Cayratia japonica

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A climbing vine. The branches have ridges along them. The tendrils are divided. The leaves have 3 or 5 leaflets. The central leaflet is narrowly oval and 1-7 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The fruit is a black berry 1 cm across. There are 2-4 seeds. Probably now Causonis japonica (Thunb.) Raf.;

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests and grasslands between 300-2,500 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan. In Papua New Guinea it grows near Kiunga.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Shoots, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

In India plants flower and fruit April to June.

Its other names

Local names

Daun cabang limu, Langpum, Syrbuid

Synonyms

Causonis japonica (Thunb.) Raf. Cayratia japonica var. canescens W. T. Wang; Cayratia japonica var. ferruginua W. T. Wang; Cayratia japonica var. mollis (Wall. ex Lawson) Momiy.; Cayratia japonica var. pseudotrifolia (W. T. Wang) C. L. Li; Cayratia japonica var. pubifolia Merr. & Chun; Cayratia mollis (Wall. ex Lawson) C. Y. Wu; Cayratia pseudotrifolia W. T. Wang; Cayratia tenuifolia var. cinerea Gagnep.; Cissus cyanocarpa Miq.; Cissus japonica (Thunb.) Willd.; Cissus japonica var. mollis (Wall. ex M. A. Lawson) Planch.; Cissus leucocarpa Blume; Cissus vagans Carrierre; Vitis mollis Wall. ex. M. A. Lawson; Vitis mollis Wall.;