Alango, Obwombwe
Cyphostemma serpens

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A trailing or climbing herb. It can grow 2 m long and form mats. It can have tendrils. The rootstock is swollen and woody. It is 30 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. The stems are green and flushed red at the nodes. The fruit are round and red and in clusters.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in grassland and seasonally flooded areas. It grows between 500 and 2,250 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Chad, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ebo, Lorrpo

Synonyms

Cissus lelyi Hutch.; Cissus orondo Gilg & M. Brandt; Cissus schweinfurthii Planch.; Cissus serpens Hochst. ex A. Rich.; Cissus sesquipedalis Gilg; Cyphostemma orondo (Gilg & M. Brandt) Desc.; Cyphostemma schweinfurthii (Planch.) Desc.; Vitis serpens (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Baker;