centipede plant; tapeworm plant; ribbonbush
A plant with flat, segmented stems resembling a tapeworm or centipede; also known as Homalocladium platycladum.
The centipede plant is a houseplant notable for its flat stems.
Kanji spelling is rarely used; the plant is almost always written in katakana.
The Japanese name カンキチク (寒忌竹) literally means 'cold-avoiding bamboo', likely referring to its bamboo-like appearance and sensitivity to cold. The exact origin is uncertain.