Guess why it’s called the Lawyer Vine?
I became entangled with one in a Queensland rainforest and took this picture after I had escaped its clutches.
Don’t be fooled by those who want to call it a Loya Vine. They are covering up for a profession that has acquired and evil reputation for latching on to innocent passers-by and refusing to let go. Our grandfathers got the spelling right.
The Lawyer Vine has razor-sharp hooks that dig into flesh and are as difficult to untangle as fishing hooks. Forcing a way through an area where it grows is next to impossible. There is a lesson here for anyone planning to hire a lawyer to sue a lawyer.
If a name change is needed then Lawyer Palm would be appropriate. The big difference between it and other palms is that the Lawyer keeps on growing and develops a very vine-like structure. Specimens as long as 100 metres have been recorded.