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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Berchemia volubilus

Supple-jack \Sup"ple-jack`\, n. (Bot.)

  1. A climbing shrub ( Berchemia volubilus) of the Southern United States, having a tough and pliable stem.

  2. A somewhat similar tropical American plant ( Paullinia Curassavica); also, a walking stick made from its stem.

    He was in form and spirit like a supple-jack, . . . yielding, but tough; though he bent, he never broke.
    --W. Irving.

    Note: This name is given to various plants of similar habit in different British colonies.