The tapeworm plant (Homalocladium platycladium) is also referred to as the ribbon bush, although the latter name is more apropos as you will find out. Native to the Solomon Islands, this plant is a member of the Polygonaceae or knotweed family amongst which rhubarb and buckwheat count as relations. It is categorized as a shrub, but a shrub like no other. This plant is more or less leafless. Its growth is that of flat, segmented green stems about ½ inches wide, resembling, you guessed it, tapeworms. These odd stems radiate upward from the base to a height of between 4-8 feet or even taller if supported with a spread of between 6-8 feet across. The older stems become slightly more rounded, while young stems bear fleeting 1- to 2-inch leaves.
