Arabian wax cissus, Round-leaved vine
Cissus rotundifolia

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A vine which either climbs or lies flat on the ground. It does not have spines. It can become woody but the stems are succulent. They develop 4 or 5 ridges with age. It has tendrils. The leaves are simple and almost round. They are 5-8 cm across. The leaves are glossy, green and succulent. The edges of the leaves have blunt teeth. The flowers are in clusters. The flowers are small and green or white. The berry is oval and 1.2 cm long. It is red or purple.

There are about 200-350 Cissus species. There are about 75 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows well in dry sunny locations. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 500 m above sea level. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Australia, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa (country/location of origin), Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Hawaii, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, North Africa, Pacific, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, Virgin Islands, West Indies, Yemen (country/location of origin), Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young shoots are used as a vegetable and for flavouring. The ripe fruit are edible. The root tubers are pounded and dried then ground before being added to food as a flavouring.

Edible parts

Root, leaves, fruit, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown from stem cuttings. It can also be grown from seed from which the flesh of the fruit has been removed.

Its other names

Local names

Alfaq, Buri, Hadel, Iheveiaihovo, Itulu, Munyu, Mudzambiringa, Pangalatane

Synonyms

Cissus crassifolia (Baker) Planch.; Saelanthus rotundifolius Forssk.; Vitis crassifolia Baker;