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The "Hozan-tsuzura-fuji" (Cocculus sarmentosus) belongs to the family Menispermaceae. It is an evergreen vine that is distrubuted to Tokunoshima of the Ryukyu Islands, as well as Taiwan, South China, Southeastern Asia and India. It is related to "Ao-tsuzura-fuji" (Cocculus trilobus). The leaves are broad ovate or ovate-cordate and occasionally three lobed. The small clusters are borne at the axils and the yellowish-white flowers bloom in July through August. The fruits are globose drupes and ripen black with powdery white in fall. The Japanese name is thought to be derived from its native habitat, Baoshan Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan. In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "木防己", which is a variant of "Ao-tsuzura-fuji".
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