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This list of longest vines features vine species that can grow very long or vine specimens that are the longest in the world. This list is not all-inclusive in part because many species have never been measured, and also because more careful measurements are needed for many species on this list. Some species have been included because they are the largest of a habit type (such as Poison Oak as longest root climber) or as the longest member of their division or phylum (such as Equisetum giganteum).

A vine can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems or runners. The first five species are unlikely to be superseded or even to change order of rank.

World's longest vines

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Species and family Location Length Comments
The Snuff Box Sea Bean, or Elephant Creeper (Entada phaseoloides). (Mimosaceae). Found throughout tropical Asia and the Pacific. This individual apparently in India. 4,900 feet (1.5 km) estimate.[1][better source needed] This species can also be up to three feet (0.91 meters) thick and is therefore also one of the most massive of vines, and for that matter of all plants.[citation needed]
Ribbon Vine (Bauhinia rubiginosa) (Caesalpinaceae) This specimen in Suriname. 1,968 feet (600 meters)[2][better source needed] Ivan T. Sanderson, writing earlier, says only "several hundred yards". Sanderson believed these Suriname giants were the most massive plants on earth.[3] He saw one vine that was two feet (61 cm) wide while being only 3/4th inch (1.8 cm) thick.[4] Thus the common name.
Philodendron sp. (probably Philodendron cordatum ) (Araceae). Native to Central America. This one in Amherst, Massachusetts. 1,114 feet (340 meters) in 1984.[5] The longest monocot. It also weighed 250 pounds (110 kg). It is unknown whether it could grow this long or this heavy in the wild.
Rattan Manau (Calamus manan, or Calamus ornatus (Palmae, or Arecaceae) East Indies. This one at the Buitenzorg (now Bogor) Botanic Gardens, Java, Indonesia. 787 feet (240 m) exactly. The longest exact measurement.[6][7][8] Vines are up to four inches (10 cm) thick. There are unconfirmed reports of rattans up to 1,800 feet (550 m) in length.[9] C. manan also has a ten-foot (three meter) long flagellum, or spiney grasping organ at the end of each frond.[10] These are not true tendrils since they cannot twine.
Rotan Simambu (Calamus scipionum) [Palmae, or Arecaceae]. Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Exactly 599 feet (183 meters) to the point where it was severed.[11] Upper reaches could not be recovered, but the total length was certainly well in excess of 600 feet (180 meters). Naturalist/writer Philip H. Gosse stated that he had seen a rattan (species not indicated) "no thicker than your finger" which was 1,320 feet (400 meters) in length.[12]
Sea Hearts, Monkey Ladder or St. Thomas Creeper (Entada gigas) (Mimosaceae). Found throughout Neotropics. This one in Jamaica. At least 450 feet (140 meters).[13] Seedpods of E. gigas up to eight feet (2.4 meters) long and divided into segments like a Beggartick as against five feet (1.5 meters) and undivided for E. phaseoloides. E. gigas has heart-shaped seeds while those of E. phaseoloides are round or rounded rectangular.[14] In spite of these differences, both species are frequently lumped as "E. scandens". The stem of this species can measure up to 3' 2" thick (three meters girth).[15]
Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis [16] ) (Papilionaceae). Native to China. This one in Sierra Madre, California. About 500 feet (about 150 meters).[17][18][19] Largest Wisteria in the world. Weighs about 22 tons. Trunk about three feet (0.91 meters) thick. Another Wisteria, a W. multijuga at Ushi Jima (or Usijima) Japan was stated in 1929 to be 1,100 years of age (but now pegged at 1200 years); probably the oldest vine of any species in the world.[20][21] This wisteria is also famous for its pendant racemes which are up to seven feet (2.1 meters) in length.[22] Another W. multijuga at Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan has a trunk five feet (1.5 meters) thick on its greater axis by about three feet (0.9 meter) on the lesser axis,[23] probably the thickest vine of any species.
Entada rheedii [Mimosaceae] Tropical Africa and eastward to Queensland. About 394 feet ( "At least 120 meters") [24] .
"May Chio" Calamus rudentum (Palmae, or Arecaceae) Rainforests of Vietnam and Cambodia. This rattan is up to 330 feet (100 meters) in length.[25] Stems are about four inches (ten centimeters) thick.
Camel's Foot Climber, or Maloo (Bauhinia vahlii) Caesalpinaceae. Himalayan foothills. About 300 feet (91 meters).[26] Also up to a meter (3.25 feet) thick.[27] Among the most massive of vines.
"Jungle Chocolate" or "Malombo" (Landolphia mannii) Apocynaceae. Congo Brazzaville Over 330 feet ("More than 100 meters")[28] Stem a foot thick near the base.
"Wanwe" (Dinochloa andamanica) (Gramineae, or Poaceae) Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands south of Burma. 295 feet (90 meters)[29] One of the few vining bamboo species, and the longest bamboo culm.
Dragon Fruit Selenicereus sp. Cactaceae. Central America and southern Mexico. 330 feet (100 meters).[30]
Embelia pergamina (Myrsinaceae). Mountains of Java. Up to 250 feet (76 meters).[31] Some classifications now place Embelia in the Primula Family (Primulaceae).
"Giant Pepper Vine" (Piper novae-hollandiae) (Piperaceae). Queensland rainforest, Australia. 230 feet (70 meters).[32] Stem up to sixteen inches (41 cm) thick.[33]
"The Giant Kelp" (Macrocystis pyrifera) (Laminariaceae). The Pacific coasts of the Americas plus New Zealand, Tasmania and, in the Atlantic, around the Falkland Islands. 230 feet (70 meters).[34] Longest member of the Kelp division or phylum (Phaeophycophyta), and longest aquatic vine. This specimen also weighed 308 pounds (140 kg).[35]
Triphyophyllum peltatum (Dioncophyllaceae). Tropical West Africa. Up to 230 feet (70 meters).[36][37] This is the most massive carnivorous plant known, being thicker and woodier than Nepenthes.
Vanilla Orchid (Vanilla planifolia) (Orchidaceae). Southern Mexico, Central America, northern South America, the West Indies and Florida. Between 200 and 300 feet (between 61 and 91 meters).[38][39] Longest of the 18,000 (lumper estimate) to 35,000 (splitter estimate) species of orchids, and the second longest herbaceous vine. Stem is about three-quarters inch (19 mm) thick.
"Shicsi Huaiu" (Gnetum leyboldii) (Gnetaceae). Central America. This one at the Finca la Selva Reserve, Costa Rica. Climbing to the top of a 170-foot (52-meter) emergent tree; its total length probably around 200 feet (61 meters).[40] This is the longest Gymnosperm vine (division or phyllum Gymnophyta). The stem was as thick as the finder's thigh.
Mullerochloa moreheadiana Gramineae or Poaceae Queensland rainforests. Up to two hundred feet (sixty meters)[41] Another lianous bamboo.
"Poison Oak" (Rhus (or Toxicodendron) diversiloba radicans) (Anacardiaceae). Temperate North America. This one in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte County, California. 180 feet (55 meters).[42][43] This is the longest root climber. This one was climbing a Coast Redwood and was three inches (7.6 cm) thick.
Nepenthes hispida (Nepenthaceae). Sarawak and Brunei in Malaysian Borneo. 165 feet (50 meters),[44]
"Copa de Oro" (Solandra maxima) (Solanaceae). Southern Mexico. 165 feet (50 meters).[45] Has huge funnelform flowers up to nine inches (23 cm) long and ten inches (25 cm) wide, which are golden with five radial brown stripes.
Tangle Fern (Gleichenia longissima) (Gleicheniaceae) Tropical Asia, The East Indies and Queensland Each clambering frond up to 165 feet (50 meters) in length by about ten feet (3.0 meters) wide.[46][47] Each scrambling branch is actually a single leaf which keeps lengthening in spurts until it reaches its physiological limits, which are not presently known. This is the widest rosette of leaves in the world; up to 330 feet (100 meters) in breadth.
Gnetum wrayii Gnetaceae Endemic to Malay Peninsula. Up to 150 feet (46 meters).[48]
Giant Granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis) Passifloraceae. Widespread in the Neotropics. Can climb to a height of 150 feet (46 meters).[49]
Teratophyllum aculeatum (Dennstaedtiaceae) Widespread in the East Indies. 140 feet (43 meters).[50] Longest fern vine (Phylum or Division Pteridophyta).
Poison Arrow Vine (Strophanthus sarmentosus) Apocynaceae West and Central Africa. Up to 131.25 feet (40.01 meters)[51]
"Bull Kelp" (Nereocystis luetkeana) (Laminariaceae). Pacific coast of North America. This one offshore from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. A measured length of 134.5 feet (41.0 meters)[52] Others at Yakutat Bay, Alaska were estimated to be 165 feet (fifty meters) in length.[53]
"Madeira-vine" (Anredera cordifolia) (Basellaceae). Northern South America. Up to 131 feet (40 meters)
Galeola altissima [ Orchidaceae ]. East Indies, Malay Peninsula and Queensland. Up to 130 feet (40 meters)[54][55] Tallest saprophyte and tallest monocot root climber. It is asserted that Galeola can grow as much as a yard (0.9 meters) in a day.[56]
Mange-Mange (Lygodium articulatum) Endemic to North Island, New Zealand. Up to one hundred feet (thirty meters) in height.[57] "Climbs to the tops of forest trees"
Bengal Clockvine Thunbergia grandiflora (Acanthaceae) South Asia Up to 100 feet (30 meters).[58]
Ulan-ulan Cuscuta reflexa (Cuscutaceae). Southern Asia and the East Indies. About 100 feet (30 meters), with hanging garlands up to 33 feet (ten meters) in length.[59] The longest parasitic vine.
Dolichandra unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae). Tropical dry forest of Central America, South America and the Caribbean Over 98 feet (30 meters)[60]
Wisteria (Fabaceae). China, Korea, Japan, and the Eastern United States Up to 98 feet (30 meters)[61]
Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Vitaceae). Eastern and central North America, southeastern Canada, eastern Mexico and Guatemala. Up to 65 to 98 feet (20 to 30 meters)[62][63]
Thunbergia grandiflora (Acanthaceae). South Asia and southeastern Asia. Up to 65 feet (20 meters)[64]
Selaginella exaltata Selaginellaceae. Native from Panama to western Brazil. Up to 59 feet (18 meters)[65] Longest member of the Clubmoss Division or Phylum (Lycophyta).
Ipomoea indica [Convolvulaceae]. Native from Florida in the United States south to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean and to South America. More than 49 feet (15 meters) if climbing trees[66]
Elephant Vine or Vegetable Python (Fockea multiflora) Asclepiadaceae East Africa and South Africa. Up to 49 feet (15 meters) in length by up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) thick at its lower end.[67] Longest succulent vine.
Giant Horsetail (Equisetum giganteum) Equisetaceae. Widespread in the New World tropics. Up to 36 feet (11 meters) high in Venezuela.[68] Up to 39 feet (12 meters) in the Pantanal region of Brazil.[69] Longest member of the Horsetail Division or Phylum (Siphonophyta).
Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) [Sapindaceae]. Eastern Argentina and Brazil. 33 feet (10 meters) high or more, especially when it grows rapidly into treetops.[70]
Cairo morning glory (Ipomoea cairica) [Convolvulaceae]. Tropical Africa and Asia Variable; can establish within tree canopy over 33 feet (10 meters) high.[71]
Spiridens reinwardtii (Hypnodendraceae). East Indies, Melanesia and Taiwan. This one in New Guinea. Climbing to a height of about ten feet (three meters)[72] If climbing at an angle of 45 degrees, actual length would be about 14 ft 2 in (4.32 meters). This is the longest member of the Moss Division or Phylum (Bryophyta), and the only true vine among mosses.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ R.E. Hawkins, editor, "Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History" (Delhi: Oxford Univ. Press, 1986) p.199
  2. ^ Prof. Dr. Jens Rohwer, "Tropical Plants of the World" (New York: Sterling Pub. Co. Inc., 2002) p. 18.
  3. ^ Ivan T. Sanderson and David Loth, "Ivan Sanderson's Book of Great Jungles" (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965) p. 144.
  4. ^ ibidpp 144 - 145.
  5. ^ http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1989_639928/jack-s-philodendron-grew [dead link]
  6. ^ Paul W. Richards, "Tropical Rain Forest" (Cambridge, Eng.: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1952 edition) p. 102. Quoting: M. Treub in "Annales des Jardin Botanique Buitenzorg" (1883) p. 175
  7. ^ Corner, Prof. E.J.H. (1966). The Natural History of Palms. Berkeley, Calif.: Univ. of Calif. Press. p. 204.
  8. ^ Rohwer Ph.D., Dr. Jens G. (2002). Tropical Plants of the World. New York: Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. p. 18.
  9. ^ Georgius Rumphius, "Herbarium Amboinensis" Part 5 P. 100.
  10. ^ Whitmpre, T. C. Ph.D. (1966). Guide to the Forests of the British Solomon Islands. London: Oxford University Press. p. 143.
  11. ^ Gardener's Chronicle Vol. 76 (3rd series) (October 24, 1924) p. 228.
  12. ^ Knight, A.E.; Step, Edward (c. 1908). Popular Botany - The Living Plant from Seed to Fruit - Volume 1. New York: Henry Holt and Co. p. 230.
  13. ^ Gardener's Chronicle Vol. 15 (2nd series)(April 2, 1881) p. 430.
  14. ^ "Sea Hearts". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  15. ^ Warren L. Wagner et al, "Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i" (Honolulu: Univ. of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum co-publication, 1990) Vol.1 p. 671.
  16. ^ "Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC". Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  17. ^ Aubrey B. Haines, "The Vine That Wouldn't Stop Growing", NATURAL HISTORY Vol. 65 # 3 (March 1956) p. 160.
  18. ^ Gardener's Chronicle Vol. 140 (3rd series) # 17 (October 27, 1956) p. 428.
  19. ^ Los Angeles Times newspaper (April 15, 1990) P. K7 plus photo p. K1
  20. ^ Gardener's Chronicle Vol. 86 (3rd series) # 4641 (December 7, 1929) p. 446 plus photo p. 447.
  21. ^ Today in Tokyo (3 May 2015). "The 1200-year-old wisteria at Fujino-Ushijima (藤の牛島) in Saitama has been designated a natural monument". Tumblr. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Ingram, Collingwood (December 7, 1929). "<not recorded>". Gardener's Chronicle. 86 (third series): 446–447 (incl. photo).
  23. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ I. C. Nielsen "Mimosaceae" FLORA MALESIANA (Leiden, Neth.: Leiden Univ. 1992) Vol 10 Part 1 p. 180.
  25. ^ Gagnepain and Conrard, "Palmiers", FLORE GENERALE de l'INDOCHINE Volume 6 page 1024
  26. ^ Charles Pickering, "Chronological History of Plants" (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1879) p. 349 (length).
  27. ^ Teresa Farino, "Photographic Encyc. of Wildflowers", (New York: Smithmark, 1991) p. 155.(thickness).
  28. ^ Roy P. Mackal Ph.D., "A Living Dinosaur?", (Leiden, Neth.: E. J. Brill, 1987) pp. 289-290.
  29. ^ Rev. Ethelbert Blatter, "Indian Bamboos", INDIAN FORESTER Vol. 55 # 11 (November 1929) p. 602.
  30. ^ Anderson, Edward F. (2001). The Cactus Family. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 15–37.
  31. ^ "Contributions from the Osborn Botanical Laboratory"(1922) p. 288.
  32. ^ Stanley Breeden, "Visions of a Rainforest", (Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1992) p. 13.
  33. ^ "Phylotrax". Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  34. ^ Tore Levring et al, "Marine Algae" (Hamburg: Cram, DeGruyter & Co., 1969) p. 186.
  35. ^ Levring. loc. cit.
  36. ^ "The Carnivorous Plant FAQ: Triphyophyllum". Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  37. ^ Wilhelm Barthlott, "The Curious World of Carnivorous Plants",(Portland: Timber Press, 2009) p. 92.
  38. ^ Fred J. Chittenden and Patrick M. Synge, "Royal Hort. Soc. Dictionary of Gardening",(Oxford, Eng.: Clarendon Press, 1965 edit.) Vol. 4 p. 2198.
  39. ^ Alfred B. Graf, "Tropica" (3rd edition) P. 1104 (Stated as "100 meters (330 feet).
  40. ^ Donald R. Perry Ph.D., "The Canopy of the Rainforest", SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN (November 1984) p. 146.
  41. ^ Telopea Volume 12 Issue 2 (2008) p. 183
  42. ^ "Coast Redwoods, Redwood National Park. Facts, Photos and Redwood Hiking Trails".
  43. ^ "Woody Vine Table".
  44. ^ "Blumea" Vol. 42 # 1 (1997) p. 41.
  45. ^ Geoffrey Herklots, "Flowering Tropical Climbers", (Folkestone, Eng.: William Dawson and Sons, Ltd., 1976) p. 172.
  46. ^ K. B. Boedijn et al, PLANTS OF THE WORLD, (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1966) Vol. 3 p. 278.
  47. ^ anonymous (n.d.). "Government Museum Chennai". Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  48. ^ Ridley, Henry N. FLS, FRS (1967). Flora of the Malay Peninsula. Vol. 5. Brook North Ashford, England: L. Reeves Co. p. 276.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ Morton D.Sc., Julia F. (1987). Fruits of Warm Climates. Wintersville, No. Carolina: Creative Resource Systems Inc. p. 328.
  50. ^ FLORA MALESIANA Series II "Pteridophytes" Vol. 1 Part 4 pp. 256, 266-267.
  51. ^ Fayaz, Ahmed (2011). Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants. Buffalo, N.Y.: Firefly Books. pp. 596–597.
  52. ^ William A. Setchell, "Nereocystis and Pelagophycus", BOTANICAL GAZETTE Vol. 45 # 2 (February 1908) p. 126.
  53. ^ Setchell op.cit.
  54. ^ Paul Richards "Tropical Rainforest' op. cit. p. 130
  55. ^ http://www.ecs.com.np/archieve/feb%202005/article_1.htm[permanent dead link]
  56. ^ anonymous (September 6, 2002). "The Siren of the Species". Retrieved April 10, 2007.
  57. ^ Thomson, George M. (1882). The Ferns and Fern Allies of New Zealand. Melbourne: George Robertson. pp. 96–97.
  58. ^ Rohwer Ph.D., Prof. Jens G. (2002). Tropical Plants of the World. New York: Sterling Pub. Coo. p. 184.
  59. ^ Van Steenis, C.G.G.J.; et al. (1972). The Mountain Flora of Java. Leiden, Netherlands: E.J. Brill. p. Plate 13 caption 3.
  60. ^ Dolichandra unguis-cati (L.) L.G.Lohmann Weeds of Australia - Lucid Central
  61. ^ Wisteria Tree – How To Plant, Grow + Care – Prune Wisteria Vines Plantopedia
  62. ^ How to grow Virginia creeper By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Published: Thursday, 21 January 2021
  63. ^ Parthenocissus quinquefolia - (L.)Planch. Plants For A Future
  64. ^ THUNBERGIA GRANDIFLORA By Flower Power
  65. ^ A.G.H. Alston et al, "The Genus Selaginella in Tropical South America", BULL. BRIT. MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY)- BOTANY Series Vol. 9 # 4 (December 17, 1981) p. 306. Quoting: Frederic Antoine Spring in MEM. ACAD. SCI. LETT. BELG. Vol. 24 (1850) p. 145.
  66. ^ Morning Glory - Ipomoea indica Brisbane City Council - Weed Identification Tool
  67. ^ Hans Dieter Neuwinger, AFRICAN ETHNOBOTANY p. 240
  68. ^ W. Boting-Hemsley, "Botany Vol. 3", BIOLOGICA CENTRALI-AMERICANA (London: R.H. Porter and DuLau & Co., 1888) Vol. 55 p. 699.
  69. ^ Joao Decker, "Aspectos Biologicos da Flora Brasileira" (Sao Leopoldo: Rottermund & Co., 1936) p. 538.
  70. ^ "Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum)". Eurobodalla Shire Council. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  71. ^ Coastal Morning Glory Archived 2021-05-09 at the Wayback Machine City of Gold Coast - Weed Profile
  72. ^ Tomas Hallingback and Nick Hodgetts, "Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts", Introduction p. 1 at http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpt/docs/2000-074.pdf[permanent dead link] (Photograph with human figure).
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