why it isn’t green: no need for chlorophyll when you can rob water and nutrients from
surrounding plants and let them do the hard work of photosynthesis for you. (There are many more parasitic
species, among them other dodders and mistletoe.)
From Cassytha filiformis,
a comprehensive report by Scot C. Nelson of the Department of Plant and
Environmental Protection Services in Hawaii:
“Cassytha filiformis is, depending on one’s perspective, a blessing or a bane. It is a
plant treasured by Hawaiians for its traditional use as a light-hearted or ceremonial human ornament
and in decorative garlands and lei
valued plant in traditional societies with diverse
healing applications and with promise for modern medicine
food plant for humans and animals
vine used in thatched roof construction
potential biological control agent for invasive plants
pestiferous and pathogenic weed that is a threat to agriculture and
endangered plants and is capable of transmitting other pathogens between plants.”
Plants: The vines are green to orange, tough and woody, and threadlike.
They entwine and encirle other plants in thick shaggy masses.
Leaves: Leaves are sparse, scale-like, and lanceolate.
They are 1/32-1/16″ (1.5-2 mm) long..
Flowers: Flowers are sparse, about 1/32-1/16″ (1.5-2 mm) in size,
and sessile (attached directly to the vines). They are greenish-white, and urn-shaped, with three tepals.
Fruits: ~3/16″ (5-6 mm), nearly round, somewhat
pearly in appearance.
Medical: Several compounds in this species have potential
medical applications, such as ocoteine, a possible inhibitor of certain cancers. Unsubstantiated folk uses include
treatment of jellyfish stings, as an aid while delivering babies, and treatment of gonorrhea.