Stephania pierrei, also known as Stephania erecta or binh voi in Vietnamese, is a caudiciform vine native to the Indo-Chinese Peninsula.[1] [2] It is cultivated as a houseplant; in commerce it is typically described as Stephania erecta. It was first described by Ludwig Diels in 1910. The root or caudex is used medicinally in Vietnam; the 2006 Vietnam Red List of Medicinal Plants lists Stephania pierrei as a vulnerable species within the country.[3]
Stephania pierrei is an herbaceous perennial vine with an unusual woody caudiciform, a stem swollen in a spherical form and aesthetically resembling a potato in colour and texture, that can grow up to 30 cm (1 ft) in diameter.[4] It sprouts long vines with small circular leaves with intricate mosaic veining. This unusual appearance has made it a popular collector houseplant. [5] It sprouts in spring, first with yellow flowers, followed by its foliage. The foliage can go dormant in winter.