I uncovered an article the other day reporting an 1887 New Zealand school committee debate regarding the corporal punishment of schoolgirls – following a somewhat notorious case in which a pupil had been caned because her school fees had not been paid (or more accurately, if you believe the teacher concerned, because she hadn’t reminded her parents to pay, as she had been supposed to do).
One speaker asked which “instruments of torture” were permitted to be used:
“The cane, supplejack, tawse, ruler… birch?”
Now, I thought I knew of pretty much every spanking implement – but the supplejack? Google Images came to my aid, and I could immediately see why it might appear on the list:
What’s more, it seems that the Latin name for the vine in question is ‘flagellaria’ – which translates, as any good scholar could tell you, as ‘whipped’.
So, “come here and be supplejacked, young lady” has now entered my kinky vocabulary. Yet it only grows in Australia and New Zealand: I wonder how I can get one imported? And, actually, I wonder if any readers from Down Under have experienced its delights?
My daughter-in-law is from Oz, but I’m not sure how I can casually work supplejack into dinner conversation. Maybe I could ask her mother about it, from a botanical perspective, just wondering if it would grow in Canada.
Hugs,
Hermione
@ Hermione – It’s a bit famous for impeding the progress of early western explorers through the more densely foliated areas of Oz. You could ask her about that.
Prefectdt
You could always request a supply of botanical samples from our antopedian friends be shipped to the UK. Approximately 40” long and variety of thicknesses for a full assessment shall be needed 😉
Samples shall naturally be compared and contrasted with native species of Hazel and Water Willow
Abel: At our holiday house we were removing a lot of plants and trees when we came across a thick climbing vine that looks very much like this. Whilst it was still supple it was a delicious spanking implement. I know because we retreated to the garage to try it out and I loved the sensations.
A few years have gone by and we still have one remnant which is kept up high in the closet. It has become very rigid and it packs a rather intense sting. I only have to be reminded it is there to hold my tongue back from its usual tendency to be flippant and provocative.
I’ve no idea if it is a piece of supplejack but it certainly looks just like the photograph.
My very warm regards to you and Emma Jane at this very sad time.
If it grows in Victoria I could try to get you some – though could be a somewhat awkward experience with customs!
OK, now I *really* want some supplejack samples, especially by Vesta’s experience! Sadly I can’t find anywhere in the UK selling it, and I doubt it’d survive a trip from Oz!
There is a species of vine called supplejack that grows in the southeast of the US. Latin name is Berchemia scandens. Strong, stringy and supple, it could well be similar in usage if not genetics.